Plein air oil painting workshops in Tuscany

UPDATE 2024 Workshops are currently full.
Next possibility is October 2025.

Custom short plein air landscape workshops in the Val d’Orcia, and surrounding Tuscan countryside and/or towns. Sessions are typically 4 hours long (from arrival through clean up) on site.

Currently offered by appointment only. Please contact me for details and/or to get on the mailing list: jennifer@jennifervogtart.com

What is provided/ included:
- Stable easel and palette which will support panels or stretched canvas
- Turpentine (for cleaning brushes and for painting)
- Linseed or Walnut oil (for painting)
- Assorted heavy duty clips for attaching the painting surface or other things to the easel
- Masking tape for creating a package to transport your painting home.

What you’ll bring:
1. Small sketch pad and 2B pencil or charcoal.
This is for planning the composition prior to painting or note taking.
2. Prepared painting surface:
Bring two of EACH of your desired surface e.g. panel, stretched canvas or canvas taped to a panel. Brining two surfaces of the same size allows for an easy wet painting transportation package.
Ideal sizes CM : 15 x 20; 20 x 30; 30 x 35; 30 x 40
Ideal sizes INCHES: 8 x 6; 8 x 10; 9 x 12
NOTE: Painting surface needs to be gessoed and pre-toned with a light transparent layer. Typical toning colors can be Raw Umber, Transparent Red Oxide, or Yellow Ochre because these work well as an imprimitura peeking through the painting. Acrylic gesso can be slick and acrylic primed cotton on cardboard panels is a waste, in my opinion.
3. Oil paint:
in the following colors, a warm and a cool for each primary plus a few key secondary and earth colors (preferred brands noted due to pigment strength. The Old Holland Ultramarine is a must due to its strength) If you already have colors, bring what you have:
- Titanium White (Michel Harding)
- Yellow ochre (Lefranc or Gamblin) or Ocra Romana (Zecchi)
- Cadmium yellow (Old Holland)
- Cadmium Orange (Old Holland)
- Cadmium red medium aka Vermillion (Michel Harding)
- Alizarin crimson (Old Holland)
- Ultramarine blue (Old Holland, a must, can be “deep”)
- Cerulean blue (Zecchi or Gamblin)
- Transparent red oxide (Michel Harding)
- Raw Umber (Old Holland)
- Ivory Black (Michael Harding)
- Optional colors: Cinnabar green; Raw Siena; Pthalo Blue
4. Tools:
- Palette knife
- 1-2 palette cups (if you bring one, we will mix the oil and turp 50/50 together)
- 1-2 each of 0-3 sable filbert brushes
- 2 each of hog bristle filberts in sizes 2,4,6,8,10. (sizes for Tintoretto brushes) Robert Simmons (US), Richeson Grey Matters (US), or Rosemary Brushes (UK). These are your work horses. Optional: a rigger, a small selection of flats for architecture, a sable round size 1.
- A brush holder to carry clean and dirty brushes (can be anything that works for you)
- Paper towels (thick ones) or cotton rags for wiping your brushes, palette knife or painting surface. I typically use about 12 paper towels a session.
- A small trash bag for paper towels and what not
NOTE: I do not list a turpentine can here. First, I bring a turpentine can and second, it’s best to clean your brushes at home.
5. Optional:
- A viewfinder such as the "view catcher"
- A non drying oil (such as olive or safflower) to pre-clean brushes in a wide mouthed plastic jar. If you bring this, bring a few more paper towels.
- Baby wipes (prefer biodegradable) for clean up
- Disposable gloves
- A black mirror (Mobile phone works) for value and drawing checks
- An umbrella which can attach to the easel. Mine is from Artwork Essentials.
6. Personal items, I recommend bringing:
- A wide brimmed sun hat which can be secured if windy. One that is dark on the underside will reduce reflection and eye strain.
- High strength sunscreen and good bug spray
- A filled water bottle. I like to stick mine in the freezer the night before.
- A snack
- A portable cellphone battery charger
- Optional: an apron, a long sleeve white shirt (to reflect the sun and keep bugs off).
NOTE: anything you wear that is highly colored can reflect on your painting surface, neutral is best.

Where to buy artist supplies in Tuscany:
Zecchi Colori Belle Arti (carries all brands mentioned, they have canvas roll ends at the front which can be the perfect size for plein air)
via dello Studio, 19r 50122 Florence, Italy
info@zecchi.it
zecchi.it/

Rigacci (does not carry Michael Harding brand; sells same real gesso panels as zecchi)
Via Servi 71r 50122 Florence, Italy
www.rigaccifirenze.it/
rigaccishop@gmail.com

Belle Arte 1938
Via di S.Francesco 5 52100 Arezzo, Italy
bellearti1938@gmail.com