23rd-29th May 2026 Atmosphere and Mood in Watercolour
This Watercolour retreat is a unique creative adventure in one of Italy’s most beautiful and varied regions, Le Marche – known to offer ‘All of Italy in one Region’
Designed for beginner and intermediate artists, this course will enable you to push your outcomes towards a more authentic feel which has the loose, confident appeal of capturing mood and atmosphere within your composition.
If your painting has moments of inspired handling, but lacks the full finished feel, if your painting seems flat and lacks continuity – then this course is for you!Learn a time proven methods of approaching the subject, so that you can effortlessly convey its subtleties without over-complication and overworking.
HIGHLIGHTS
- learn the methods of mastery in watercolour via a process based on classical principles
- learn to follow sequentially through straightforward applications of a series of washes.
- utilise different brushes and their mark making properties.
You will learn to control colour and tone to create impressive watercolours. - take on a range of subject matter that will expand your strengths through exercises designed to improve understanding of the core principles.
- build more confidence and progression towards finesse in painting and achieve greater enjoyment and pleasure in watercolour practice.
- Enjoy a well balanced and curated program of demonstrations, plein-air opportunities, cultural and culinary explorations of the area
COST/DETAILS
€ 2.300 p.p. single en-suite
€ 2,200 p.p. single with shared bathroom (bathroom shared with one other same sex person)
€ 2.150 p.p. twin/double en-suite
Deposit: €500 on booking
Full amount due 21 days prior to arrival.
Non-painting partners sharing room with participant at discount
See our Terms & Conditions.
INCLUDED*
- 6 nights Accommodation/7 Days
- Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, aperitivi, coffee/tea breaks at The Retreat
- tuition & demonstrations
- studio and plein-air sessions
- all day open studio
- painting excursions to select locations in the area
- Mediterranean Cooking Class
- Paint & Sip in vineyard with wine tasting.
- All-day sea-side excursion day with opportunity for beach day or exploration of coastal town. (lunch not included on excursion day)
- Sight-seeing visit to the Renaissance city of Ascoli Piceno
- cultural and sight-seeing visits to local towns
- all art materials for this course
- use of studio easel and field easel
- pick up and drop off at San Benedetto del Tronto train or coach station for all main-line and Rome and Rome airport connections
*Airfare and travel insurance not included
Max number: 8
MEET YOUR TUTOR
THE ART
During this course, we’ll explore techniques of watercolour paintings to capture mood and atmosphere the landscape, urban scenes and still-life. On painting excursions, we will explore landscape themes and capture life in the piazzas of the local hill-towns, capturing the spirit of the beautiful and dramatic locations of the le Marche region. Your tutor, John Skelcher is a professional landscape painter who will give daily practical demonstrations and guide you in your work throughout. You will be able to improve your technical understanding of the media and learn techniques and processes. What sets this art escape apart, is that you are guided throughout by a tutor who cannot only paint, but teach to an excellent professional standard! Your work will develop via integrating high quality demonstrations with opportunities to practice, followed by show and tell sessions to highlight areas for development. Whether you are a complete beginner, or have experience but are looking to add more depth, capture more atmosphere and mood to your work – you’re in the right place on this retreat.
THE FOOD
Culinary delights and deliciously fresh and healthy mediterranean meals are prepared by our very own nutritional chef, Jana who not only runs her own Cooking School, but she also has been a nutritional chef for a UK healthy ageing platform for numerous years. She has written over 2000 recipes for healthy living, and has taken care of The Retreat guests’ meals for many years. Her daily, fresh and vibrant meals are a feast for the senses and will have your taste buds working in overdrive. From delicious breakfasts, to lunches, dinners and her speciality aperitiviti for our critique sessions – each meal is different, inspiring, and healthy. So, you can add the best of the mediterranean cuisine, for physical health and creative energy. All dietary requirements are catered for. Make sure though, to leave space in your notebook for new recipes! For our art retreats, she focuses on providing inspiring and tasty mediterranean dishes for improving creative and physical energy, so that you can simply relax, and enjoy every mealtime, knowing it will help let your creativity flow naturally.
THE RETREAT
In Italy’s Beautiful LeMarche Region
This art escape takes place at THE RETREAT. A beautifully restored country house with large art studio, dedicated to hosting art retreats is our home for the week. Set in the heart of the beautiful Italian countryside of the Le Marche Region, it has been home to Painting Holiday Italy and The Retreat Art Workshops and Creative Holidays for over 15 years.
Beautifully appointed single, double and twin en-suite bedrooms and single rooms with shared bathroom provide ample space and home-from home comfort and relaxation. A large guest lounge, gym, furnished terraces and refreshment area with tea/coffee and snacks available all day, a large garden with panoramic views and pool area and yoga/exercise area are available for guest use.
A fully equipped, large studio provides dedicated art space for demonstrations and easel work. But what could be better than to open the doors out to the most breath-taking panorama, and be inspired by the beauty that surrounds you, even before stepping outside?
- Amenities include:
- 8 air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms
- one apartment with double bedrooms and shared bathroom
- large, fully equipped art studio with day-light lighting
- wifi
- terraces and private garden with panoramic views across the region
- free tea/coffee making facilities, free bottled water available all day
- toiletries, fine cotton linen, towels, hairdryer
- use of studio and field easels, aprons, art materials and equipment provided
- all-day open studio
- mini gym
LOCATION
Nearest Airports
- Ancona
- Pescara
- Rome
- Florence
- Bologna
- Bari
- Perugia
Train Connections – all main lines
IS THIS RETREAT FOR ME?
The Retreat has welcomed painters from all over the world for many years looking for tranquillity, a relaxed and supportive creative atmosphere allowing guests to fully focus on their art work, find new inspiration, and re-charge their batteries.
If you love amazing landscape, rural tranquility and enjoy spending creative time in the company of like-minded people, then this retreat is for you. Coupled with deliciously healthy, mediterranean meals, cultural and artistic explorations and a big portion of relaxation, this retreat will not only energise your creative vibes, inspire your art work, and built beautiful memories.
and Nothing spells ‘Bella Italia’ more, than the uninterrupted panoramic views towards the mystic mountains of the Sibylline, the sandy beaches of the Adriatic coast, and the quintessential vineyards and olive groves that adorn the gently rolling hills. A dream for any experienced and beginner plein-air painter alike.
John ist ein wunderbarer Lehrer und hat uns an die besten Orte geführt, um zu Malen und die Atmosphäre zu genießen. Das Hotel Villa Adriana war ein perfekter und ruhiger Ausgangspunkt. Wer sich in Aquarellmalerei weiterentwickeln möchte, dem lege ich eine Reise mit Painting Holiday Italy ans Herz.
Thank you for to all for making my Florence water colour holiday, life affirming and unique.
The teaching itself was exceptional. John is patient, sincere, and deeply encouraging. I came away not only with new techniques and a much better understanding of watercolor as a medium, but also with the confidence to begin exploring my own style. He has a way of supporting every participant at their level, always with kindness and positivity.
This retreat was the perfect balance of learning, inspiration, and relaxation, and I met some amazing people from all over the world during this experience. Highly highly recommend!
There were so many beautiful sights & locations for painting. And the views from the villa where we stayed on the Bay of Naples were mind blowing. Lots of opportunities for photos for future paintings.👩🎨. I highly recommend an art retreat with John!