The Croatian Sketchbook: Capturing a Seaside Istrian Town in Mixed Media

with Michael Weller - June 3-10, 2024

The Croatian Sketchbook: Capturing a Seaside Istrian Town in Mixed Media

with Michael Weller - June 3-10, 2024

Explore Instrian life though sketching!

Dates: June 3-10, 2024
Venue: Angelo d’Oro, Rovinj, Croatia
Instructor: Michael Weller
Level: All levels welcome – some drawing experience helpful
Medium: Sketching in pen & ink, pastel & mixed media

This is mainly a sketching workshop, trying out different materials, responding quickly and simply to the beautiful city of Rovinj. Michael will do demos in the morning followed by plenty of individual instruction. There will be timed drawings in line and color studies. The overall aim is to encourage students to achieve their individual style. Each day will have a theme such as cafes and people, harbors and boats, streets, alleyways, buildings, etc.

About the Instructor

Michael Weller studied librarianship in Manchester and realised early on he didn’t want to be a librarian. Life-drawing cheered him up. Later he did a degree in Fine Art and studied portrait-painting at Lavender Hill Studios and drawing and painting with the New English Art Club. In 2015 he won the Le Clerc Fowle Medal for a group of outstanding paintings at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ annual exhibition, and the Winsor & Newton Award for a painting at the New English Art Club annual exhibition.

Luxury Accomodations at Angelo d'Oro, Rovinj, Croatia

Rovinj, Croatia

Angelo d’Oro is a beautifully converted 17th Century Bishop’s Palace, a Croatian historic preservation site located in the heart of Rovinj’s old town.  Built around a charming interior garden where breakfast and evening drinks are served, the three-story site offers elegant accommodations in 21 rooms on three floors. Interior art workshop space is available in a vaulted room on the first floor.

The town of Rovinj, the jewel of the Istrian Peninsula, is heavily influenced by Italian architecture and culture, and indeed formed part of Italy until recently.  Surrounded on three sides by water, medieval and renaissance Rovinj consists of a warren of cobble stone streets, tunnels and stairways, the entire town banned to car traffic.  Waterfront restaurants, shops, cafes and a vibrant marketplace are all within steps of our venue.  At the top of the town is a cathedral, surrounded by a park with dramatic views of the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea. 

In addition to workshops led by nationally acclaimed instructors, and a day excursion arranged by Winslow Art Center, participants, and their non-painting companions, will have access to beaches, boat excursions, bike rental and an extensive public park created in the late 19th Century when Istria was still under Austrian rule.

The pick-up and drop-off point for those traveling to Rovinj by transportation arranged by Winslow Art Center is nearby and convenient to Venice, its international airport and train station so that those who wish may visit this fascinating city before or after the workshop.  This should be a memorable experience.

Itinerary

Monday, June 3, 2024
  • Pickup at meeting spot in Trieste at 1:30 PM
  • Arrive at Angelo d’Oro, Rovinj
  • Welcome Orientation/Aperitivo at Hotel 
  • Welcome Dinner at Local Restaurant
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
  • Breakfast at Hotel
  • Tour of Rovinj and Painting Sites
  • Afternoon Painting Instruction
  • Dinner on Your Own
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
  • Breakfast at Hotel
  • Morning Painting Instruction
  • Break for Lunch
  • Afternoon Painting Instruction
  • Group Aperitivo at Hotel
  • Group Dinner at Local Restaurant
Thursday, June 6, 2024
  • Breakfast at Hotel
  • Morning Painting Instruction
  • Break for Lunch
  • Afternoon Painting Instruction
  • Dinner on Your Own
Friday, June 7, 2024
  • Breakfast at Hotel
  • Morning Painting Instruction
  • Break for Lunch
  • Afternoon Painting Instruction
  • Group Aperitivo at Hotel
  • Dinner at Local Restaurant
Saturday, June 8, 2024
  • Breakfast at Hotel
  • Excursion to Town of Motovun
  • Dinner on Your Own
Sunday, June 9, 2024
  • Breakfast at Hotel
  • Morning Painting Instruction
  • Break for Lunch
  • Afternoon Painting Instruction
  • Exhibit of Work/Farewell Aperitivo
  • Dinner at Local Restaurant
Monday, June 10, 2024
  • Breakfast at Hotel
  • Depart for Venice 9:30 AM
  • Arrive at drop-off point in Trieste 12:30-1:00 PM
(Planned itinerary is subject to minor alterations.)
The Croatian Sketchbook: Capturing a Seaside Istrian Town in Mixed Media
with Michael Weller – June 3-10, 2024

Total cost is based per room and number of occupants:

Solo workshop participant: $4,150.
Two workshop participants sharing a room: $7,250.
Workshop participant with travel companion: $6,950.
• Maximum 2 occupants per room, double occupancy not required.
What’s Included:  
  • 8 days, 7 nights accommodation, private room with ensuite bathroom at Angelo d’Oro, Rovinj, Croatia
  • Ground transport from Venice (Mestre) to venue and return
  • All breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners with wine
  • 5 full days of art instruction
  • Additional activities include: welcome aperitivo, guided orientation tour of Rovinj and painting sites, excursion to inland town of Motovun, wine tasting, closing reception.
A deposit of $750 per person will reserve your room and space(s) in a workshop. You may cancel your reservation for a full refund of the deposit within 24 hours. After 24 hours, the deposit is non-refundable. Full balance and signed contract are due four months before the beginning of the workshop.

Choose your Room Option:

Solo Workshop Particpant - $750 deposit

Two Workshop Participants - $1500 deposit

Workshop Participant with Travel Companion - $1500 deposit

Please read the contract for complete terms and conditions.

Experience Counts

travel workshop paint in Italy Martha Jordan

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 have the ability not only to maintain long term relationships with the owners and staff of our favorite venues, but to seek out and vet new and unique locations each year. We personally participate in every travel workshop to ensure the quality of the accommodations and cuisine as well as to coordinate the special needs of the 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.