If you expect more from your holidays, you will definitely enjoy one of our thematic sojourns where you might even discover within yourself a hidden talent for painting or the makings of a chef. Or maybe you will just want to have fun and create unforgettable memories along the way
SCHOOL OF PAINTING
(for groups ranging from 5 to 20 people)
The School of Painting involves a 7-day stay in the atmospheric rural region of Konavle. The school takes place in the "AR" studio, led by academic painter Antonia Ruskovic, with a curriculum that includes a choice from among the following workshops:
- Painting landscapes and painting techniques
- Still life, portraiture and drawing techniques
- Silk painting
The package includes half board accommodation in 3*, 4* and 5* hotels in Cavtat, or in country houses adjacent to the studio, roundtrip transport between your chosen accommodation and the studio, as well as a one-day excursion to visit to the galleries in and around Konavle and Dubrovnik.
As an alternative choice, for those with diff erent affi nities, we also offer the School of Cooking or the Active Package (4x4 horse riding, quad riding, hiking, cycling, etc. ...)
Painting landscapes & painting techniques
A six-day painting workshop for beginners where the students, through about twenty painting lessons, will be taught the basics of landscape compositions and become familiar with basic painting techniques: aquarelle, tempera, pastel, acrylic and oil on canvas. We will also learn the foundations of easel painting and the value of colors in all techniques. Lessons will take place in the studio and in other nearby picturesque outdoors locations.
Still life, portraiture & drawing techniques
This workshop represents a short and serious introduction to art. It is based upon beginning lessons in composition, perspective and the adaptation of drawing techniques: carbon, pencil, Indian ink, chalk... The roots of drawing art and its secrets are hundreds of years old, and familiarizing ourselves with them we enter into a magic world of art. This workshop is ideal for those who plan to continue their painting following the trip. The lessons are held in inner and outdoor spaces of the studio.
Silk painting
This five-day silk painting workshop is the most lively and active of the workshops, so we recommend it to younger and more inpatient
students and to those who prefer specific and usable products. We will learn to paint on silk in various techniques, to fix color and to prepare the product for use, no matter if it is a scarf, kerchief, tie or a simple painting on silk. The fifth and last day of the workshop, the studio will be transformed into a fashion show venue, where the students will have the opportunity to showcase their work.
DURATION: 8 days / 7 nights
ASPARAGUS WEEK
Every Spring, from the early days of March to the first days of June, Istria comes alive with wild asparagus. These noble growing shoots were recognised in the ancient world by the Egyptians, who found them flourishing along the Nile River. Besides using them as a food source, they also offered them to the Gods as gifts... and now we offer them to you! How do you find them, pick them, prepare them and finally enjoy them in delicious top-quality dishes? Come with us to the picturesque Istrian village of Brtonigla to find out and experience Spring like you never have before!
A TRUFFLE AND OLIVE STORY
The month is October. You find yourself in the heart of Istria, in the woods below the town of Motovun, and you meet a man walking a dog or even a piglet!? No, he has not gone crazy, he is simply hunting for truffles, the strange and mysterious underground bulbs revered in top gastronomic circles around the world. Truffles were beloved by Roman Emperors and European noblemen, often cited for their aphrodisiac characteristics. Luckily you don't have to be a Roman Emperor, European Nobleman or a Greek Philosopher to enjoy these delectable treats! October is also the month when olives mature, when hardworking Istrian olive growers turn the black fruit into a golden green liquid, a symbol of love and tradition. You will have the opportunity to taste virgin olive oils, learn how to prepare various dishes with this special ingredient, and also sample the best Istrian wines.
A TALE OF YOUNG WINE
Wine is food, wine is medicine, wine is an aphrodisiac, and in modern times wine has become a top tourist attraction. Why not visit the heart of the Istrian countryside on St. Martin's day, the day when the young wine is christened. After you try different varieties and enjoy traditional Istrian meals, you will understand why the powerful Austria-Hungarian monarchy of 1902 built a train line from Trieste to Poreč, known as the "wine railroad " or Parenzana. It will also make sense that Casanova mentioned the Istrian wine Refošk in his memoirs and why Croatians say "Bread for the Body, wine for the soul...
