A group of painters here hard at work outside the Duomo in Barga Vecchia this afternoon busily working under the tutelage of Christopher Bell – the Course Director / Fine Art Tutor for Art Toscana.
They had come from various and varied countries to enjoy the incredible changing landscape of the mountains surrounding Barga. The fast moving clouds and light conditions seemingly to move the mountains one second away and seconds later, moving them closer. Difficult conditions for oil painters but deeply satisfying when they do manage to capture that brief moment on the canvas.
Chris and Krysia have been running painting holidays in Tuscany since 2005, Florence, Venice and Sicily since 2010.
Set amid 23 acres of the Garfagnana Nature Reserve, a mile and a half from the mediaeval town of Barga, 20 miles from Lucca and 56 miles from Florence, our spacious Tuscan farmhouse has a restored barn, extensive studio facilities and a swimming pool. It is an ideal retreat for exploring creativity.
With fantastic views of the snow-capped Apuan Alps, the house and grounds are situated in one of Italy’s richest botanic regions. Our house ‘Val di Pozza’ (Valley of the Well) is comfortably furnished and, whilst offering total seclusion, is only a short distance from Barga.We have designed exciting art courses for both beginners and the more experienced. Attention will be given to individual needs within maximum groups of ten. – The Art Toscana site can be seen here
Christopher Bell Course Director / Fine Art Tutor – MA Slade University College London, BA Chelsea College of Art, Certificate in Education, Certificate in Counselling, Painting Scholarship to Yale University.
I am both a practising artist and a teacher. My background is in education, teaching art to young students, teachers and adults. I am an Advanced Skills Teacher and led the Development of Thinking and Learning Skills in East Sussex schools.
My work as a painter, is mostly two dimensional, incorporating a range of surfaces and media. Layering techniques together with historcal references also play a major role in the creation of these images. I have exhibited in the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London, in the USA and Germany. My work is also in private collections, and I undertake commissions. I also cook the pizzas!
