Painting the Landscape in the Cinque Terre
Virginia based abstract landscape painter, Lynn Goldstein enjoys telling people that one of her first jobs was working in the art department of Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus. She was employed as a graphic designer for seventeen years, but painting was never far from her mind.
Lynn is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and Maryland Pastel Society where she serves as a juror for potential signature members. Lynn is also a juried member of the prestigious Washington Society of Landscape Painters. She is also a juried member of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, and a juried resident artist at the Workhouse Arts Center where she has her studio.
Lynn has taught many workshops in the mid-Atlantic region, Southern France, Portugal, and in Tuscany, Italy and workshop classes at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, where she volunteered her time as a docent for over two decades. This experience has allowed Lynn to study, understand, and pass on the best of America’s art masterpieces.
Since leaving graphic design work behind, Goldstein has exhibited widely, winning awards, in nationally juried exhibitions and galleries. Her work is enjoyed in private and public collections throughout the United States and Europe, including the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Schar Cancer Institute, the Lorton Library in Fairfax County, Virginia, and the United States Department of State.
Notably, one of her paintings was selected for the permanent collection in the Jean-Haffen Museum in Dinan, France, upon her completion of an artist residency there. Lynn was one of fifteen American artists selected to participate in the Caravan multi-cultural and international art project which took place at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC.
Her installation work exploring her Jewish roots was selected for exhibition at the Smithsonian S Dillon Ripley Center in Washington, D.C. in 2015, and a different piece was selected for display there in 2017.
A week of art instruction, touring and fun as we create artwork together!
Join Lynn as we concentrate on creating compelling landscapes using innovative techniques, experimenting with color, and interpreting the landscape through shape and pattern. Learn how to simplify the fascinating beauty of the Cinque Terre and find the perfect subjects to paint or draw. This workshop is designed for all levels of students, and the methods can be applied to both representational and/or abstract landscape drawings and/or paintings. These techniques are open for all mediums: water-mixable oil, acrylic, or pastel.
The week will be a combination of outdoor sketching and painting, studio time and excursions to visit the area.
Lynn will be demonstrating with sketches or acrylic.
- Sketching Essentials: Simplifying Forms — Learn to simplify complex shapes in sketches for stronger foundations.
- Focused Expression: Your Center of Interest — Discover methods to highlight your focal point authentically.
- Color Harmony Unveiled: Lynn’s Technique — Unlock Lynn’s secret to achieving captivating color harmony.
- Underpainting Techniques: Adding Depth — Experiment with underpainting for richer, multidimensional artworks.
- Abstract Exploration: Lynn’s Playful Approach — Embrace abstraction with Lynn’s enjoyable method.
Testimonials:
Just returning from a wonderful week in Tuscany where I enjoyed a pastel class with Lynn Goldstein. Lynn was always available for critique and suggestion. Of interest to me was her introduction of more abstract forms using the color wheel and complementary colors as a guide. It was challenging and fun. And Lynn is a wonderful inspiration and instructor.— Kris D
Lynn is a fine teacher and a wonderful artist. Thanks, Lynn. —Barbara K.
Lynn is nurturing of whatever talents her student’s may have. — Peter K.
Lynn’s lessons have really changed how I see art and how I work. — Linda G.
Lynn obviously knows her stuff and is capable of conveying it in an organized, fun and instructional manner. — Amy W.
“Having previously taken workshops and classes from Lynn, the San Fedele experience did not disappoint. Lynn continued to offer helpful critique, while giving inspiration for artistic growth. The grounds of San Fedele, the hillside towns, and Tuscan landscape provided a limitless supply of wonderful painting subject matter.”— Rita H.
Spring Muse, by Lynn Goldstein
Where we’ll stay: Our home away from home for the week, La Cabana, is a typical Ligurian farmhouse that has belonged to one family for generations. The vines and the olive trees 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 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.
Join me for a week of art instruction, touring and fun as we create memories together!
The Perfect Day, by Lynn Goldstein
Additional Activities: Our daily painting will be combined with other adventures such as:
- train pass to visit other towns
- boat trip to Porto Venere to sketch, shop, have lunch or cappuccino in the cafes
- free shuttle service from the hotel to the main town
- pick up in Florence on the first day; optional return to Florence on final day
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 snackfound 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; (non-painters $3,295)
Optional Supplements:
- $475 for single room – limited availability
- $250 p/p for suite with terrace and jacuzzi, minimum 2 persons
Photo by Jen Kochevar
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 Lynn
- Train passes for exploring other towns
- Boat trip to Porto Venere
- Pick up from Florence train station on arrival day (on the departure day you can either go back to Florence with the group, or board a train from the local station to reach your next destination.)
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Art supplies
- Independent meals and sight-seeing
- Gratuities for staff, which are always appreciated
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.
Tucked In, by Lynn Goldstein
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.
