Italy Painting Workshop & Art Retreat
Live the Dream
Paint in the Heart of Italy
SEPTEMBER 19 – 26, 2025 – Reserve your spot today!
Spark your creativity in this painting workshop and retreat with internationally recognized artist Jill Nichols. Capture the sweeping views amongst the olive groves. Relax, savor the fresh cuisine, and explore the surrounding Renaissance and Etruscan Art.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Italy in your private villa.
Rest in the comfort of the well-appointed rooms with ensuite bathrooms. Savor the sumptuous local cuisine prepared fresh for you daily. Discuss painting and art with new friends under the stars. Unwind in one of the several comfortable living spaces in the spacious villa. The art retreat is designed to allow you to fully relax and expand while experiencing exhilarating outings and valuable lessons in painting.
Painting is convenient at the villa.
Imagine waking up to an Italian breakfast, accompanied by coffee or cappuccino, where everything is taken care of so you can fully enjoy your painting experience. You’ll paint the views from the ease and comfort of the studio or in a perfect spot on the extensive grounds. Gain mastery while expressing the exquisite light and expressive colors native to Italy.
Not a landscape painter? No problem. There are many aspects of painting to explore, such as abstraction, value, color, and composition, customized to your needs, while investigating historical and contemporary approaches to painting.
Jill will work with each painter individually to enhance their painting practice and help them achieve their individual goals. Paint in the medium of your choice, including oils, acrylics, watercolors, gouache, and pastels.
Local cuisine and wines are served.
After working up an appetite, we will dine Al Fresco with homemade soup, salad, bread, and cheeses from the local farm, along with fresh fruit for lunch and the primi and secondi courses at dinner. All meals are prepared and served fresh daily, using local ingredients, and special dietary needs are accommodated.
Venture out and Explore the Region.
Make the most of your Italian holiday by exploring Renaissance Art, ancient Etruscan historic sites, and other regional attractions. Tarquinia is a short drive. The villa is situated on the outskirts of the medieval village of Farnese, which boasts numerous intriguing points of interest and excellent restaurants. Visit the wineries and olive presses, or relax at one of the many natural hot springs.
The private villa is conveniently located just 1 1/2 hours from Rome’s airport at the intersection of Lazio, Umbria, and Tuscany. You will be sure to bring home remarkable memories and paintings!
“A once in a life-time trip.”
Claudia H
Live the Dream – Register Today!
Paint, Relax, and Discover Italy – All-inclusive
September 19 – 26, 2025
All-inclusive 8 Days – 7 nights accommodations
5 days of instruction, all levels, beginner to advanced
6 days of fresh local cuisine & regional wine
Painter $3450.
Non Painting Companion, $1975.
Deposit of $500. Holds your spot- refundable until March 31, 2025
Full payment is due by July 19, 2025.
Each attendee’s experience will be optimized. Internationally recognized artist Jill Nichols will assist you in honing your skills.
Your internationally acclaimed instructor, Jill Harrington Nichols, MFA, leads painting workshops in her home state of Connecticut, as well as in Italy, France, and online. Accustomed to teaching students at all levels, Jill has a way of instilling confidence and encouraging students to take risks with exceptional outcomes. Jill’s demos and talks will reveal the secrets of creating a successful painting.
She has received awards from the U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, and the Connecticut Office of the Arts. Her commissioned painting of Washington, D.C., was a backdrop for former FBI Director James Comey’s interview on Face the Nation, while another appeared on a mini-series, The Comey Rule. Her artworks Phi and Juno, which embrace the divine feminine, are installed in the Vatican Observatory Museum.
“Italy was a fabulous experience, and I would highly recommend it.”
Rita P
Figs picked from the villa property.
“The week in Farnese as part of the workshop filled our senses and left an edible mark that won’t be soon forgotten. From the early morning meditation walks, the tantalizing and delectable freshly cooked local cuisine, the wonderful company of newfound friendships, to the wealth of knowledge and craft shared by an outstanding mentor and teacher – it was pure Italian and artistic perfection!”
Cindy M
A few of the sights nearby!
You can book your flight into Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy. Round-trip transportation will be provided on Friday afternoon, September 19th, at 2 pm to the villa and back to Fiumicino on Friday, September 26th, for an additional $250 fee. Other options include car rental, a private car for $500, or carpooling. It is a 1.5-hour drive north of the airport, and renting a car is a convenient and recommended option if you want to venture out and explore independently. The process is straightforward, requiring only your driver’s license, and driving is on the same side as in the United States. The trip to the villa is a straightforward drive. *Please coordinate your flights with Jill before your travel. This fee includes group transportation during the workshop.
Note that airfare is not included.
At left, print of “Phi” in the Vatican Observatory. At right, Jill with her painting, “Phi”, and the Director of the Vatican Observatory, Brother Guy. An optional tour of the Vatican Observatory to view Jill’s artwork and the Palace in Castel Gandolfo is available at an additional fee—details will be provided.
Find out more!
Learn more or register for the Italy Workshop and Retreat by completing this brief form.
Daily Snapshot
- Paint the sunrise (optional) -This will be a quiet time for painting without instruction.
- Breakfast, in the Italian style of sweet and savory
- A moment of quiet reflection and walking meditation to ease the mind and focus
- Morning immersed in painting
- Lunch served
- Rest, relaxation, and revitalization
- Capture the Italian landscape bathed in the late afternoon light, go on an outing, or take a siesta
- Savor a sumptuous dinner, abundant with the region’s fresh flavors
A complete, updated list of suggested materials will be provided upon registration
- Canvas and solvent will be provided.
- Various paints will be available to experiment with subtle temperature and value shifts.
- The demos will be in oil and watercolor/gouache paints. Other mediums, such as watercolors, acrylics, casein, gouache, multi-media, and pastels, are also acceptable.
- After registration, you will receive the details. Below is a link to various suggested materials curated by Jill.
FAQ
I’m traveling alone. Is anyone else? This retreat is an excellent opportunity to meet and make new friends, offering a friendly and welcoming environment for solo travelers. Attendees will be introduced to one another via email before travel.
What is your teaching style? Jill will work one-on-one with students, hold a few demonstrations, and review color, composition, perspective, overlapping, and often-overlooked aspects, sharing her insights into what goes into a successful painting.
Is the Studio at the Villa? The studio is a short walk across the courtyard from the main house. The grounds and views are extensive and surrounded by olive groves. Some photos above will give you an idea of where you will spend eight spectacular days.
Do you know if I need a European Travel Visa? The EU, which includes Italy, has delayed the need for Americans to apply for visas until later this year or 2026 due to technical difficulties. If it comes into effect, all travelers, regardless of age, will be required to have a separate and approved ETIAS to travel to the European Union. However, individuals under 18 or over 70 are exempt from paying the €7 processing fee. There is a small processing fee, so be sure you’re at the legitimate site. We will watch the situation and provide you with up-to-date info.
Where is it in Italy? An hour and a half north of the Rome airport (FCO), on the outskirts of the medieval village of Farnese, VT. Here is the link to Google Maps so you can see exactly where it is:
Jill’s Farnese, Italy Paintings
Thank you to Williamsburg Oils & Golden Paints, and Chelsea Classical Studio for supplying Quality Products
Ask Jill
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