Light-Filled Painting in the Cinque Terre
Brian’s painting journey started in Laguna Beach, California in 1995. After completing his first Plein Air painting of the magnificent California coast he began capturing on canvas the diverse California landscapes. Within a year he was showing his work at a gallery in Laguna Beach and a few years later he began teaching painting classes at the Palos Verdes Art Center in Southern California.
In 2003 he moved to the east coast and settled in Newport News, Virginia. He continued teaching at the Peninsula Fine Art Center and CNU’s Lifelong Learning Society and in 2007 he led his first international painting workshop to Ireland. He has continued to teach Plein Air painting workshops in Italy, France, Spain and the US. Between 2015 and 2018 he owned Murphy Montgomery Fine Art Gallery in Newport News.
Brian’s painting journey continues today with European workshops as well as Plein Air Painting events and Art Festivals throughout the United States.
Night Lights by Brian Murphy
Discover the light the Cinque Terre landscape and seascapes provide while learning how to capture that light on your canvas!
The bay in Vernazza, Cinque Terre, oil on canvas by Brian Murphy
Plein air painting is the best way to advance skills and painting ability. In this workshop, Brian will teach how to create light-filled paintings while loosening up technique, all with a limited palette. Part of each day he will instruct one-on-one with every student as they paint the magnificent views before us, followed with daily critiques and discussions about the works.
Brian has led numerous painting trips to France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland, and this workshop, paired with daily excursions, will continue this tradition of painting and experiencing the natural beauty and culture of this incredible part of the world.
Cinque Terre, oil on canvas by Brian Murphy
“I hope you will join us for this wonderful trip and discover how rewarding and fun painting abroad can be. The camaraderie and connection you make with fellow participants and the experiences you have while discovering the Italian culture, food and wine will stay with you for a lifetime. I look forward to having the opportunity to pass along my love and knowledge of “plein air” painting and sharing this adventure with you!” – Brian
Additional Activities: Our daily painting will be combined with other adventures such as:
- train pass to visit other towns (Vernazza, Riomaggiore, Manarola and Corniglia)
- boat trip to Porto Venere to sketch or photograph from the sea
- free shuttle service from the hotel to the main town
- transfers to/from Florence on the first/last day
Above Vernazza by Brian Murphy
The Cinque Terre – is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. “The Five Lands” comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside. For more about the Cinque Terre, the Lonely Planet gives a nice description with photos: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/cinque-terre
The Food – We will have 5 dinners organized together at local restaurants and trattorie. We’ll sample the pastas, seafood and specialties of the area. Wine is included in all meals. Lunches and 2 dinners will be independent for you to explore the local cuisine on your own.
Given its location on the Mediterranean, seafood is plentiful in the local cuisine. Anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, olive oil, pine nuts and pecorino cheese. Focaccia is a particularly common locally baked bread product. Farinata is also a typical snack found in bakeries and pizzerias — essentially it is a savoury and crunchy pancake made from a base of chick-pea flour.
Price: $3,595 p/p based on double occupancy
Monterrosso Evening by Brian Murphy
Optional Supplements:
- $475 for single room – limited availability
- $250 p/p for suite with Jacuzzi and terrace, minimum 2 people
Includes:
- Shared double room in Hotel La Cabana in Monterosso (singles available for a supplement)
- Daily traditional breakfast
- 5 dinners with wine
- Daily painting classes and critiques with Brian
- Train passes for exploring other towns
- One boat trip on the Mediterranean
- Pick up from and return to Florence train station on arrival and departure days (NOTE: if you are traveling on from Monterosso and would prefer not to return to Florence, there is a convenient train station right in town.)
Brian teaching
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Art supplies
- Gratuities – at your discretion at the end of the week, but this is always greatly appreciated by your program manager
- Independent meals and sight-seeing
To Register: just click on the Sign Up Now button. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to secure your spot in the workshop. Payment can be made on line with a credit card, or you can follow the instructions to send in your registration and payment by mail. Once we receive your deposit we will send you a formal Registration Confirmation with further information about the program. You will receive 2-3 other correspondences by email prior to the workshop with information about Italy, a supplies list and an electronic invoice for the balance. Final Balance is due by August 15th. Any time prior to your arrival, if you have questions about anything regarding the trip or the program, you can contact us by email or phone and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Contact us for more information: info@ilchiostro.com or speak to us live at 800-990-3506.
Our small hotel La Cabana sits on a small hill that divides the historic center of Monterosso from the new part, Fegina. It is a typical Ligurian farmhouse that has belonged to one family for generations. The vines and the olive trees that they have cultivated form the backdrop to the rooms that have been recently refurbished with the utmost respect for the environment and the traditions of the Cinque Terre, but without forgetting modern comforts.
The 9 rooms are furnished with antiques, parquet floors, curtains, and finishes intended to frame the unparalleled panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea. It is an oasis of relaxation completely surrounded by greenery and silence with wonderful vistas and gardens to paint. Our group will take over the entire hotel for the week.
To get down to Monterosso you can take advantage of their free shuttle service or, if you are up for it, walking down is not difficult and takes less than ten minutes. It’s a nice walk down that offers beautiful panoramic views. On the descent, you will pass the ancient 11th century castle (today houses the cemetery of the village) and wind through olive trees until you reach the historical center of town. Coming back up, the shuttle might be a good idea!
For more information, visit their web site: http://www.lacabanacinqueterre.com/en/index.php
Breakfast room
Reception
Entrance to La Cabana
Garden overlooking the town
The terrace
View from the terrace
La Cabana shuttle
The Cinque Terre are in the section of Italy known as Liguria on the western coast. The main city of Liguria is Genova. These 5 towns were traditional fishing villages, cut off from the mainland by a steep range of mountains. For centuries they were only accessible by the sea.
For our program, we will meet the group in Florence on the first day. From there a private bus will take the group to our hotel in Monterosso-al-Mare.
To visit the town from our hotel there is a regular shuttle bus. The towns are small with narrow roads, so the shuttle will leave us off in the newer section, then we will walk through a short tunnel to the historic center of town where most of the shops and restaurants are located.
To go between towns (Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia or Rio Maggiore) there are local trains connecting all of them.
5 Terre fishing boat, photo by Andy Holtzman
The Cinque Terre – is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. “The Five Lands” comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside.
For more about the Cinque Terre, the Lonely Planet gives a nice description with photos: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/cinque-terre
The Food: Given its location on the Mediterranean, seafood is plentiful in the local cuisine. Anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, olive oil, pine nuts and pecorino cheese. Focaccia is a particularly common locally baked bread product. Farinata is also a typical snack found in bakeries and pizzerias — essentially it is a savoury and crunchy pancake made from a base of chick-pea flour. Epic porcini mushrooms are presented in a wooden box for you to chose for grilling with olive oil and garlic.
