Sketching the Light & Colour of an Italian Summer
an immersive drawing and painting retreat
Rachel will guide you through an immersive week of sketching and painting, with a focus on the colours, light, and the natural beauty of the Italian countryside. Each day combines
hands-on instruction and time to wander and absorb your surroundings — with evenings
spent sharing good food and good company.
Throughout the week, we’ll work in watercolour, ink, gouache and mixed media, exploring subjects that include seasonal botanicals, Italian architecture and landscape. You’ll learn to build expressive colour palettes, layer different materials together, paint on location, and build interactive works on paper. One of the highlights of the week is a collaborative painting – made from everyone’s drawings and paintings together.
Rachel takes a warm, hands-on approach, with close personal guidance throughout. All levels are welcome — whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time or looking to deepen an existing practice.
You’ll leave not only with a collection of paintings made in Italy, but with new techniques, fresh inspiration, and a deeper appreciation for noticing the beauty around you.
retreat program
All the information you need to know exactly what to expect from this retreat.
Arrive from 3pm — there’s no rush, and no charge if you’re here a little earlier. Settle in, explore the Chiaraluce property, and we’ll gather at 7pm for our first dinner together.
After breakfast, we’ll head to the studio for our first morning together. We’ll start by going over the week ahead, getting to know our materials, and building our colour palettes — mixing colours, trying out watercolour techniques, and experimenting with how different materials work together.
After lunch, we’ll slow down and really look. Fresh flowers set up in the studio will be our subject for the afternoon — through guided observation, we will learn to sketch both fast and slow, with step-by-step demos throughout. We’ll wrap up by 4pm.
In the early evening we’ll head into the nearby charming village of Montefiore dell’Aso for pizza and cocktails.
Today we head out for a full day in Ascoli Piceno — one of the most beautiful towns in Le Marche. The morning will be for sketching on location together, with demos on painting landscapes and town scenes.
We’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then the afternoon is yours to wander, explore, and take reference photos to bring back to the studio tomorrow.
On the way home we’ll stop in at the Silvestri Rosina olive oil mill before returning to Chiaraluce for dinner at 7pm.
With yesterday’s sketches and photos in hand, we’ll spend the morning workshop making narrative, interactive works on paper inspired by our Ascoli day. We’ll continue after lunch, with the workshop wrapping up at 4:30pm.
At 5:30pm we’ll head to the kitchen for a tiramisu-making workshop, followed by dinner at 7pm.
After breakfast, we’ll start the morning with an inspiration walk to a nearby garden — taking note of colours, light, and atmosphere. We will work on some preparatory sketches in the garden together.
Back in the studio, we’ll work on botanicals: seasonal flowers, bees, and butterflies. To close the morning, we’ll bring everything together into one large collective collage made from everyone’s drawings and paintings. We’ll finish up and sit down for lunch at 1:30pm.
In the afternoon we’ll make our way to the seaside town of Grottammare, finishing with a wine tasting (optional) before heading back for dinner at 7pm.
This last full day begins with a morning walk by the sea, then back for breakfast. Our final workshop will provide some time to sketch freely and continue your final work either outdoors, inspired by the scenery, or in the comfort of the studio.
We will lunch together at Chiaraluce, then in the afternoon we’ll share our work and reflect on the week before setting up for the vernissage at 6pm — a small exhibition open to local guests. Farewell dinner follows at 8pm.
Breakfast will be from 9am, with check-out and departures from 10am.
Rachel Russell
Rachel is an Australian artist and illustrator whose work draws inspiration from the natural world and the poetry of life. Although she trained and worked as a classical violinist for many years, she has always kept a pencil and watercolours close at hand.
A quiet observer, Rachel responds to the world through drawing and painting, seeking to reveal or reimagine the beauty hidden around her. Through her lyrical works, she invites her audience into moments of wonder and reflection, encouraging an appreciation for the delicate details that often go unnoticed.
Guided by curiosity and a love for detail, Rachel delights in watching gardens change with the seasons or wandering the streets of a new city, recording it all in her colourful sketchbooks.
does it cost?
We offer different pricing options based on your needs.
€2500
€2200 per person sharing
€1900 per person sharing
they’ll receive a €250 discount on the room and can explore all the activities available for them.