Courses

Essence of Tuscany with Barbara Hack

With Barbara Hack

At Lucca, Tuscany - Villa Vistosa

20 April - 30 April, 2025

I am so thrilled to have this incredible opportunity to paint with you in the culturally rich area of Tuscany! We will not only capture the feeling of this gorgeous environment in paint, but also experience the food, wine and history of this region. Join me for 10 amazing days in Beautiful Tuscany ! What better way to embrace the true essence of Italy than bringing people into our experience. Our goal is to Master facial proportions and anatomy to create realistic portraits in our Oil Portrait painting Workshop. For 10 days This hands-on workshop is designed to take you through a classically inspired approach to painting the head/portrait from a live model. All four stages of the painting process will be covered, including underdrawing, with the emphasis on improving color, drawing skills, value relationships, understanding edges, and capturing the feeling of light. Through a series of demonstrations, guided exercises, and one-on-one instruction, attendees will learn how the power of light and shadow add dimension and drama to a portrait . My intention is to help you better tackle the difficulties of this challenging subject. No matter what background you have with oil paints, I will assist in teaching you at your comfort level. What better place to capture memories than painting in Tuscany! We will truly make memories together!!! All levels are welcome, Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today.

Course Highlights

  1. Instruction by Barbara
  2. Excusion to most beautiful corners of Tuscany
  3. Specialy selected activities
  4. Accomodation in beautiful Tuscan Villa
  5. Private Villa Chef

Day by Day Workshop Schedule

  1. Day 1: Arrival day ⦁ Group will be picked up from Pisa airport or Lucca Station at 4:00pm. ⦁ Arrival, unpack, settle in Villa Vistas, time to rest. ⦁ Around 5:30pm - Welcome gathering with Barbara and Karolina including day-to-day schedule and workshop plan, goals, and challenges. ⦁ Dinner – Karolina’s favorite Tuscan delights. ⦁ We will start to make our home made Limoncello:)
  2. Day 2: Recovery day ⦁ breakfast at 9:00am ⦁ Time to relax and enjoy surrounds - first instructional session with Barbara. ⦁ Lunch at 1:00pm under Pergola prepared by our Chef. ⦁ Post lunch, it’s time to take a walk, rest, nap. ⦁ Afternoon session in the studio ⦁Dinner served at 7:00pm
  3. Day 3: Lucca day ⦁ Breakfast at 8:30am ⦁ Guided Lucca tour ⦁ Time for personal explore and shopping, lunch on Your own ⦁ Back home around 5.30pm -dinner at 7:00pm by our Chef.
  4. Day 4: Home day ⦁ 8:30am breakfast at home. ⦁ Studio time with Barbara ⦁ Lunch at home 1pm ⦁ Rest time ⦁Back in the studio for a class ,dinner by our Chef
  5. Day 5: Florence day ⦁ Breakfast at 8:30am, followed by Florence day trip with guided walking tour. ⦁ Private time for shopping and more exploring ⦁ Ufizzi museum group visit 3pm ⦁ Back home 5.30pm ⦁ Dinner home 7pm
  6. Day 6: Home Day ⦁ Breakfast at 8:30pm ⦁ Studio time with Barbara⦁Lunch 1pm⦁4.30pm Cooking class with Chef Karolina , with Dinner served 7pm
  7. Day 7: Day with Wine tasting ⦁ Breakfast at 8:30am, followed by session with Barbara. ⦁ Lunch at 1:00pm ⦁ Post lunch excursion for wine tasting at our local bio- dynamic winery. ⦁ Back home for dinner with Chef Karolina
  8. Day 8: Day to explore Liguria ⦁ Breakfast at 8:30am ⦁10:30am day trip to Portovenere – most beautiful coast town with spectacular views ⦁ Time to explore, shop and relax on own (with a map in your hand). ⦁ Lunch on own. ⦁ Return home at 5:30pm ⦁ Dinner by our private Chef 7.00pm
  9. Day 9: Lucca day vol.2 ⦁ Breakfast at 8:30am, followed by session with Barbara ⦁ Lunch at 1:00pm. ⦁Post lunch - time to relax ⦁ 3:30pm - Back to Lucca for last shopping and more exploration. ⦁ 6:45pm - Meeting for Puccini Concert followed by dinner in our favorite local restaurant with our friend Pasquale .
  10. Day 10: Final day ⦁ 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 works! You’ll enjoy this with a spritz and casual spuntini. ⦁ At 7:00pm there’ll be a glamorous gala dinner offering the best Tuscan cuisine. You’ll have a meal prepared by our chef along with homemade limoncello.
  11. Day 11: Departure day. ☹ ⦁ Breakfast at 8:30am. ⦁ After breakfast, the group will be taken to Lucca train station or Pisa airport. Untill we meet again :)

Course Cost: 4299 Euro

About Artrist :

I have always held a great passion for the figure as an ongoing reflection on people and their emotions. My subject matter reflects my love for figurative work and the challenge of realistic portraiture.

Working predominantly in painting mediums, I aim to push beyond realism and capture resonant moments in time. The paintings pursue figures from the pasts, showing both their moods and contexts. Seven years ago, I made the decision to pursue this love for painting full time. Since then, numerous galleries, including the MEAM Museum, Salmagundi Club, Rehs Gallery, Abend Gallery, and the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, have exhibited my paintings, as well as magazines, such as Fine Art Connoisseur ,International Artist and Artists Magazine. In addition, my work also received recognition as a finalist in the ARC, one of ten chosen for Outstanding Artists over 60 and most recently a top 20 finalist in Portrait Society of America’s international portrait competition.

​I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in drawing and painting along with an intensive study in Europe and additional training in New York. My various career paths have challenged me with alternative contexts for figurative artistry, and in a variety of mediums, including graphite, pastels, color pencil and oils. Besides my full time art I continue to teach fine art classes and lessons. Please join me for this wonderful experience in Tuscany!

10 day workshop in Tuscany include:

-Intensive painting instruction by Barbara

-Painting supplies as easel,stool and bag

-Outstanding Italian food during entire stay with best local wines

-Day trip to Portovenere (Golf of Poets)Liguria -Cooking Lesson with personal Chef -Lucca town tour -Florence day tour -Biodynamic Wine Tasting -Glamorous Tuscan farewell dinners&wine -Pizza Festival

Exludes: Flights 3 lunches (Lucca, Florence , Cinque Terre )

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. Karolina will handle all booking arrangements, all enquiries, and receive the payments of deposit and balance from the students directly.

To Book we require 1000Euro security deposit .