Class is filled. Currently placing interested persons on the wait list.
Workshops is limited to only 8 participants.
Kenn Backhaus received his education from Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While working for many years as a commercial designer and illustrator, Kenn received many awards at both local and national levels. Although Kenn took pride in his commercial successes, his heart always belonged to the fine art of outdoor painting. In 1984, Kenn decided to devote more time to his passion for painting and the love of the outdoors. He found that capturing true color, value, atmosphere and the mood of a subject was best done on location or through direct observation. Kenn's works have been juried into many shows across the country and have won numerous awards. Kenn is a Signature Member of both the Oil Painters of America and the Plein-Air Painters of America. He also served as president of the Plein-Air Painters of America from the year 2000 through 2001. You may view Kenn's work and full biography at www.kennbackhaus.com .
In his workshop, Kenn's instruction will focus on the difficulty of freezing "that moment of light" in plein air painting. His teaching will help develop the knowledge and skills of each student through a better understanding and awareness of how to approach the ever-fleeting moment of light. Students will paint the outdoors, studying and developing a better understanding of such principles as; The Four Devisions of the Landscape, Value verses Color, Proper use of Edges, Understanding Color Temperature, Trusting your eyes and most important, "The Ten Questions We Should Ask Before Painting". Kenn will also work with each student to help further develop their individual style.
Among the goals for this workshop will be for the participants to relax, live and paint in Tuscany for the week. The workshop will be structured with 3 full days of instruction, 1/2 day for instruction with the afternoon free, and 2 mentoring days. On the mentoring days, the artist participants will have the opportunity to share Kenn's experience as a working artist on site. Participants can choose to paint alongside Kenn or at another location of their choosing. On these special days, there will be late afternoon group critiques.
Painting locations will be varied. We will be visiting some local hilltowns for painting, as well as some beautiful countryside locations. Our accommodation has multiple venues for making great paintings, without even having to leave "home".
Accommodations for the workshop will be in apartment-style lodging at a family owned agriturismo with each participant housed in his or her own private bedroom. Most bathrooms are private as well. All apartments include a kitchen. There is also a washing machine on site for laundry. The apartments and property are charming and comfortable, completely updated and well-maintained. The agriturismo is located in the heart of the Val D'Orcia region of Tuscany about 2 kilometers from the ancient town of Pienza.
This area is full of wonderful things to see and do. Close by there are a number of beautiful hilltowns including Pienza, Montepulciano, San Quirico D'Orcia and Montalcino. Siena is only about a 40 minute drive away. Cortona is also an easy drive of about an hour. Florence is about 2 hours away by car or about an hour and 1/2 by train from the Chiusi train station.
Included in the price of the workshop - expert instruction, 7 nights loding, wine and cheese upon arrival, breakfast provisions, 3 dinners typical to the region (wine included).
Airfare* and ground transportation** are not included in the price. However, help with these arrangements can be provided upon request. There is excellent train service from all major Italian airport to the Chiusi train station. Car rental is available just
down the street from the chiusi train station, which is an easy 40 minute drive to our location.
*Airfare - The best airports to fly into are Rome (FCO), Pisa (PSA), or Florence (FLR). www.tripmama.com is a great source for discounted airfare.
**Car rental is highly recommended, as this is the best way to take full advantage of experiencing this area of Italy. However,
upon request, transport from the Chiusi train station and to painting locations can be provided for an additional small fee. Recommended website for car rental is www.autoeurope.com .
Price is $2500 per artist/single occupancy in private bedroom $800 non-painting guest sharing room with painter Private bath (as available) $100/add'l
A deposit of $600 is due at the time of registration.
Balance of workshop fees is due 90 days prior to commencement of workshop.
All payments may be made by check payable to Susan Truitt Fine or or via email using PayPal (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover). Paypal payments require a 2% additional fee from the participant.
View from within walking distance of accommodation.
View for the yard of accommodation.
A favorite painting site.
Gay Faulkenberry $3,450.00 Location: Cote d'Azur / Provence, France Workshop
Dates: 6/2/2009 - 6/12/2009 Contact Person: Susan Truitt
Class is open to only 8 participanting artists.
Please sign up early.
Photos from Gay Faulkenberry's 2007 Tuscany Workshop
Gay painting a street scene in San Quirico.
Some of the group at dinner
Time for work
Time for fun
Comments From Past Workshop Participants
Last year I went to Tuscany with Open Air Italy and had the trip of a lifetime. The workshop with Gay Faulkenberry was well organized. The accommodations were great, as were the selected painting sites. I fell in love with this area of Tuscany and I am returning next fall for another workshop! The best news is that my Italian landscapes from that trip have been very popular! Ciao
Mary Garris
President, American Impresssionist Society
Merritt Island, Florida
Is was great fun! I'd return tomorrow if possible. I loved the casualness of it all. I loved the places that you selected for painting. The group was friendly and great to be around. Thanks for putting it all together.
Carol Osler
Cocoa Beach, Florida
The Tuscany workshop this past summer will never be forgotten. Every painting site provided possible panoranic inspiration for painting. Even the accommodations had breathtaking views of the Tuscan countryside. A well planned itinerary yet with plenty of time for individual painting. The instructor and artists made it feel like family in Italy! The food and wine were divine. Hope to go again in the near future.
K Moody
Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
Susan's thorough planning and insightful recommendations made for a fabulous experience that allowed me to focus on my goals for the trip as well as enjoy the beautiful Italian countryside, the gourmet food and wines, and meet other painters. A trip I would do again with her leading the way.
Denise Folmar
Davidson, North Carolina
I attended the Gay Faulkenberry workshop in Tuscany last spring. I have been to many workshops both in the US and overseas and this one compared favorably with the best. The trip was well organized, the accommodations were excellent and Gay did a great job! I look forward to my next trip in September of 2008.
