Greece in Spring Time: Mountains and the Sea

2013   Dates: April 28 departure, May 7 return

Join us for a wonderful adventure to Greece! Spring is a beautiful time of year to visit…..Travelling and painting on location is a wonderful way to experience another country. One is immersed in the sights and sounds!

Fond memories flood back when you go back, later on, to the sketchbook or artwork for a look. No experience necessary…..just bring some supplies and learn to paint. This is a great way to immerse yourself in creativity!

Itinerary:

We’ll arrive in Athens, drive to the hills to the Epsilon Resorts, an Agritourism Hotel near Delphi. We plan to stay 4 nights (3 meals will be provided daily for us). The rooms are in wonderfully restored former stables, overlooking the expansive farm, olive groves and the towering mountains. We’ll be exploring via van [or suitable vehicle for the group size] taking trips; painting sessions will be wherever we locate for the day. The mountains are breathtaking! So much to capture on paper! Painting plein air (outdoors), small format (for easy portability) will give us time to savor the light and colors of magical Greece. One of the days we are being offered a figure sculpture class, in wire! Can be interesting!

Morning of the fifth day we’ll head for Athens airport to hop over to the Isle of Lesvos (Lesbos) and travel to the area of Molyvos, via rental van. We will be staying 4 nights harborside or in a small fishing village, to be determined by the size of the group. So beautifully scenic! Meals in this location will be on our own.  We will experience Greek Easter here…..a holiday!

Dates: April 28 departure, 5/7 return

Airfare:      Boston to Athens/ Athens to MJT Airport, Isle of Lesvos/return to Boston.  estimated round trip cost :  $1100-1400

After 4 days in each location, you might opt to stay in Athens exploring for 1 or 2 days before returning home. Cost not included in estimate.

Accommodations:

Epsilon Resorts, 2 hours north of Athens.    4 nights

Double occupancy/meals included             est. per person cost: $ 300

Molyvos hotel/guest house on Isle of Lesvos.       4 nights

Single or double rate available                                  est / person cost: $260

  Meals in Molyvos                                                     est /person  cost: $ 50/day 

Transportation:   A van or suitable size vehicle for participants will be rented in each location. Cost will not exceed $200 each/less if more to split fees)                                                                           est/person   $200

Workshop/Companion:

Artist fee for plein air watercolor workshop                                       $400

or

Companion fee (wire seminar available to all)                                   $250

Total estimated cost for trip: (airfare not included)

Estimated cost:  $ 1100 to 1300.

Painting Adventures 2013:   Watercolor in Portsmouth NH and along the coast!

Come and paint the many faces of the Seacoast. We will be working outdoors in different locations, each day for 5 days, Thursday-Monday.     Schedule of  locations will be set prior to the start of the workshop. To be announced. (check with Doris: email dorisrice@comcast.net or cell 603-724-7779 for daily updates.) We will gather at 9:30 on location, set up, watch Doris demonstrate showing the theme for the day, then paint with guidance if you wish!….Lunch break (on me!…just bring water or cold drink) …more painting time and then an eye opening critique on the day’s efforts. This is one of the highlights of the day! We then wrap up after crit, usually 3:30-4.

Suggested locations from past workshops: [Email if you have other locations to suggest........]

Prescott Park area, 4 Tree Island, Boat Launch?….all located waterfront …..Farmers Market, on the Mill Pond, South End, Portsmouth

 North Hampton or Hampton Fish Houses, Ocean Blvd

 Exeter, NH on the Parkway or across the river

Tuesday: Newburyport, Ma

Cost for the workshop: $350 for 5 days or $75 per individual day

Lunch provided

Materials listed under workshops….let Doris know if you need paper (100% rag 140 lb cold press @4.00 sheet 22 x 30) or need to borrow an easel.  I have 2 extra Stanrite #100′s.

I need rsvp’s for lunch count!    contact Doris for more info: dorisrice@comcast.net

c 603-724-7779 or home 603-964-9254

This is a chance to learn the skills of painting while soaking in the beautiful surroundings of Cape Cod.

Doris Rice, experienced plein air (outdoor) watercolorist, will guide you to a full painting experience. Learn the steps to success!

Dates:  2 days…..Wednesday, Thursday June 26, 27

 Time: 9am gather, finish after critique, 4:00 pm…..bring a bag lunch

Location: : Meet  at the Cotuit Center for the Arts

4404 Falmouth Road

Cotuit, MA 02635

We’ll meet and have a basic introduction then move along to the painting location.   We will be working outside on location for the day.

Location is selected by the weather of the day, be it very sunny, a bit windy, overcast…..we’ll plan accordingly.

Lenore@cotuitcenterforthearts.org  for more information.

Contact Doris with questions and materials list

Fun in the sun!  Beautiful Southern California, beaches, palm trees……the gorgeous Hotel Del Coronado awaits our painting expertise!

Join Doris for a chance to learn to paint on location. Lessons to encourage your skill and style are spread over 5 days.    It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about yourself through painting!

For specific info: contact  Jody Mohr: 619-435-5326                                          350 Palm Ave, Coronado or see details in eCoronado online news.

Art Work available to see:      Wood Gallery, Orange Ave, Coronado

Along the Rance River, which runs to the sea a bit further north, we’ll settle into the village of Saint Suliac. Care to join us?

Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico

June 5-13, 2013

You are invited to join me in sunny New Mexico!

We will drink in the colors of the stunning southwest, painting, hiking, communing with the ancient landscape.  It is a welcoming wonderful area to visit!

Proposed itinerary:

We will arrange to arrive in NM by early afternoon (hopefully by 2:00) 6/5, to drive together  to Taos. We have accommodations at the historic Mabel Dodge Luhan Historic Inn, inTaos[www.mabeldodgeluhan.com], for 5 nights. We are bed and breakfast guests, so I believe coffee/ tea and light breakfast will be included; we are on our own for lunch and dinner. I will rent a cottage that has kitchen facilities, so we can cook for some meals together. It is a conference center for all types of group meetings and seminars.

The rooms are scattered around the beautiful rustic property. Some are double rooms and one or two can hold several guests.  Please indicate if you are willing room share.

Painting, walking through town, visiting galleries, visiting the Taos reservation…..so much to see and do.

Painting is first on my list, and we will be doing many varied views of landscape and western artifacts. Sketching will be a must! Thurs/Friday will be local, on location. Saturday might be the trip into Santa Fe (1.5 hour drive) to walk and see the famous Canyon Road Galleries……Sunday, back at the Inn.

Monday we will transfer to Abiquiu Inn, Georgia O’Keefe country.  We’ll visit Ghost Ranch….try for more painting time (incredible mountain colors!).  Meals may be purchased on site at their restaurant, or we can do some shared cooking on our own in the kitchenette rooms.

Tuesday we have planned a guided tour of the O’Keefe property, very near the Inn.  This is a must for this trip!

Wednesday, painting and absorbing the spirit of Abiquiu!

Thurs, 6/13, all must come to an end…..homeward bound.

[We will try for a mid day flight, so we can all travel together in the rental cars.]

Plein Air Watercolor Workshop:

During our days visiting New Mexico, we will explore the surroundings, observe the light. We will experiment with color and shape to describe the landscape around us. No two painters see alike so the resulting works will have their own signature, regardless of painting proficiency and expertise.  Everyone is a beginner in a new place!  All are welcomed to try it out.  Bring your own chosen painting materials, or contact me for information.

Air travel…..We will arrive at Santa Fe or Albuquerque airport, depending on possible flight times and varied fares. Check with me before booking.

Santa Fe has a more limited schedule, and is approximately $50 more for the trip from Boston, but it is also a full hour closer to our destination, so it might be a better bet.

I have researched and found acceptable flights on Wednesday 6/5 arrival mid day to early afternoon,  with a return Thursday 6/13, departure mid day.    Let me know your findings……

Costs for the Adventure:

All costs are generalized at this point.

Cars will cost less if there are more of us.

Rooms offer a wide range of pricing. We can shorten the Taos visit  by one day if all wish to keep it to 8 days.

I need your input.

Airfare:  [ as of 1/13] …it is about $5-600.00 from Boston now,

  so shop around

Workshop:

Artist participant                                                         $400.00

Companion                                                                      250.00

Admission to Georgia O’Keefe Abiquiu HouseTour                        $35.00

Accommodations:

Taos at Mabel Dodge Luhan House [taxes not included]

Rooms are diverse in size and amenities.  Placements are first come basis, shared rooms could be twin or double (some queen) beds.  All have private baths.   Estimated costs:

          Single room per night                                     $105 to 130/night

          Shared room/single or double or queen                 $55 to 125/night

Abiquiu Inn                                      estimated room share, tax not included

          Shared and single rooms approximately  $75-100 per night.

          Casitas with Kitchen will be shared by all for meal prep if we wish to dine in….Cafe Abiquiu offers lovely southwestern menu.

So…..accommodations can run from (before tax) $500/shared spaces

 on up to double that.

It all depends on if you wish to have personal quiet reflective time, privacy, and so on….

Rental Cars:

We’ll be renting vehicle/s to accommodate luggage and participants.

 I love driving, and we might need another volunteer if the group goes beyond capacity of one car.  Costs for rental vehicles will be shared, along with gas and tolls.  Estimated cost for the 9 days is: $125 each.

          So, here is a list of possibilities.

As you contact me with thoughts and preferences, I will send in deposits and book autos and rooms. A number of folks, painters and non-painters, have indicated interest.

I’ll take a consensus of opinion and let you all know final details…..

Dates:
September 21-28 2012

Price: (Estimated costs/euro exchange rate varies)
Artist Workshop fee: $350.00, Companion/Non painter  fee: $200.00
Spannocchia membership fee: $45 per person or $70 per family
Room and board (for week): inquire for rates according to currency exchange. Private Bathrooms with Villa rooms.

All meals and wine included…..the food is locally raised and grown….wine and olive oil from the estate.

(Estimated @ 1.35 exchange rate, dollars to Euro):

Auto rental and travel costs not included.

[Last year we forum flights Boston to Florence at $900+ depending on travel ‘deals’…..]

We rented a van and split the fee for our trips to the cities and airport pickup and drop off….

Program Website:
www.dorisrice.com

Program Coordinator:
Doris Rice

Address:
155 Atlantic Avenue
North Hampton, NH 03862

Telephone:
603-964-9254 cell:603-724-7779

E-mail:
dorisrice@comcast.net

Preferred method of contact:
email

Description:

Come join me for a painting experience in beautiful Tuscany! We will work on location, learning the fundamentals of watercolor and capturing the many moods of Spannocchia. We will have a grounds tour, where our hosts will introduce us to the facilities as well as the wonderful work that the organic, historic gardeners are dedicated to.

Previous painting experience is not necessary. You can acquire skills as you paint! The lessons will include a daily demonstration, painting lesson: ‘subject of the day’ and an evaluation/critique each afternoon. We can travel into nearby Siena and any other agreed upon local areas for day or ½ day painting explorations. You will complete at least one work each day, and maybe a few!

This is a ‘destination vacation’ where you will soak up the culture, the food, the historic surroundings as you work on your skill development with painting in watercolor!  Tours of vineyards, wine making, cooking Tuscan style, heritage gardens, heritage line of pigs and the famous proscuitto….all at your fingertips.

Coordinator Biography:

Doris B. Rice, watercolor artist – Doris’ studio is the great outdoors. Painting on location is her inspiration. She is a graduate of Moore College of Art in Philadelphia. Since relocating from Philadelphia to North Hampton, NH years ago,  she has focused on plein air [on location] work, traveling to study with various master painters. She is a past president of Seacoast Artist Association and a member of NHAA. Doris teaches adult classes and workshops across the USA and Europe as well as  artist in residency projects for youth. For information on workshops, classes and paintings,  look her up:     www.dorisrice.com.

2011 was a wonderful painting time……good weather,  good paintings! Thanks all for being there!

Look for the info for 2012 soon……September again. Love that end of summer weather!