Painting in Umbria: From Practical Color Theory to Plein Air Exploration

with Susan Abbott - September 26-October 3, 2025

Painting in Umbria: From Practical Color Theory to Plein Air Exploration

with Susan Abbott - September 26-October 3, 2025

An exhilarating immersion into the color of the Italian landscape!

Dates: September 26-October 3, 2025
Instructor: Susan Abbott
Location: Castello di Petroia, Gubbio, Umbria, Italy
Level: Intermediate to advanced skills in your medium of choice
Mediums: Watercolor, oil, acrylic, gouache. Susan demonstrates and teaches in watercolor and oil

Supply List

Join renowned painter and teacher Susan Abbott for an exhilarating immersion into the color of the Italian landscape. This intensive workshop will take you step-by-step from practical color theory to a plein air exploration of the Umbrian countryside. We’ll learn to use value, complements, and temperature in ways that will immediately improve your composition and color use. All this in the setting of an 11th Century castle, its courtyard and surrounding olive groves in the foothills of the Umbrian countryside. After this immersion into the Umbrian landscape with Susan, you’ll have new confidence and enjoyment in your plein air painting.

Winslow Art Center will arrange a Zoom meeting for participants with Susan to discuss class format, painting supplies, travel with painting gear and life at the castle. This course is sure to be as memorable as Susan’s prior workshops at the castello!

About the Instructor
Accommodations
Itinerary
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About the Instructor

About the Instructor

Susan Abbott was born in Takoma Park, Maryland and grew up in this Victorian suburb of Washington, DC. Because her father was an artist and graphic designer, there were many art books and supplies at home and Abbott was drawing and painting from an early age. Her mother was a skilled seamstress and taught her to sew, knit and embroider. These hand crafts and time outdoors exploring the creeks and woods in her neighborhood were favorite childhood activities that have informed her work as an artist. Abbott graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in painting from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, and went on to receive an MFA from the Institute’s Hoffberger School of Painting, with the renowned abstract expressionist artist Grace Hartigan and realist master Israel Hershberg as her advisors. She’s been working as a professional artist since that time, exhibiting her oils and watercolors in galleries and museums around the country.
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Luxury Accomodations at Castello di Petroia

The venue for this week-long art immersion is the 10th Century Castello di Petroia, an authentic medieval fortress perched on a hilltop between the towns of Perugia and Gubbio, with inspiring views of the surrounding landscape. The castle, birthplace of Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino (b.1422), is surrounded by a 600-acre traditional Umbrian farm with beautiful olive groves, hiking and horse-riding trails, meadows, woods and abundant wildlife.

The castle’s 16 bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom, feature original wooden beams, stone arches, antique furniture and painted ceilings. The luxurious accommodations have been restored with an eye to modern amenities, while preserving the authentic medieval structure. The 13th Century dining room is warm and refined, with historic furnishings, soft light, fireplaces and candles. Breakfasts, which include homemade yogurts, breads, pastries, jams, fresh fruit and local meats and cheeses, are served in the historic Guidobaldo Hall, an elegant book-lined, wood-beamed room with magnificent views of the Umbrian countryside.
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Itinerary

Thursday, September 26
• Pickup at meeting spot in Rome at 2:00
• Arrive Castello di Petroia, Gubbio
• Orientation/Welcome, Aperitivo and Dinner
Friday, September 27
• Breakfast at the castle
• Morning painting instruction
• Lunch at the castle
• Afternoon painting instruction
• Aperitivo and Dinner at the castle
Saturday, September 28
• Breakfast at the castle
• Morning painting instruction
• Lunch at the castle
• Afternoon painting instruction
• Aperitivo and Dinner at the castle
Sunday, September 29
• Breakfast at the castle
• Morning painting instruction
• Lunch at the castle
• Afternoon painting instruction
• Wine Tasting and aperitivo
• Dinner at the castle
Monday, September 30
• Breakfast at the castle
• Excursion to Town of Gubbio
• Aperitivo and Dinner at the castle
Tuesday, October 1
• Breakfast at the castle
• Morning painting instruction
• Lunch at the castle
• Afternoon painting instruction
• Aperitivo and Dinner at the castle
Wednesday, October 2
• Breakfast at the castle
• Morning painting instruction
• Lunch at the castle
• Afternoon painting instruction
• Farewell aperitivo and exhibit of work
• Farewell the castle
Thursday, October 3
• Breakfast at the castle
• Depart for Rome – 9:00 AM
• Arrive in Rome at drop-off spot – 11:30 AM-12:00 PM
(Planned itinerary is subject to minor alterations.)
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Painting in Umbria: From Practical Color Theory to Plein Air Exploration

with Susan Abbott – September 26-October 3, 2025
at Castello di Petroia, Umbria, Italy

Total cost is based per room and number of occupants:

Solo workshop participant: $4,850.
Two workshop participants sharing a room: $7,550.
Workshop participant with travel companion: $6,950.

What’s Included:  

  • 8 days, 7 nights accommodation, private room with ensuite bathroom at Castello di Petroia
  • Ground transport from Rome to venue and return
  • All breakfasts, 5 lunches, all dinners with wine
  • 5 full days of painting instruction
  • Additional activities include: Welcome aperitivo, excursion to Gubbio, 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:

Single Occupancy

Solo Workshop Particpant - $750 deposit

Double Occupancy

Two Workshop Participants - $1500 deposit

Double Occupancy

Workshop Participant with Travel Companion - $1500 deposit

Please read the contract for complete terms and conditions.
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Experience Counts

Martha and the Winslow Art Center team have over 10 years of experience organizing destination art workshops. 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.

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Winslow Art Center recognizes that air travel contributes to the emission of climate changing carbon into the atmosphere and has committed to doing its share to offset those costs to the environment. Every year WAC makes a substantial donation to the Rainforest Alliance, or other similar organization committed to climate conservation.

Âİ 2024 Winslow Art Travel Workshops LLC • 206-715-6663 • martha@winslowartcenter.com

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