From the very first brushstroke, this retreat was a dream come true. John is not only an incredibly talented artist, but also a deeply sympathetic and gifted teacher. His calm, encouraging presence and intuitive guidance created a space where everyone, no matter their level, could grow and thrive. He has that rare ability to explain techniques clearly while also inspiring confidence and creativity. The retreat was superbly organized from beginning to end. These were truly intensive days, filled with learning, discovery, and inspiration — a perfect blend of art, culture, and connection. Highly, highly recommended! Thank you, John, for such a beautiful experience and Jana for all the support by the organization of my trip. I’ll go back to Switzerland with 1001 memories 🙏🏻🙏🏻
June 2025
Italy’s best kept secret. Whether you are a beginner painter or advanced, you will learn and advance in your craft with John. I liked his structured classical approach to teaching painting with some shortcuts that he employed. The retreat itself is located away from a beaten path in Italy’s countryside atop of a mountain with stunning scenery all around. Lots of paintings can be done on the retreat grounds or within walking distance. The only thing I regretted at the end was that one week was not enough to paint it all. The group size was small due to limited accommodation at the retreat and John could give a lot of personalized attention to each participant.
September 2025
I stayed at the Retreat for a week in late July for one of their plein air painting holidays. The Retreat is nestled in a beautiful countryside landscape of Italy. It is not a very touristy area which adds to its charm. You look around you and think, “Are you kidding me? Am I in a painting?” Breathtaking views and scenery. You’ve got mountains, hills, valleys, vineyards, and endless sunflower fields. It was a treat in itself to have a home base in this serene beauty. You could live there a lifetime and not run out of things to paint. Visiting the nearby hilltop towns in the evenings for some watercolor painting was a really cool experience as well. The towns are nearly abandoned or they have a pretty small population so we’d show up, John would do a demonstration and then we got to go off on our own to pick a spot to sketch and paint. I thought this was really neat and you could feel like a local artist in an Italian village on a hill. No matter which way you went, there were quaint little cobblestone alley ways with arched doorways and historic architecture. John and Jana could not have been better hosts! I had the most amazing week staying with them. Jana is an amazing cook who made us amazing, unique local and organic meals that were unbelievably delicious. As a foodie myself, there were plenty of opportunities to try out local cuisine and wines. John is an outstanding artist and teacher and just all around genuine guy! He will always keep you smiling and laughing. He gives great one on one critiques and help when you need it and took us around to some wonderful painting locations and hilltop towns. Whether you’re more advanced or more of a beginner in the arts, this trip will suit you. You really learn to appreciate what goes into plein air painting. I had a wonderful week and would love to come back!