Painting Holiday in Tuscany

Anyone booking your 2026 course between now and the end of December 2025 will enjoy an early-bird discount of £75 GBP on 2026 prices.  You will find all our prices at https://watermill.net/our-rooms/.

From Lois at the Watermill: “the price includes everything from the moment we pick you up from Pisa airport in the morning of the first Saturday to the moment we drop you back there about 10ish in the morning of the second Saturday.  The only time you might want to put your hand in your pocket is for the odd cappuccino when you are out and about, and perhaps for lunch in a trattoria of your choice on excursion day”.

Find us:
The Watermill at Posara, Via del Mulino 12-20,54013 Fivizzano (Loc Posara), MS, Italy.View on Google MapsLattitude: 44.22644577427717Longitude: 10.109166753442423

Contact Bill & Lois for inquiries. 

Philosophy and workshop details

“Watercolor painting is a language I have learned to speak to tell my stories of who we are and how we live. It is a creative tool to capture the simple truth in our everyday life that may be overlooked but tugs at my heartstrings. It is also a vehicle to communicate my artistic vision on the joy of living and the ingenuity of human creations. I travel near and far and paint with enthusiasm to celebrate the beauty we all share at this time on this planet.
“When I am true to my inspiration, my brushstrokes sometimes surprise me by exposing something of my inner spirit I was not even aware of.”
“I used to lay down several layers in order to increase the intensity of values. But in doing that, I could lose freshness. Now I mix my darks first thing, and put in the accurate tonal value of the darks right away. My goal is to finish with fewer brushstrokes.”
Keiko’s workshop at the Watermill is designed for students who would like to gain a better understanding of methods and techniques to make a watercolour painting that is full of light and atmosphere.
Keiko will start with the fundamentals and discuss: the importance of a good design (perspective), understanding of tonal values, a variety of techniques in paint application and brush handling, how to simplify a complex scene, etc.
You will paint different subject(s) every day, en plein-air weather permitting, and try different approaches to discover what is effective to create the kind of atmosphere you desire.
Keiko will do two demonstrations a day. There’ll be one-on-one guidance and a question-and-answer session on a daily basis. A class critique will be conducted at the end of workshop. A course will include: emphasis on perspective, design, values, atmosphere, colour choices Subjects will be: Landscape, Waterscape, Cityscape, Interior (café, restaurant,) Plein-air, weather permitting. If the weather is bad you will work indoors.
The workshop is suitable for all levels, but a basic knowledge is strongly recommended.