Courses

Finding Individual Expression with Frank Eber

With Frank Eber

At Lucca, Italy - Villa Vistosa

22 September - 02 October, 2024

This workshop is about the finding your personal style while negotiating the challenges of painting en Plein air. Personal artistic expression should be the goal for any serious painters. Technique is important of course, but it is only the first step. The most important thing to bring to your art is yourself. Frank’s work is emotionally based, painted with a ‘limited palette’, softly expressive and suggestive. He was trained by an Italian master painter in the early 90’s. Typical in his art are color mixes and light that evoke nostalgia while remaining absolutely in the present. Frank's workshops reach beyond technique, observing the elusive balance of forces that create beauty in painting. 

Frank stresses a solid foundation in the basics, “…so that our focus is on creating timeless art. An emotional link is necessary in our work, as well as the connection to the vibrancy of everything we paint.” All levels are welcome as long as you come with an open heart and mind :) watercolor/oil

Course Highlights

  1. Intensive instruction by Frank
  2. Best Italian food and wine during entire stay
  3. Day trip to Lucca , Lerici, Viareggio, Pietrasanta,Carrara
  4. Cooking Lesson with personal Chef
  5. Classical concert in a Romanesque church
  6. Glamorous Tuscan farewell dinner

Day by Day Workshop Schedule

  1. Day 1: The arrival day! Group will be picked up from Pisa/Florence airport or Lucca Station. Arrival, unpack, settle in Villa , time to rest. Around 6:00pm- welcome gathering with Frank and Karolina on day-to-day schedule and workshop plan, goals, and challenges. Dinner – best of Italian cuisine, dinner made by our Chef.
  2. Day 2: Home day! Recovery Day… Breakfast at 8:30am then time to relax and enjoy surrounds - first instructional session with Frank around Villa . Lunch under Pergola at 1:00pm prepared by our chef. Post lunch it is time to relax, take a walk and paint! Dinner prepared by our villa Chef at 7:00pm
  3. Day 3: Breakfast 08:30am, afterwards Introduction to Villa Reale one of the most important historical Villa in Lucca where John Singer Sargent paint the garden. Session with the teacher. Picnic Lunch in the garden, 3-4:00pm- Back home for dinner at the villa.
  4. Day 4: Home day! Breakfast at 8:30am followed by session with Frank - landscape . Lunch at 2:00pm. Time to relax , around 4:30pm the group will enjoy cooking lesson and prepare dinner for everyone. 7:00pm- opportunity for non-cooks of massage (on own cost) by our specialized masseuse.
  5. Day 5: Breakfast home , later departure to the medieval town of Pietrasanta, known as the “City of Artists,” has deep roots in Italy’s legacy of art and sculpture. Session with Frank .Afterwards departure to Viareggio for picnic lunch on the molo for fried sea food and prosecco, time on own to explore and shop , back home around 6:00pm for pizza party:)
  6. Day 6: Home day! Breakfast at 8:30am followed by session around villa. Lunch at 1:00pm . Post lunch it is time to relax. 3:00pm Lucca! exploring and shopping time , 7.00pm- Classical concert, dinner in our favourite restaurant. Back home 10:00pm
  7. Day 7: En route day! 8.30am - Breakfast and Departure to Carrara -Marble queries visit , later group lunch in Collonata a tiny village on the top of Carrara mountains, later session with Frank capturing the view from the village . Departure at 5:00pm , back home for dinner.
  8. Day 8: Breakfast at 8:30am followed by painting instruction by Frank and capturing the countryside . Lunch at 1:00pm. Post lunch it’s time to relax. Around 4.00pm, the group will depart for wine tasting in best Bio-Dynamic winery. At 7:00pm, back home for dinner.
  9. Day 9: Time to explore Liguria! 09.00am- After Breakfast a day trip to Lerici – beautiful costal town on the Ligurian sea.Session with Frank , lunch on Your own with time to explore afterwards . Return home at 5:30pm. Dinner at 7.00pm
  10. Day 10: The last day of workshops! You’ll start the day with breakfast at 8:30am. The group will finish their art works. After lunch at 1.00pm, there’ll be time to pack, relax, and rest. Later in the afternoon, we’ll create a gallery with all of your artworks! You’ll enjoy this with a spritz and casual spuntini. At 7.00pm there’ll be a glamorous dinner offering the best Tuscan cuisine.Dinner prepared by our chef along with homemade verbencello.
  11. Day 11: Departure day☹ Breakfast at 8:30am. After breakfast, the group will be taken to Lucca train station or Pisa airport.

Course Cost: 4299 Euro

Frank Eber works in a direct, loose style influenced by the Old World masters. Typical in his art are color mixes and light that evoke nostalgia while remaining absolutely in the present. Frank's oil workshops reach beyond technique, encouraging individual expression and observing the elusive balance of forces that create beauty in painting.

All levels are welcome but students should have an understanding of watercolor and simple one point perspective.
Frank stresses a solid foundation in the basics, “…so that our focus is on creating timeless art. An emotional link is necessary in our work, as well as the connection to the vibrancy of everything we paint.”

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Frank is an award-winning artist and Signature member of the American Impressionist Society (AIS), the American Watercolor Society (AWS) and the National Watercolor Society (NWS). He is a juried Artist member of the prestigious California Art Club


Focus is on painting on location (weather permitting). Selection of subject matter, editing, value sketches, step by step instruction with lots of one-on-one time.

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This workshop is being arranged through followtuscany.com

Karolina will follow up on all questions about the workshop, accommodations, activities, coordinate arrivals and departures, food issues and all other details. She will handle all booking arrangements, all enquiries, and receive the payments of deposit and balance from the students directly.

Contact:

Karolina Lenart

Email:followyoursensesintuscany@gmail.com

Web:followtuscany.com

Telephone: +39 3455809974 or +48 880876413

Included in the cost of your workshop in Tuscany:

  • Accommodations
  • All tuition fees
  • All excursions
  • All activities
  • Airport transfers and local transportation including day trips to Lucca, Viareggio, Pietrasanta,Lerici,Carrara.
  • All breakfasts lunches and dinners in the program
  • The use of folding chairs and easels

Exludes:

  • Flights to and from Pisa
  • 2 lunches (Lucca,Lerici)
  • Painting supplies