July 6, 2025 - July 20, 2025

Painting: Observing and Abstracting in Umbria with Kevin Wixted

Painting: Observing and Abstracting in Umbria with Kevin Wixted

WORKSHOP COST:
3.650,0€
Workshop Dates:
July 6, 2025 - July 20, 2025
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About the Workshop

San Gimignano, Kevin Wixted

This workshop is directed towards artists, educators, and students interested in exploring the dynamics of classical Italian art and it’s relationship to Contemporary painting.  Our broad objective is to share experiences first hand of great works of Italian Art, and consider these experiences in relation to our own studio practice.

Using the remarkable landscape, art and architecture of Umbria and Tuscany as inspiration, this workshop investigates the ways in which perceptual study and abstraction can combine to form contemporary painting language.  In the beautiful setting of Monte Castello di Vibio, we begin with drawing and painting in the village and surrounding landscape.  Daily work sessions in private studios are augmented with excursions, slide talks, and group critiques. We will travel the “Piero Trail” to see the major frescos of Piero Della Francesca in Arezzo, Sansepolcro and Monterchi.  We will also visit Assisi, Perugia and spend two days in Florence to study works by Giotto, Perugino, Fra Angelico and many more great works of Renaissance art.

 

Annunciation, Piero della Francesca

Midway through our journey, we will further these objectives through viewing paintings by Piero della Francesca in Monterchi, Sansepolcro, and Arezzo, before moving on to Florence.  We arrive in Florence, to see the city in the golden light and enjoy a fantastic dinner! The next morning, we will visit the Monastery of San Marco, after which, participants will have the remainder of the day to explore according to their objectives. The following day, proceeding by train to Assisi, we will see the great S.Francis cycle of Giotto in the Basilica of Saint Francis, before we re-join our bus on our return to Monte Castello!  The following week, participants will focus on their objectives in our serene village.

Our workshop is centered  in the remarkably well-preserved Umbrian hill town of Monte Castello di Vibio.Here, your stay is all-inclusive, from the time our welcome service greets you at the Rome Fiumicino, Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (FCO) - aboard our comfortable private bus - until our bur returns you to FCO and our staff bids you a farewell at the airport, our staff facilitates comprehensive services. In Monte Castello, we allow complete focus by providing: single occupancy accommodations with shared bath (a wide range of upgrades with private bath are available), 3 meals per day Monday-Thursday, Prosecco brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. (Additional options are available on weekends for an additional fee.) Of course, 24/7 access to facilities and 24/7 bi-lingual support are provided. All these factors, allow for an environment of focus and clarity, in which participants are free to integrate all of the experiences of this wonderful country and its extraordinary artistic traditions.

Monte Castello di Vibio, view to the Sibillini Mountains

 

 

 

 

 

Meet The Instructors

Kevin Wixted
Kevin Wixted’s paintings have appeared nationally and internationally in numerous solo and group exhibitions. His shows have been reviewed in Artforum, Art in America, ArtNews, The New York Times, Boston Globe, New York Observer, and the Hudson Review among others. . Wixted has been awarded two Pollock-Krasner Grants, a New York Foundation for the Arts Grant, an International Fellowship Faculty Grant and Excellence in Teaching awards from Alfred University. His residency awards include the Cite Internationale des Arts Paris, Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, MacDowell Colony, and the Patrick Allen Frazier of Hospitalfield Foundation Scotland. His work is represented in public collections including the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Mississippi Museum of Art, Chase Manhattan Bank, General Electric, Hewlett Packard, Noruma Securities, Societe Generale, and Time Warner. He is co-founder of the Alfred/Düsseldorf MFA in Painting Program. Kevin  Professor Emeritus of Painting in the School of Art and Design at Alfred University, and continues to work as a visiting critic with graduate students in Germany.        
Workshop Gallery
Workshop Galery

Included Amenities

Click on the links below for detailed information about our included amenities.
Arrival/Departure »
Accommodations »
Dining »
Workspaces »
Excursions »
Extras »
View Amenities Page »
  • Airport transfer from and to the Leonardo da Vinci Rome/Fiumicino Airport (FCO) aboard our private bus (on scheduled dates only). Bus departs the airport promptly at 12PM.
  • Airport welcome service and assistance with baggage
  • 24/7 bi-lingual support with manager on site at all times
  • All ground transport aboard private buses or our ICA van, unless otherwise specified. Licensed and insured professional driver and ICA guide accompany all excursions. Orientation at each destination is provided as is departure coordination (guide service is available upon request — unless specified — for an additional fee)
  • Complimentary bottle of local wine provided in rooms on arrival day and complimentary locally made soap
  • Village orientation and complimentary drinks provided on arrival day
  • Private access to our 5-storey tower at our Palazzo Persiane (on sign-up basis) for spectacular morning and evening views
  • Access to our art materials shop (during posted hours)
  • Thorough orientation lecture and maps provided the evening before departure
  • Return transport to the Rome/Fiumicino Airport (departs 5:30AM) with rest stop
  • Departure service/airport assistance at airport
  • Unless otherwise specified, single occupancy accommodation is provided in rooms with a view of the Tiber Valley that includes sink and vanity. Rooms are with shared bath on each level (3 rooms per bath) in our 14th century convent building, The Asilo. Apartments, rooms with private bath and AC, double rooms, group or villa accommodations are available for couples, business associates/ friends, or groups for an additional fee
  • Linens and towels provided
  • Weekly housekeeping service with change of towels and linens
  • Free washing machine access
  • Good Wi-Fi connection and access to our library and film collection
  • 3 chef-catered, gourmet meals per day (buffet breakfast, 3-course lunch, 4-course dinner) — with wine at lunch and dinner (table wine provided at lunch and dinner. An excellent wine list is offered at additional cost), while in Monte Castello
  • Group dining service is as follows, with breakfast and lunch served in our dining room, etc, with dinner (weather permitting) served on our private terrace overlooking the Tiber Valley
  • Lunch and dinner are plated as follows: pasta course, main course, vegetable, fruit/salad, dessert
  • When requested at registration, vegetarian, vegan, and special dietary options are provided
  • After dinner drinks on our terrace overlooking the Tiber valley
  • Dining service is as follows: Breakfast: 8:00 AM; Lunch: 1:00PM; Dinner: 8:00 PM. No meals are served on Fridays (excursion day) unless otherwise specified
  • On Saturday and Sunday, a full buffet brunch with fresh pastry and Prosecco is served at 11:00 AM
  • On Saturday, homemade, wood-fired pizza is served at 7:00 PM (except on departure days, when a special farewell dinner is served)
  • Sunday dinner with antipasti is served at 7:00 PM
  • Farewell dinner on the evening prior to departure
  • 24/7 access to our primary building and library is provided, including access to workspaces, studios, and ceramics facility
  • Special access to certain cultural and art collections is available upon request
  • FOR VISUAL ARTISTS: private, or semi-private secure and monitored studio space is provided (24/7 access)
  • Free access to lectures and events at the Teatro Concordia
  • An end of the session exhibition with reception that includes hors d'oeuvres and Prosecco in our gallery. Posters are prepared to promote the event with copies provided to all participants
  • Advanced reservations and ticket purchases for groups and individuals
  • Concierge services provided upon request at an hourly rate
  • Restaurant reservations (provided under Concierge services)
  • Car rental
  • Critique series with visiting visual artists
  • Artist materials workshops
  • Drawing and painting sessions from the figure
  • Cooking classes
  • Cheesemaking workshop
  • Pizza-making workshop
  • Kids cooking classes
  • Wine appreciation and Sommelier Courses
  • Wine and olive oil tastings
  • Vineyard tours
  • Truffle hunting
  • Ballroom dance classes
  • Weekend excursions to flea markets and natural sites
  • Shopping excursions to cashmere and leather outlets, to Deruta famous for fine painted traditional ceramics, and antique stores
  • Overnight excursions to the sea and day-trips to Rome beaches
  • Hot air balloon tours
  • Hot springs excursions
  • Lake Trasimeno tours
  • Umbria abandoned castle and fortress tour
  • Sustainable farming tour 
  • Babysitting services
  • Soccer, archery, and horseback riding camps for kids
  • Motorized mountain bike rentals
  • Electric car rental 
  • Golf-cart tours of Rome and Florence
  • Hiking/naturalist guides to national/regional parks - mountain hiking available
  • Fishing/Hunting Excursions

Payment Options

  • Payment in full (€500 non-refundable deposit is included. No refunds will be issued within 60 days prior to the start of the workshop. See refund policy for more details).
  • Non-refundable €500 deposit (Balance due must be paid a minimum of 30 days prior to workshop).
  • Balance payment (after €500 deposit).

Required Forms

All ICA participants; whether coming independently, with a group or through a college / university, must provide the following completed forms and information to icarts.info@gmail.com at least 2 weeks prior to attending their program. 
Emergency Contact & Medical Information »Liability Waiver »
Proof of Insurance / Travel Insurance
Itinerary and Passport
For detailed information and to download the required forms, please visit our Guides and Forms page.

Itinerary

Day 1: Sunday, July 6

  • Arrive Rome/Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO)
  • 12:00 PM Bus Departs FCO promptly at at 12:00 PM.  With this in mind, our shuttle cannot support flight arrival after 11:00 AM and those participants arriving later must make transportation arrangements at their own expense.
  • Arrival at Monte Castello di Vibio appx.: 2:30 PM
  • 2:30 Late lunch
  • Orientation
  • 3:30 - 5:00 Settle in/rest
  • 5:00 Tour of village
  • 5;30 Drinks in piazza
  • 8:00:Dinner

Day 2: Monday, July 7

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 4:30 Afternoon Session
  • 4:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 3: Tuesday, July 8

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 4:30 Afternoon Session
  • 4:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 4: Wednesday, July 9

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 4:30 Afternoon Session
  • 4:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 5: Thursday, July 10

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 4:30 Afternoon Session
  • 6:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

 

Day 6: Friday, July 11

  • 8:00: Excursion: Depart for Monterchi
  • 9:30: Arrive Monterchi: Visit Piero della Francesca Masterwork, Madonna del Parto
  • 10:00: Depart for Sansopulcro
  • 10:20: Arrive Sansopulcro, visit Civic Museum: Masterworks include Piero della Francesca's Resurection
  • 12:00: Depart for Arezzo
  • 12:20: Arrive Arezzo- Informal lunch
  • 2:00: Visit Piero della Francesca's extraordinary, Legend of the True Cross cycle
  • 3:30: Depart for Florence
  • 5:00: Arrive Florence; settle into accommodations
  • 8:00: Group Dinner

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Day 7: Saturday, July 12

  • 10:00 AM:  Visit to Monastery of San Marco to see masterworks of  Fra Angelico
  • 11:30 - 3:00 Free time
  • 3:30 Meet at Uffizi Museum for brief tour of highlights, afterwards, free time for independently touring the museum
  • Evening Free

         

 

 

 

 

Day 8: Sunday, July 13

  • 10:00 AM Depart for Assissi
  • 12:30 Arrive Assisi
  • 1:00 Group Lunch: Nonna Nini
  • 2:30: Depart restaurant for UNESCO World Heritage Site: Church of San Francesco, works by Giotto, Cimabue, and others
  • 4:30: Depart for Monte Castello
  • 5:30: Arrive Monte Castello
  • 7:00: Drinks in the square
  • 8:00: Dinner

 

 

 

 

Day 9: Monday, July 14

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 4:30 Afternoon Session
  • 4:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 10: Tuesday, July 15

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 4:30 Afternoon Session
  • 4:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 11: Wednesday, July 16

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 4:30 Afternoon Session
  • 4:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 12: Thursday, July 17

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 4:30 Afternoon Session - Optional Orvieto Trip
  • 4:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work.
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

 

 

Day 13: Friday, July 18

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 4:30 Afternoon Session
  • 4:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work.
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 14: Saturday, July 19

  • Morning: free or Independent work
  • Optional Trip (additional fees apply): Todi Flea Market/Santa Maria Dei Angeli Flea Market/Church of Santa Maria dei Angeli/ Church of San Francesco, Assisi/Wine Tasting
  • 11:00 AM Brunch
  • Afternoon: Set up exhibition/pack
  • 6:00 - 8:00 Exhibition Reception
  • 8:00: Farewell dinner

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Day 15: Sunday, July 20

  • Rome/Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) - Bus Departs Monte Castello promptly at at 5:30 AM.  We strongly recommend arrival at the Rome/Fiumiciono Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport 3 hours in advance of your flight.  With this in mind, our shuttle cannot support flights earlier than 11:00 AM  (+/-)

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