Art Trek     P.O. Box 1103     Bolinas, CA 94924     cell: 415-868-9558 / email: carol@arttreks.com

Art Trek 2012 Art Workshop Schedule California / Strasbourg, France Gubbio, Umbria, Italy / Tahiti, French Polynesia

STRASBOURG, FRANCE

Strasbourg, France

Gubbio, Umbria, Italy
New! GUBBIO, UMBRIA, ITALY JULY 3-14, 2012

Perugia, Gubbio, Spirolo (Adriatic Riviera)

Gubbio, Umbria, Italy

Gubbio

The Poetics of Watercolor

Watercolor & Fluid Acrylic Painting Techniques

July 3 - 14, 2012

In one of Italy's most magical regions, participants will enjoy the light that bathes the Umbrian countryside. In this 12-day art appreciation and painting workshop, we will explore the art and architecture of a fascinating region resplendent with Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance art. We will enhance our painting skill, nurture our inner artist and enjoy the inspiration of an architectually stunning medieval/Renaissance town.

Explore Perugio, Gubbio, Assisi, Urbino and Spirolo (Adriatic Riviera).

The secret to our art vacation is the authentic flavor of the remarkable town of Gubbio. No need to visit town after town on a grand tour of Umbria. This town has it all - the architectual monuments, medieval streets, churches with frescoes, palazzos, piazzas, artisan workshops, regional food specialties and a special sophistication all its own. Four neighborhoods with deep threads through to the past (guilds from the middle ages) compete in pageantry and offer deep ties of cultural authenticity.

Gubbio is a refreshingly authentic Italian Renaissance town with a vaste history and significant cultural identity. From the friendly calls of buongiorno to exquisite style, the locals are obviously proud of their town. Astounding artisans continue to work in jewelry, wood, wrought iron and ceramics. The neighborhood churches are resplendent with paintings, frescoes and gilded altars. Life plays out with ease of conversation highlighting the pleasure of the moment. Taste treats are abundant and every turn of the head brings visual insight whether in the architecture, the winding ways of cobbled streets, Roman amphitheatre or family friendliness. The Tuesday morning market in Piazza del Giovanni is a classic - extensive and full of bargains.

Workshop rhythm includes a combination of studio classes on the terrace pictured below, plein air painting opportunities (several within easy walking distance of Relais Ducale) and sketch journaling. Renew your art spirit with wet-into-wet water media techniques that offer the amateur and professional painter the broadest expressive range. Demonstration and discussion will include wetting the paper or canvas, color (watercolor & fluid acrylic pigments), brushwork, compositional energy, atmospheric and textural effects, edge tinting, visual awareness, and the use of inks and mediums. Innovative teaching methods will build self-confidence and skill whether your work moves in realistic or abstract directions. Focus on transparency, spontaneity, improvisation, iconography and visual balance. All levels of skill are welcome.

Itinerary (Abbreviated): Day 1, July 3/arrive Perugia. Hotel check-in is scheduled between 1 and 3 PM. Enjoy late afternoon introductions, walking tour of Perugia, workshop orientation, cocktails & hors d'oeuvres. Day 2, July 4/visit the National Gallery of Umbria and its rich collection of Renaissance and pre-Renaissance paintings. Day 3, July 5-Transfer to Gubbio via Assisi. Check-in to the luxurious Relais Ducale hotel on Piazza Grande. Day 4-9, July 6-11/daily studio & plein air painting class/two introductory walking tours/excursion to Urbino/three gourmet dinners. Day 10-11, July 12-13/ Transfer to Spirolo and Adriatic Riviera. Final workshops and farewell dinner. Day 12, July 14/11 AM check-out and timed departure transfer to Ancona airport or train station.

Travel to Perugia and from Ancona, Italy: Participants may fly from the U.S. to any European hub, particularly London and then on to the Perugia airport. Or fly into Rome or Florence and take the train to Perugia. Additional information will be availabe in the detailed itinerary. Please request by email in PDF format. Extend your stay in Rome, Venice or Florence.

Instructor: CAROL DUCHAMP holds a B.A. in French and M.A. in Sociology from the University of Strasbourg, France. Her paintings are rich in color, lushly saturated and sensual in form and have been called "cosmic, flowing and full of light". Carol is a mentor based self-taught artist with special training in transformative arts. She encourages experimentation in a supportive environment that nourishes the intuitive power of self-expression. She has taught for UCSC Extension, CCSF, College of Marin, Art Trek and at her Bolinas studio for fifteen years.

"Thank you for your great energy, your poetry, your Qi Gong, your creativity and your kindness!" Deirdre (2011)

Artists interested in developing their own voice and visual language will benefit from Carol's expressive, energy based methods. Her deeply saturated color and organic forms lend themselves beautifully to a sense of place. Methods for exploring the illusion of texture, drawing into prepared surfaces, layering, working directly with pigment and refining chance occurrences will be explored. Carol offers strategies for creating a daily art practice and methods that "free the artist" in the beginner as well as the experienced professional. Create a visual language that is uniquely yours and enjoy a fresh start in making art.

Workshop fee of $3795 includes timed arrival and departure transfers (Perugia & Ancona); 4-star hotel accommodations based on double occupancy and all breakfasts; arrival hors-d'oeuvres and four dinners; walking tours of historic sites; a combination of 24-hours of studio & plein air painting instruction with artist Carol Duchamp, workshop orientation and farewell art party; ground transportation and excursions to Assisi and Urbino. Single rooms are available upon request. Workshop fee does not include international airfare.

To secure your place, mail your travel deposit of $1200 to Carol Duchamp, Art Trek, P O Box 1103, Bolinas, CA 94924. Or print and mail the reservation form available on this website. You will receive a full confirmation packet and continued pre-departure information. Call or email now to receive a detailed itinerary. We suggest early enrollment on yet another ART TREK CLASSIC! Class size limited to 12 participants. Email carol@arttreks.com.

"I fell in love with Gubbio following my summer 2011 class in southern Umbria. It is heart and soul Italian with very few visiters other than Italians themselves. By spending a week of our workshop in this splendid town, we will come to know her spirit in a special way." Carol Duchamp

For more information on towns included in our itinerary visit http://www.bellaumbria.net/Gubbio/home_eng.htm. Substitute Urbino for additional search.

Painting Instructor
CAROL DUCHAMP, BA, Otterbein College, Ohio, M.A., University of Strasbourg, France, has been leading outdoor painting classes in the U.S. and abroad for 20 years. Her teaching style encourages experimentation and self-discovery in a supportive environment that nourishes the intuitive power of self-expression. Her paintings are rich in color, lushly saturated and sensual in form and have been described as 'cosmic, flowing and full of light." She has been showing her watercolor abstracts in and around the San Francisco Bay area for more than 10 years at Commonweal, the Bolinas Museum, JFKU Gallery, Wilmer Gallery and Caffé Trieste among other locations. You may view selections of her paintings on the painting gallery page of this website. Carol has taught for University of California Santa Cruz and UCLA Extensions, Sun Valley Art Center and CCSF among others. She currently teaches at her Studio on the Mesa in West Marin County, California, at College of Marin, and for Art Trek. Carol has also trained in transformative art.

Tahiti & Huahine Islands, French Polynesia

The Poetic of Water Media Painting

Watercolor & Fluid Acrylic
with Carol Duchamp

Dates: December 20 - 30, 2012

Workshop Fee: $4895 (Includes International Airfare from LAX on Air Tahiti Nui and Inter-Island flights between Tahiti and Huahine Islands on Air Tahiti)

Classes: This class is ideal for beginners, teachers, therapists and artists seeking a fresh start. Renew your art spirit with color and wet-into-wet water media techniques that offer the amateur and professional painter the broadest expressive range. Demonstrations and discussion will include wetting the paper or canvas, color flooding and gradation, brushwork, compositional energy, atmospheric effects, edge tinting, textual elegance, and the use of watercolor crayon, acrylic inks and mediums. In addition, we will experiment with the beauty of accidents, back-up puddles, color saturation and layering techniques. Whether your work moves in a realistic or abstract direction, innovative teaching methods will build self-confidence and enhance your skill. Individual instruction as time permits. Carol Duchamp, M.A., University of Strasbourg, France, has been teaching painting classes in the U.S. and abroad for 12 years. Her teaching style encourages experimentation and self-discovery in a supportive environment that nourishes the intuitive power of self-expression. A suggested art materials list will be mailed to enrollees.

The Islands
The Polynesian Islands of Tahiti and Huahine are enchantment itself. Volcanic peaks rise above lush and rugged valleys; tropical fruit and flowers grow in abundance. White sand beaches, blue-green lagoons and exquisite sunsets add to our palette of colors. We journey to these islands to explore the beauty of the tropics and the watercolor phenomenon. Our odyssey begins on the idland of Tahiti where we visit the extensive Botanical Garden and adjacent Gauguin Museum.

Often called the garden isle. Huahine is home to fascinating archaeological sites and retains the best of old Polynesia. Delight in the beautiful smiles of local Polynesians. Enjoy the slower pace of island life, gardens full of exotic blooms and spacious Tahitian style bungalows. Paint daily, learn new skills and enjoy all the pleasures of island life. Swim, snorkel, paddle outrigger canoes and kayaks, and relax in this little bit of paradise. Tuck a sweet smelling Tiara Tahiti gardenia bud behind one ear, don a pareo (lenght of Polynesian cloth), and you are ready for the day! Friends, spouses and family members of workshop participants are welcome and may join the trip at the travel fee level.

Day 1, Depart Los Angeles or JFK on Air Tahiti Nui/Arrive Tahiti (Overnight Tahiti Sheraton); Day 2, Tahiti (Overnight Tahiti Sheraton); Day 3-9, Huahine (Te Tiare Beach Resort); Day 10, Evening departure Huahine & Tahiti; Day 11 Arrrive Los Angeles or JFK in the morning.

To enroll in the Island Water Media class, simply mail a deposit check made payable to Art Trek in the amount of $1200 to the address below with a note containing class name/date, your address, phone number, email and skill level or a printed copy of the reservation form that appears under reservations on this website. Balance of payment is due 2 months prior to departure. Questions? Call 415 868 9558. Mail to Carol Duchamp, Art Trek, P.O. Box 1103, Bolinas, CA 94924. Email carol@arttreks.com. You will receive a confirmation packet and detailed pre-departure information.

Northern California

Bolinas, California
Water Media for Self-Expression

Watercolor and Fluid Acrylic
with Carol Duchamp

Carol Duchamp, Santa Fe Metaphor, watercolor & Jagged, watercolor & watercolor crayon, 22"x30", 2006

Studio on the Mesa

Water Media Painting: Watercolor and Fluid Acrylic
1-day Saturday / 10 AM - 4 PM
Jan 28, Feb 25, Mar 24
Class Fee: $95 (bring picnic lunch)

Course Outline
This day long water media painting class is ideal for beginners, teachers, therapists and artists working in any medium who are seeking a fresh start. Whether your work moves in a realistic or abstract direction, class methods for evoking self-expression through the transparent magic of water media painting will be appreciated. By using a full range of non-traditional and experimental water media painting techniques, we will encourage 'the inner artist' to see and create a personal visual language. From the moment we wet our paper or canvas to the final sweep of form and color, we will attempt to evoke the presence of each artist in his or her work, discovering the personal palette of colors and shapes unique to each of us. All levels of skill are welcome.

Class demonstrations and discussion will include wetting the paper or canvas, color flooding and gradation, brushwork, edge tinting, compositional energy, atkmospheric and textural effects, and the use of watercolor crayon, acrylic inks and mediums. Innovative methods will build self-confidence and facilitate the spontaneity inherent in watermedia painting. We encourage our imagery to dance in a playful way. Wet into wet will be emphasized in order to take advantage of the transparent magic possible with watercolor and fluid acrylic. Instruction is individualized. Studio class size is limited to 8 participants. Early enrollment is suggested.

A suggested art materials list, confirmation letter and directions to Studio on the Mesa in West Marin County (1-hour north of San Francisco along the Pacific coast) will be mailed to participants. Overnight lodging is available in Stinson Beach, Bolinas and Point Reyes Station.

To enroll in a Water Media for Self-Expression class, simply mail a check made payable to Carol Duchamp in the amount of $95 to the address below with a note containing class date, your address, phone number, email, skill level and what interested you about the class. If you are a practicing artist, please bring one or two samples of your work. Questions? Call 415 868 9558. Mail to Carol Duchamp, Art Trek, P.O. Box 1103, Bolinas, CA 94924. Email carol@arttreks.com.

Carol Duchamp, Untitled, acrylic on primed canvas, 24"x24", 2008 / Red, acrylic on primed canvas, 18"x18", 2009

Student Comments

"Carol, Thank you for a fabulous painting trip to Huahine. Painting in such an exotic, remote place is truly a vacation that I can get used to. Traveling to Tuscany and then to French Polynesia with Art Trek is an upscale and inspiring experience. I would recommend Art Trek to any artist without hesitation. Thank you for the valuable instructions, memories, techniques and friendships." Susan (August 2007 Island Watercolor, French Polynesia)

“Hello Carol, Yet again I wish to thank- you for the marvelous classes! My daughter called last night and we had a grand time talking about what I did under your tutelage. You are the most gentle of teachers and I loved the way you guided me.On the inside of my computer armoire doors (white) I have posted five pieces of art I have accomplished (practice pages, too) and I love having the feel of them around me. I have the 'real' painting in the living room, and the three little ones together on a table in my studio. I so appreciate having some skills now to use to enjoy myself. With deepest gratitude," Peggy (July 2009 Series of 4 classes Studio on the Mesa, Bolinas)

To enroll in a studio class simply mail a check in the amount of $95 for a 1-day class made payable to Art Trek to the address below with a note containing class name/date, your address, phone number, email and skill level or a printed copy of the reservation form that appears under reservations on this website. Questions? Call 415 868 9558. Mail to Carol Duchamp, Art Trek, P.O. Box 1103, Bolinas, CA 94924. Email carol@arttreks.com. You will receive a confirmation packet including directions to Studio on the Mesa in Bolinas, a suggested art materials list and lodging information in West Marin.

To enroll in an Art Trek international travel class (as a workshop participant or friend, spouse, family member), simply mail a deposit check made payable to Art Trek in the amount of $1200 to the address below with a note containing class name/date, your address, phone number, email and skill level or a printed copy of the reservation form that appears under reservations on this website. Questions? Call 415 868 9558. Mail to Carol Duchamp, Art Trek, P.O. Box 1103, Bolinas, CA 94924. Email carol@arttreks.com. You will receive a confirmation packet and detailed pre-departure information.

To receive more detailed workshop descriptions , please write, call, or e-mail us at:

Art Trek
PO Box 1103
Bolinas, CA 94924
Cell: (415) 868-9558
E-mail: carol@arttreks.com