Painting courses
Italian culture courses

Alabaster Carving at Castiglioncello

Castiglioncello and Alabaster: a new course for carving in alabaster, the stone that enables you to experience further dimensions in art.

Christian I. Peintner, the Austrian artist with his roots in Italy, is drawn several times a year to Castiglioncello in pursuit of his creative
work. The seminars which he gives spread beyond geographical borders to break new bounds in his artistic medium. These multi-national seminars range over the week from drawing and painting in water-colour and oils to encompass carving in soap-stone, as ‘extending the creative endeavour to other media develops the creative powers’ as the artist himself says; so in this way the creative abilities are developed.

From October 2008, participants on the course can further their knowledge of alabaster carving in the region of Volterra, which is historically associated with alabaster and a world centre for the material. As alabaster has the happy facility, like soap-stone, of being easy to carve, the resulting work of art will always give a special degree of pleasure to the artist.


The artist reveals that ‘Alabaster and soap-stone both yield their form by the simple use of chisel, rasp and glass-paper. The result cannot fail to please, and under tuition, the artist’s creative ideas can soon be brought to fruition. Alabaster, which is slightly translucent in character, was formerly used in church window decoration, as well as for purely decorative objects and even to enhance humble, everyday items of all kinds. There is a special technique that can make it look like marble.’

Autumn course: 12th to 18th October; - 19th to 25th October, 2008.

Preview: May and October, 2009.

1 week’s course: From €250; excluding painting materials, stone and tools.

course in acrylic, watercolors and pastel

Finding oneself involved in the plays of trasparency, bursts of color, effects of light: this is the magic of watercolor painting. You will let yourself go to the stimuli that surrounding landscape offers, knowingly leaving behind theories, systems, and laws to give space to spontaneity.

"Interruption of thought always wants to outwit artist"

"Let color go free to act with the paper, with the same consistency with which nature creates her results, with which minerals and
crystals form, moss and algaee grow, flowers develop and bloom under the ray of the sun"
Emil Nolde (1867 - 1956)

Participiants will have a way to create various works through an experience made possible by natural allies such as the environment, light and colors. The pourose of the course is to give an introduction of painting techniques and rules that govern their use.
There are various techniques, and from these you maychoose closest to your temperament. The role of the teacher shall be to propose examples and analyze them along with enriching the information and giving suggestions and practical pointers. Our duty shall be that of creating the conditions for well beeing to reunite with that playful part of self that exists in each one of us.

Your teacher:

Simona Provinciali was born in Livorno on May 23, 1961. She graduated from Liceo Artistico (School of Arts) and Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (University of Fine Arts - Florence).
Presently she teaches courses at the Pasolini School of Language and Culture in Castiglioncello. She was also in charge collective art shows, and 2001, along with a German psychologist, she held a seminary on creative painting, as the one responsible for the technical aspect. She has also lent her expertise as a Teacher of Art Education at the State Middle and High Schools

Dates:
Every week. daily in the afternoon, 3 hours
Price per week: Euro 200,-
Group size: From 2 to 10 Persons

Private lessons are always possible, price is Euro 24 per hour

Accommodation can be booked at any of our offices.

-> Learn more about the great tradition of the Macchiaioli in Castiglioncello (school of Italian impressionists)

-> Have a look at the master pieces of the Macchiaioli