Painting "plein air," or on location, is Judy Schroeder's favorite way to work. A California native, Judy has traveled extensively in Italy, France, England, Portugal, Mexico, French Polynesia and Samoa as well as across the U.S. conducting classes in many of these locations. In this Tuscan workshop Judy will help artist find or refine their own styles while focusing on the essence and the mood of the setting. She'll provide valuable, practical advice to help participants achieve their personal art career goals.

Judy received her B.A. with a major in art from the University of Redlands with a special secondary teaching credential in art. After teaching junior high school for several years and raising three children, she began studying with the legendary California School Painters and volunteering art instruction in her children's classrooms. Schroeder Studio Gallery, which specializes in water media and art glass, recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary in the historic district of Orange, California. In 2003 Judy was one of 17 painters asked to write a chapter for International Artist's Work Small, Learn Big, a book featuring work in ink and watercolor featuring Judy's techniques and art rendering for sketching and painting on location.

Described as "cheerful, good-humored, personable," Judy makes painting excursions both productive and pleasurable for all workshop participants.

The Inspiration 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 Judy 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 situated 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”

We’ve chosen for your excursions stunning landscapes, quiet corners and places where you can discover your own muse. A few highlights: