A legendary retreat for artists, poets, and composers seeking inspiration in its sublime beauty, the Amalfi Coast is a natural setting to explore the visual arts.
For centuries, the sweeping coastlines and rocky cliffs have drawn painters eager to capture the breathtaking landscapes. Ceramics artists have also flocked here to experience the centuries-old tradition of majolica ceramics still flourishing in many of the towns along the coast.
At the Amalfi Coast Music & Arts Festival, students are encouraged to explore the artistic traditions of the area while embarking on an intensive course of study.
The Visual Arts Program is designed to take advantage of the cultural riches in the area. Students will be able to tour an array of museums and architectural treasures, such as the Naples Archaeology Museum, the magnificently preserved Greek temples in Paestum, and the haunting ruins of Pompeii. Instructors will bring perspectives gained back into the classroom. Students may also be invited to visit local studios and meet Italian artists to exchange ideas and share techniques. An exhibit of student work is held at the end of each session.
Exploring Watercolor
Capture the essence of the beautiful Amalfi Coast in watercolor! Participants in this painting course will be encouraged to create plein air drawings, sketches and studies using the local scenery as inspiration, then return to the studio to further develop their reference material into completed paintings.
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This approach combines the immediacy of plein air drawing with the more deliberate studio approach.
Watercolor paintings can be so much more than a checklist of watercolor technique. David goes beyond the basics of paint application, and teaches how to construct strong, vibrant, personality-filled paintings. David shows how to carefully construct a watercolor using preliminary sketches and value studies. David will also demonstrate his method of using multiple glazes of wet-into-wet passages to achieve unsurpassed brilliance as well as the use of masking agents to achieve jewel-like clarity. Participants will work from their own personal photographs or sketches.