Michael's expertise working "in plein air" lends itself well to the Tuscan venue of expansive views and defining details, as he explains himself, "I stress the importance of drawing and compositional skills to create a strong point of interest, as well as using tone and the principles of warm and cool colors to create the effects of atmosphere and luminosity. I give demonstrations and present the information needed to capture and communicate the landscape simply and quickly in the changing conditions of outdoors."

A native of southern California, Michael has always been deeply fascinated by art. He has had private instruction, attended the Los Angeles Academy of Art, and most notably, the Mission: Renaissance Instructor Academy where he is Program Director and Supervisor of Internship.

Michael has participated in many gallery shows including the "Contemporary Masters, Artistic Eden" exhibit at the Pasadena Museum of History and the "Less is More" and the "Best of Plein Air" shows sponsored by the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association of which he is a member.

The Essence of Tuscany

Tuscany offers incomparable painting opportunities whether you're looking for an expansive landscape or a small study depicting the "essence" of your surroundings and experiences. There's also plenty of time to enjoy wine tours and tastings, cooking courses, visits to Renaissance and Baroque gardens, excursions to markets, touring the jewel town of Lucca, a Puccini concert, watching the shepherdess make pecorino cheese and ricotta and more. And after a day of painting and touring, you can relax in a lawn chair with a glass of wine contemplating the majesty of a cypress tree or choose a book to read from our library. Most evenings will include time with Michael and your fellow artists to share your day's work and discuss techniques and tactics.

Your time in Tuscany will be a mixture of at home, painting around the farmhouse and the estate, and away days, on excursions to hilltowns, gardens, the architectural wonder of Lucca and special trips to the stunning Cinque Terre coastal region and the beautiful hilltown San Gimignano.

“At Home”

Your home for ten days, the farmhouse Selva, is set among olive groves, vineyards and forests, with buildings that go back hundreds of years in various phases of refurbishing. The rose garden, wildflowers, lemon trees in terra cotta pots, bits of mortar crumbling away in a nook, majestic cypress trees . . . all offer more inspiration. On your walks, you’ll meet Edo the shepherd and his sheep, perhaps startle a wild pheasant or watch the doves playing in the valley.

“Away”

Your excursions away from home include stunning landscapes, quiet corners and places where you can define your own essence of Tuscany. A few highlights: