9-Day Plein Air Workshop — Tuscany, Italy
September 27 – October 5, 2027 · Tuscan Villa, Certaldo, Italy
- Dates
- September 27 – October 5, 2027
- Format
- All Inclusive · 9-Day Plein Air Workshop
- Tuition
- $6,500 ($850 deposit saves your spot; balance due 2027)
- Included
- Tuition, fine food and wine, villa accommodation, ground transportation and airport shuttle on arrival and departure day. Airfare not included; a few lunches and one dinner are on your own.
- Level
- All levels — oil, acrylic and pastel
- Hosted by
- Workshops in France
You are invited to join us for a 9-day workshop with Dave Santillanes in a gorgeous location in Tuscany, Italy. Dave returns after two sold-out workshops in Provence (2023) and southwest France (2025), and by popular demand he is leading another extraordinary plein air workshop — this time from a Tuscan villa near Certaldo.
The program offers a perfect combination of learning and cultural immersion. Dave demos, paints, explains his methods in a relaxed setting and gives informative critiques, with plenty of one-on-one attention throughout the week. This is a rare chance to follow in the footsteps of the many artists who have chased Italy's legendary light and color.
Daily painting locations include private vineyards, charming hilltop villages and local markets, with side trips for a market visit and a wine tasting at a nearby vineyard. The itinerary is balanced between painting, exploring and relaxing, so there is plenty to do for non-painting partners — a limited number are accepted, at a discounted rate.
The workshop is suitable for all levels, from beginners to professionals working in oil, acrylic or pastel, though some experience with drawing and painting is helpful. Dave teaches a new way of seeing color and explores his ideas about color relationship foundations — how to use color to create atmosphere and depth, which applies just as much to still life and figure work as it does to landscape.
Our workshops are known for the camaraderie that comes from living and painting together in a supportive environment where you can paint as much as you want. You will leave with paintings, more confidence and inspiration that will keep you motivated to paint.
