Dates: September 1-8, 2026
Instructor: Aimee Erickson
Venue: Hotel Hydroussa, Island of Hydra, Greece
Medium: All mediums welcome – Aimee will demo in oil
Level: Open to all levels of experience
Let’s find the magic in color! Making color studies on location means that we back off the subject matter just a little and see what’s possible within our chosen palette. Inventing color games for ourselves invites us into “the zone,” where we set up problems that are challenging and doable and we can play our way through them. Just writing this out makes me excited for this workshop. We’ll try a variety of palette combinations. I’ll show you some ways to expand your seeing (because if you see differently, naturally you’ll paint differently). The topic of color studies is meant as a welcome mat to learn what you can learn, not as a limit—sometimes a color study naturally reaches “finish.”
Plan on doing multiple smaller studies, and one or two more sustained efforts. It’s great to have a lot of inexpensive supports so that you can make as many starts as you want. Consider working in a sketchbook, which solves the question of how to store and transport multiple small paintings (see the supply list for how to shellac paper for oil painting). You can also do multiple studies on a single panel, by dividing it into sections.
Demos will be in oil; all mediums and skill levels are welcome. For students working in something other than oil paint, I can demo your medium using your setup and materials. Please note that there is no set list of colors for this workshop; bring what you have and are comfortable with and maybe one or two to explore with.
The Greek island of Hydra is a mountainous island located off the coast of the Peloponnese in the Saronic Gulf. Although less than a two-hour ferry ride from Athens/Piraeus, Hydra is a long step back in time. The inhabitants of Hydra elected over 60 years ago to preserve the character and architecture of the island by banning wheeled vehicles including cars and motorbikes, as well as new construction, permitting only restoration of older buildings. The result is an island of largely 18th and 19th century architecture that travels at the pace of donkeys, the only means of transportation available other than by boat.
The port of Hydra, where our venue is located, is considered one of the most picturesque in Greece, a keyhole harbor ringed by waterfront cafes with the town rising steeply behind. Our hotel, the Hydroussa, located on a winding street set back from the hubbub of the port, is a striking example of Hydriot architectural style, a large mansion with soaring ceilings built around a central courtyard shaded by lemon trees where breakfast and evening aperitivos are served.
What’s Included:
With over 10 years of experience organizing art tours, and with part of our team, my daughters Anne and Amy, living in Europe and fluent in Italian and Spanish, we maintain long term relationships with the owners and staff of our favorite venues. We personally participate in every travel workshop to ensure the quality and to coordinate all the needs of an art instruction program.
If you have any questions, please use the form below, phone 206-715-6663 or email martha@winslowartcenter.com to contact us.
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