Watercolor Sketching in Croatia
with Leslie Fehling
10 days on the Island of Korcula
September
8-17, 2019
8-17, 2019
Azure blue water,
majestic mountains, and charming seaside villages all await you on this
sketching trip to Croatia, a country of stunning beauty and rich
cultural history. For ten
long, relaxing days, we’ll visit pristine natural areas, beautiful sandy
beaches, and medieval towns, recording it all on the pages of your own
illustrated travel journal.
majestic mountains, and charming seaside villages all await you on this
sketching trip to Croatia, a country of stunning beauty and rich
cultural history. For ten
long, relaxing days, we’ll visit pristine natural areas, beautiful sandy
beaches, and medieval towns, recording it all on the pages of your own
illustrated travel journal.
Croatia is one of the fastest-growing
tourist destinations in Europe, and it’s easy to see why: the people are
friendly, the food is fresh and local, the wine is world-class, and the
architecture and scenery are spectacular, offering limitless subject matter for
artists.
When you travel as an artist, rather than
just a tourist, it changes what you see and how you experience a place. You’ll
begin to notice details, marvel at light and shadows, and see possibilities for
compositions everywhere. Instead of snapping a photo and quickly moving on, you’ll
take the time to soak up your surroundings as you sketch what resonates with
you. And when you return home, you’ll open up that sketchbook, and the memories will
come flooding in.
You’ll remember the warm sun on your shoulders, the vivid colors of boats bobbing in the water, and the fresh smell of sea air…
the quiet murmurs of your painting
companions and
a red geranium on a whitewashed windowsill.
From the time we step
off the plane, we’ll be in the best of hands with our tour guide, Lynda Milina,
whose family has lived in Croatia for generations. All the details will be
taken care of for us, leaving us free to focus on painting and relaxing. It’s
the best way to travel!
off the plane, we’ll be in the best of hands with our tour guide, Lynda Milina,
whose family has lived in Croatia for generations. All the details will be
taken care of for us, leaving us free to focus on painting and relaxing. It’s
the best way to travel!
We’ll be picked up at the airport in
Dubrovnik on September 7 (the day before the tour begins) and taken to our hotel
where we’ll share a welcome dinner, giving us a chance to get acquainted and
learn more about what to expect in the coming days.
The next morning, we’ll enjoy a tour of Dubrovnik
and learn about the complex history of this stunning city, know as “The
Pearl of the Adriatic”.
and learn about the complex history of this stunning city, know as “The
Pearl of the Adriatic”.
After the tour, we’ll have lunch then
drive along the Dalmation Coast to Orebic, where we’ll board a car ferry to the
Island of Korcula. We’ll be staying at the Lovric Pension in Lumbarda where many of the
rooms have balconies and sea views (book early for the best selection!)
drive along the Dalmation Coast to Orebic, where we’ll board a car ferry to the
Island of Korcula. We’ll be staying at the Lovric Pension in Lumbarda where many of the
rooms have balconies and sea views (book early for the best selection!)
The hotel is a mere 50 yards from the sea,
and it’s just a short walk to the downtown area. The rooms at the family-run Lovric
are bright, clean, and comfortable, and there’s even a winery on site!
and it’s just a short walk to the downtown area. The rooms at the family-run Lovric
are bright, clean, and comfortable, and there’s even a winery on site!
Lumbarda is a small port on the eastern part
of the island of Korcula. It’s known for its local wine called Grk, so you can
expect to see picturesque vineyards, as well as beautiful beaches, hiking
trails, an art gallery, and wineries. There will be plenty to do during our down
time there!
of the island of Korcula. It’s known for its local wine called Grk, so you can
expect to see picturesque vineyards, as well as beautiful beaches, hiking
trails, an art gallery, and wineries. There will be plenty to do during our down
time there!
During our nine days on Korcula, we’ll
start each morning with breakfast at the Lovric, then head out to explore
different parts of the island. This part of Croatia is unique in its beauty, and
the opportunities for artistic subject matter are everywhere – in old stone
buildings and sturdy city walls, in quiet coves with aquamarine water…
start each morning with breakfast at the Lovric, then head out to explore
different parts of the island. This part of Croatia is unique in its beauty, and
the opportunities for artistic subject matter are everywhere – in old stone
buildings and sturdy city walls, in quiet coves with aquamarine water…
and in craggy, gnarled olive trees that have stood
for generations.
for generations.
Mornings will find us visiting scenic
areas such as Racisce, Zrnovo, Vrnik, the city of Korcula, Orebic and the
Peliesac Peninsula.
areas such as Racisce, Zrnovo, Vrnik, the city of Korcula, Orebic and the
Peliesac Peninsula.
We’ll draw and paint for a few hours in these beautiful locations
then take a break for a picnic lunch.
then take a break for a picnic lunch.
Afternoons will be spent in a variety of ways: sketching, watching
a painting demo on location, going on a walking tour of a village, visiting
a monastery, watching a jewelry-making demonstration, and enjoying wine-tasting
at a local winery.
When we return to our lodging later in the afternoon, there will
be time to relax before the evening meal.
be time to relax before the evening meal.
These will be full days, but not frantically busy ones. We won’t
be rushing from one place to the next, trying to squeeze in everything in the
guidebook. This tour offers a slower pace of travel, with plenty of plein air sketching
time, making this a trip where you actually will
have time to create that travel journal you’ve been dreaming of for years.
be rushing from one place to the next, trying to squeeze in everything in the
guidebook. This tour offers a slower pace of travel, with plenty of plein air sketching
time, making this a trip where you actually will
have time to create that travel journal you’ve been dreaming of for years.
All meals are included on this tour. Breakfasts
and dinners will be served in the restaurant which is attached to the Lovric
Pension, while most of our lunches will be on location when we’re out and
about. The food will be fresh, local, and absolutely delicious!
and dinners will be served in the restaurant which is attached to the Lovric
Pension, while most of our lunches will be on location when we’re out and
about. The food will be fresh, local, and absolutely delicious!
Evenings are yours to do whatever you
like. You might want to take a walk along the beach with a friend…
like. You might want to take a walk along the beach with a friend…
look for sea glass to add to your collection…
or have a glass of wine and get to know your fellow artists.
At the end of the tour, on day 10, we’ll head back to Dubrovnik, with a stop for lunch on the way in the little village
of Ston, famous for its amazing 14th century stone city walls. We’ll
have time to explore the town for a while (and maybe squeeze in one last sketch)
before driving to the quaint village of Cavtat, where we will enjoy our last
dinner together before flying home the next day.
of Ston, famous for its amazing 14th century stone city walls. We’ll
have time to explore the town for a while (and maybe squeeze in one last sketch)
before driving to the quaint village of Cavtat, where we will enjoy our last
dinner together before flying home the next day.
Now, let’s talk about the art portion of
the trip…
the trip…
My
teaching will focus on illustrated watercolor journaling and how to create a
colorful, varied, and personal record of your experiences on the trip.
You’ll
learn how to design dynamic pages with unique layouts, borders, and
hand-lettering styles, and I’ll offer daily demonstrations of techniques for
painting the subject matter you’ll encounter each day, everything from a village street scene to a mass
of climbing bougainvillea.
learn how to design dynamic pages with unique layouts, borders, and
hand-lettering styles, and I’ll offer daily demonstrations of techniques for
painting the subject matter you’ll encounter each day, everything from a village street scene to a mass
of climbing bougainvillea.
Each day
I’ll suggest new ideas for filling the pages of your travel journal…one day you’ll
give a theme page a try, while the next you might pre-paint
a page with a layer of color then draw a sketch over it. And have you ever
heard of a flow sketch? It’s a great way to condense an entire day onto one
sketchbook page. We’ll try all these ideas and more during our time together.
I’ll suggest new ideas for filling the pages of your travel journal…one day you’ll
give a theme page a try, while the next you might pre-paint
a page with a layer of color then draw a sketch over it. And have you ever
heard of a flow sketch? It’s a great way to condense an entire day onto one
sketchbook page. We’ll try all these ideas and more during our time together.
Each painter
will receive a spiral-bound handbook containing all of the information covered in
the workshop. It’s filled with great ideas for designing beautiful journal
pages, and it includes a section of helpful step-by-step painting instructions
showing you how to paint the textures, colors, and beauty of Croatia.
will receive a spiral-bound handbook containing all of the information covered in
the workshop. It’s filled with great ideas for designing beautiful journal
pages, and it includes a section of helpful step-by-step painting instructions
showing you how to paint the textures, colors, and beauty of Croatia.
The
handout ensures that you can relax during the workshop, knowing that even if
you can’t absorb everything during the week, you’ll have complete information
that you can refer to later on and use to paint subjects closer to home, too.
handout ensures that you can relax during the workshop, knowing that even if
you can’t absorb everything during the week, you’ll have complete information
that you can refer to later on and use to paint subjects closer to home, too.
With my
enthusiastic support, encouragement, and assistance, even if you’re a beginning watercolorist, you’ll surprise yourself with what you can do!
enthusiastic support, encouragement, and assistance, even if you’re a beginning watercolorist, you’ll surprise yourself with what you can do!
We’re
going to have an amazing time together as we immerse ourselves in all that Korcula
has to offer. Painting, touring, shopping, eating, relaxing — we’ll have time
for it all with this perfectly organized 10-day small-group tour.
So, if
you’d like to improve your painting skills, learn more about keeping a travel sketchbook, and have more fun than you can imagine exploring the
unspoiled island of Korcula, I hope you’ll join me for this “Watercolor
Sketching in Croatia” workshop.
you’d like to improve your painting skills, learn more about keeping a travel sketchbook, and have more fun than you can imagine exploring the
unspoiled island of Korcula, I hope you’ll join me for this “Watercolor
Sketching in Croatia” workshop.
Register
today to reserve your place:
today to reserve your place:
Cost for
the 10-day all-inclusive program:
the 10-day all-inclusive program:
Tour Cost: $3100 +
single supplement fee (most people will pay this if you are not traveling with
a spouse/partner)
Non-painting partners: $2900
Single Supplement Fee: $200 Full payment due: July 8, 2019
Deposit to reserve your spot: $300 (non-refundable unless tour is cancelled by
Slikamilina)
single supplement fee (most people will pay this if you are not traveling with
a spouse/partner)
Non-painting partners: $2900
Single Supplement Fee: $200 Full payment due: July 8, 2019
Deposit to reserve your spot: $300 (non-refundable unless tour is cancelled by
Slikamilina)
*Painters have
priority, but non-artist partners (shared accommodations only)
are welcome to come and enjoy the island a their own pace.
priority, but non-artist partners (shared accommodations only)
are welcome to come and enjoy the island a their own pace.
This workshop is being arranged through
Slikamilina Painting Tours, who will handle all booking arrangements. (Please read the GeneralConditions.)
Slikamilina Painting Tours, who will handle all booking arrangements. (Please read the GeneralConditions.)
Tour price includes:
• Transfer from airport to Cavtat on arrival
• Accommodation the night before the tour starts
• Dinner the night before the tour starts
• Transportation to/from Dubrovnik
• Transportation to/from daily excursions
• All meals, gratuities associated with restaurant meals, accommodations and instruction
• Accommodation the night before the tour starts
• Dinner the night before the tour starts
• Transportation to/from Dubrovnik
• Transportation to/from daily excursions
• All meals, gratuities associated with restaurant meals, accommodations and instruction
Not included:
• Travel to Dubrovnik,
Croatia, from home country
Croatia, from home country
• Transfer to Dubrovnik
airport on your departure date.
airport on your departure date.
• Any airport
arrival/departure tax
arrival/departure tax
• Travel and/or medical
insurance
insurance
• Painting materials and
equipment
equipment
• Gratuities for service
• Any other cost incurred
outside the workshop itinerary
outside the workshop itinerary
More information:
Read
about Leslie here.
about Leslie here.
Read
about the tour operator, Lynda Milina, here.
about the tour operator, Lynda Milina, here.
Why
choose to travel abroad with Slikamilina? Here.
choose to travel abroad with Slikamilina? Here.
Tour itinerary
Register
here.
here.
Questions:
Email Leslie at Leslie or Lynda Milina, tour director
