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Jean Mackay – Virtual Italy! (Online)
Paint along with Jean Mackay as she shares the nature of Castello di Petroia and zooms in on a unique mushroom found at this extraordinary travel workshop location.
Date recorded: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Paint along with Jean Mackay as she shares the nature of Castello di Petroia and zooms in on a unique mushroom found at this extraordinary travel workshop location.
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If you enjoy this presentation or make work inspired by it, please leave a comment below the recording.
Jean Mackay – Virtual Italy! (Online)
Paint along with Jean Mackay as she shares the nature of Castello di Petroia and zooms in on a unique mushroom found at this extraordinary travel workshop location.
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Paint along with Jean Mackay as she shares the nature of Castello di Petroia and zooms in on a unique mushroom found at this extraordinary travel workshop location.
Jean Mackay is an artist, educator, and naturalist. She has been keeping an artist journal for more than nearly 20 years as a way to study and share the beauty and diversity of nature, as well as to record the art of everyday living. Working in all kinds of settings, from tide pools to farm fields to her own backyard in upstate New York, Jean’s watercolors reflect a keen eye for detail and profound sense of wonder. She is the author/illustrator of The Nature Explorer’s Sketchbook (2020). Jean teaches online and in-person classes and offers immersive workshops nationally and internationally. She has been an instructor with Winslow Art Center since 2020.
Not my best work – I got too dark too early, which is often a problem I have……recently moved into a new to us house, smaller than our last house, trying to carve out art space so this was a good test of what works. carved out a bit of time today to rewatch and finalize the piece – and move on – so many mushroom photos this year, so many specimens!!!!
I finally had a morning to watch this great video Jean…love this mushroom that we found on the side of the hill in Italy. I hope to return there and enjoy the Castello again one day.
I’m so glad you returned to Italy virtually! Your Amanita came out great! You achieved a nice glow and color on it. And thanks again for the photo of me on the slope– that was a fun day. Let’s go back sometime!
I had recently come across amanitas on my dog walks, so I totally enjoyed painting the Italian cousin. I added my local variety to the page later. Thank you for sharing your trip virtually!
Thanks for sharing Caroline! You managed a lovely softness with your painting. I like seeing your amanita and the cutaway. Nice subtlety with the colors!
Hi Jean,
I just watched your virtual Italy and mushroom demo. Thank you for the wonderful demo , I always learn so much.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Martha and Kato!!
Nice finds! You did a great job with the Amanita. I recognize some of the others but not all. Thanks for posting!
That was a fantastic mushroom demo and a great intro to Italy! That is an incredible wishlist trip! Your mushroom inspired an afternoon of mushrooms in the sketchbook – here’s an in progress version, lettering to come! Thank you as always, Jean!
Thanks for joining me for Virtual Italy! Here’s my finished mushroom. I hope you’ll post yours. Happy Thanksgiving– I’m so grateful for the Winslow community!
Wow! That was an awesome workshop, Jean. Definitely going to try again! I tried with Inktense watercolor pencils. Next time, my Windsor/newtons. Thanks so much!
Thanks for traveling to Italy with me virtually, Barb. I’m glad you were able to take advantage of this and other Autumn Art workshops. You’ve captured the folds and frayed edges of the mushroom really well. Thanks for posting your work!
17 Responses
Not my best work – I got too dark too early, which is often a problem I have……recently moved into a new to us house, smaller than our last house, trying to carve out art space so this was a good test of what works. carved out a bit of time today to rewatch and finalize the piece – and move on – so many mushroom photos this year, so many specimens!!!!
I finally had a morning to watch this great video Jean…love this mushroom that we found on the side of the hill in Italy. I hope to return there and enjoy the Castello again one day.
I’m so glad you returned to Italy virtually! Your Amanita came out great! You achieved a nice glow and color on it. And thanks again for the photo of me on the slope– that was a fun day. Let’s go back sometime!
I had recently come across amanitas on my dog walks, so I totally enjoyed painting the Italian cousin. I added my local variety to the page later. Thank you for sharing your trip virtually!
Thanks for sharing Caroline! You managed a lovely softness with your painting. I like seeing your amanita and the cutaway. Nice subtlety with the colors!
Hi Jean,
I just watched your virtual Italy and mushroom demo. Thank you for the wonderful demo , I always learn so much.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Martha and Kato!!
Thanks Trish! Glad you got to be with us this year!
I enjoyed painting along so much that I have added more mushrooms from my local walks.
Nice finds! You did a great job with the Amanita. I recognize some of the others but not all. Thanks for posting!
That was a fantastic mushroom demo and a great intro to Italy! That is an incredible wishlist trip! Your mushroom inspired an afternoon of mushrooms in the sketchbook – here’s an in progress version, lettering to come! Thank you as always, Jean!
Wow! I love collecting mushrooms in my sketchbook. Thanks for sharing your pages!
Hi Jean that was fun and I enjoyed all of your pictures from Italy – what a treat!
Thanks for coming along! Nice looking mushroom!
Thanks for joining me for Virtual Italy! Here’s my finished mushroom. I hope you’ll post yours. Happy Thanksgiving– I’m so grateful for the Winslow community!
Wow! That was an awesome workshop, Jean. Definitely going to try again! I tried with Inktense watercolor pencils. Next time, my Windsor/newtons. Thanks so much!
Thanks for traveling to Italy with me virtually, Barb. I’m glad you were able to take advantage of this and other Autumn Art workshops. You’ve captured the folds and frayed edges of the mushroom really well. Thanks for posting your work!
Here’s the reference photo!