There’s a sweet little village nestled on the western side of the Alpi Apuane, a couple of miles from many artists’ retreats and beaches of Forte dei Marme on the Italian Riviera and a mile or so from Pietrasanta, where fabulous huge slabs of marble are harvested into stunning works of art.  From this perch of Seravezza, the painting student has access to the fun of a classy beach “town” graced by Prada and Armani plus, and the eye popping studios in Pietrasanta where they can watch as artisans carve marble statuary or place minute stones to form glowing Byzantine mosaics.  Montorno is a quiet retreat from all this, but still the painter has the opportunity to inhale deeply a mixture of ancient arts and wonderful Tuscan cuisine.  Our chef, Italia, may be piccola, but her gift at the stove is molto grande.  She is a trained chef who has lived in Seravezza most of her life.  All this and painting hasn’t even been mentioned!!

We have our espresso hand delivered by Alessandro, our host, to the studio sometime mid morning, just when you need it most.  By then we’re working on a Dutch style still life, which we will continue most mornings, learning grisaille, and the layering technique of painting.  Our model breaks the concentration on still life, and we work with her until one p.m . when we hear Francesca, our hostess, calling that Italia has “lunch” ready.  No cheese sandwich or hotdog here, we follow our noses to the garden table and have a feast overlooking the Tuscan sunshine.  Did I tell you it’s 75 degrees everyday?

We paint until seven p.m. around steeply terraced landscape with fruit trees and flowers everywhere.  Occasionally, the chaise lounges call and napping happens among the bees and breezes floating over the sweet oregano that permeates all those hills around Tuscany.

Check out the Supply List, but don’t worry; if you run out of something, there are a few art stores in the vicinity.  Then you’ll have an excuse to purchase some great Italian brushes, and a wonderful sketchbook and snoop around the narrow streets in Pietrasanta.  You might discover the charming chapel of San Biagio, where you’ll see the Botero frescos!