UPCOMING WORKSHOPS 

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Below you will find unique workshops hosted by Lightscapes studio at local facilities. Feel free to contact us personally for any questions regarding the itinerary, prices and accommodations. If you are also interested in hosting a private event at your personal facility please contact us below.

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Pig Hill Inn – Cold Spring, NY on May 19-21, 2023

Arrival time is Friday, May 19th at 10:00am

Departure is Sunday, May 21th at 4:00pm  

 

Join LightScapes on our Fall Excursion to the Hudson River for a three-day, plein-air weekend workshop in the quaint village of Cold Spring, New York. 

We will stay at the elegant Pig Hill Inn nestled on the river in an eclectic, artsy town. LightScapes is excited to offer you a rejuvenating, creative weekend away with other like-minded artists.  

The Pig Hill Inn was built in 1825 and the rooms are decorated with antiques and high-quality reproduction period pieces. The majority of the rooms have queen or king-size beds, and all the rooms have private baths (two  of them boast Jacuzzi tubs). Each room has an air conditioning/heating unit, and they have tall gorgeous windows if you choose the fresh air instead. You can start each day with freshly brewed coffee, gourmet teas, homemade baked goods, fresh fruit, and a wide range of breakfast options.

This mini retreat will begin on Friday at 10:00am when we will gather in the gazebo on the pier for our first art lesson of many over the weekend. We will work in a small group and have the opportunity to learn from each other. I pride myself in offering a valuable fine arts education, along with a fun, intimate experience for all included.  

LightScapes will supply New Wave Plein Air easels and comfy chairs to relax in while watching demonstrations. Lessons and one-on-one guidance in our outdoor classroom are scheduled from 10:00am till 5:00pm with a one-hour break for lunch. Please bring your media of choice. I recommend oils, pastels, and watercolors. 

I will offer an online presentation in July to answer all your questions and concerns. Sign-ups will begin that evening. If you are already 100% onboard, please join our retreat waitlist below and we will accept sign-ups on a first-come, first-serve basis.

This workshop is a great opportunity to experience a LightScapes Studio retreats in the U.S. and it may give you the desire to travel abroad with LightScapes Studio to Pienza, Italy, in fall 2023. Feel free to click the house icon below that will take you directly to the bed and breakfast we will be staying in. 

 

Monmouth University’s Adult Education Series - PleinAir Painting in the Erlanger Gardens Outside the Great Hall on their prestigious campus

Monmouth University’s Adult Education Series - PleinAir Painting in the Erlanger Gardens Outside the Great Hall on their prestigious campus

Wednesday June 21st at 12:00-5:00pm

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Gina Torello will be teaching a step by step guided oil painting course in our Neo-Classical Erlanger Gardens Garden here at Monmouth University. Sign up below for this unique artistic experience to a very limited group of artists. All local artist you do not want to pass up this unique opportunity in a small outdoor class atmosphere. Gina Torello will be suppling her New Wave Pochade Easels to all 12 participants to use during your exclusive lesson along with a comfortable pleinair chair to relax and paint at during the class. 

 

This pleasurable and rewarding class will cover compositional structure perspective in the Neoclassical gardens, color theory, diverse application of materials and most of all the process of “Capturing the LIGHT in the Open Air like the Impressionists”. Intermediate experience in oil painting is encouraged all are welcomed. Detailed Supply list will be attached to your receipt. 

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Outdoor Painting and Yoga Workshop 

“Coming into the Present Moment ~ through 

                                                  Creativity and Presence in the Natural World”

Sa

Saturday June 24th, 2023 arrival 9am to 5pm

Sunday, August 13th, 2023 arrival 9am to 5pm

Farmingdale, New Jersey

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LightScapes Studio in collaboration with the New Jersey Center for Mindful Awareness

Presents our first Outdoor Painting & Yoga Retreat we are very excited to offer this unique, collaborative retreat with art educator Gina Torello and yoga teacher Maria Martinez Alonso. This retreat is an invitation to foster wellness through nature, creativity, and grounding. On a peaceful, pleasant farm, Gina will demonstrate plein-air painting using oils and pastels, and Maria will offer yoga and mindfulness practices to relax the body and calm the mind.

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Gina studied under renowned artists in Florence, Italy, and she received her Master of Fine Arts with a concentration in painting. Currently, Gina is a Professor of Fine Arts at Monmouth University. At this retreat, she will give demonstrations and work with each participant individually for one-on-one guidance. 

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Maria is a clinical psychologist, certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor, yoga teacher, and artist. She studied in Spain, Switzerland, and the U.S. At this retreat, she will be guiding standing and sitting positions in gentle Hatha Yoga that will help warm up the joints and stretch the body, as well as contemplative practices to cultivate greater presence. 

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This restorative retreat will take place in Maria’s charming country home nestled in the quaint town of Farmingdale. There are several scenic highlights for us to paint and find inspiration from: a chicken chalet with hens and roosters; goldfish pond filled with frogs and lilies; beautiful Japanese Maples; and all kinds of native plants, trees, and flowers with vibrant colors. Adjacent to the property, there is also a serene, wooded area for reflection and relaxation. We will have a small group of 16 artists and yogis focusing on enhancing our creativity with present-moment awareness to study nature and animals in our intimate backyard together. The first 12 participants to sign up will have access to use a New Wave Plein Air easel and tripod, along with a chair. If you have your own PleinAir Pochade Box, feel free to bring it with you. Bring your medium of choice, such as oils or pastels or even watercolor. Remember to bring all the supplies necessary for the medium you choose to work with, along with paper towels and wet wipes to clean up your materials. If you want to work with watercolors at a table, we will also have four small tables available. 

During our retreat, we will take one hour for lunch. We will provide tea, water, and fruits. Please bring your lunch and snacks. If needed, you can use a designated fridge to store your food items. There are picnic tables under a tree-covered canopy to dine outside.

Arrival is at 9:00am to allow time for parking and setting up. Our retreat will begin promptly at 9:15am. We will have a review at 4:30 along with our closing to reflect on all the beautiful and fulfilling moments we shared together. Please join our retreat waitlist below and we will accept sign-ups on a first-come, first-serve basis. You will be personally notified upon our receiving of your request.

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Sincerely, Gina and Maria

UPCOMING RETREATS

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Below you will find one-of-a-kind retreats hosted by LightScapes Studio at facilities in the U.S. and abroad. Retreats are usually 4 to 8 consecutive days at either a private villa or a bed and breakfast. Feel free to contact us personally for any questions regarding the itinerary, prices, and accommodations. If you are also interested in hosting a private event at your personal facility please contact us to discuss your ideas.

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Relais iI Chiostro di Pienza , Italy on October 9-16, 2023

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Arrival time is Monday,  October 9th  at 3:00pm

Check out is Monday, October 16th at 11:00am 

 

​Join LightScapes Studio on our travels to Pienza, Italy, for a Plein-air painting retreat from October 9-16, 2023. The focus of this trip will be to enrich your artistic, and creative abilities on an individual basis in a culturally enriched environment. Our exciting, artistic journey will take place in the peaceful, breathtaking surroundings of the Relais il Chiostro, tucked away on the hilltop town of Pienza in southern Tuscany. 

The Relais Chiostro di Pienza is a former Franciscan Convent dating back to the 13th century, located in an enviable position, in the center of the magnificent hamlet of Pienza-the heart of the Val d’Orcia. The Relais, in addition is the charm of antiquity all the history which has literally “passed” through its rooms, hides a wonderful surprise: the panoramic terrace with a garden set in the romantic Sienese hills of southern Tuscany.

​All accommodations will be provided, including lodging in a private wing of the monastery with an ensuite in every room and every room will have a view of the famous Val d’Orcia.  All breakfasts along with two dinners are included.  We will have a day excursion to Montepulciano an authentic artigliano village you will remember for a lifetime. All local artists will be selling one of a kind treasures in their studio’s so if you want to bring home unique gifts you will not find anywhere in Italy.  Today is your opportunity to enjoy a savory meal at any of the local restaurants all serving wines made right here in Val d’Orcia.  We will tour the Cantina De Ricci and tour the wine cellar dating back to 1337 we will enjoy our wine tasting and tour of their Medieval tradition.  We will also have a

mini workshop on our retreat to Podere Il Casale where we will spend the entire day sketching painting and photographing. This is an exclusive organic farm to table experience and we will be taking a pasta cooking class all together.  After our delicious meal we will paint the romantic landscape of their breathtaking tuscan farm among the cypress trees of Val Orcia.  

 

​I will supply your exclusive light weight New Wave Plein-Air Pochade box.  An exclusive and detailed supply list of all necessary art supplies for you to bring will be shared with you to enhance your successful PleinAir experience in Pienza Italy. Feel free to click the house icon below it will take you directly to the bed and breakfast we will be staying in. 

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If you would like to attend any of our workshops or retreats please join the wait list below and specify which retreat is of interest to you. This will secure your spot. Each retreat and workshop will have a maximum of 12 artists that will travel with me here and abroad.

Retreats will fill up quickly so please secure your spot below.

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