Upcoming 2024 ICA Artist Workshops

For those interested in a full gastronomic immersion in traditions of food and wine of Italy, this week-long workshop is ideal! Set in the geographic center of Italy - the region of Umbria, is known as the "green heart" of Italy.  Here in a small medieval village set among the verdant hills of the Todi valley, a full immersion in ancient knowledge and traditional flavors will take place. Oenophiles interested in discovering the wines of the region will not be disappointed - surrounded by by world-class vineyards in every direction, there will be plenty of opportunities for discovering  the excellent wines of the region!

Intended for experts or enthusiasts in the food and wine sector interested in improving their skills, those interested in learning about Italian foodand wine for personal pleasure, or simply for enthusiasts of good living - the pleasures of the Umbrian table provide for an unforgettable experience in Italy.

3.950,0€

Sketching a Pig is a hands-on exploration of traditional butchery and charcuterie methods, flavors, and foodways of central  Italy, centered around the full utilization of the animal - nose to tail!

Join Nathan Gilmour and Chef Rece Hogerheide in Umbria for a week-long deep dive into the traditions and foodways of Umbria with a focus on handcrafted salumi, fire cookery, and the bounty of the land. Participants should be ready to assist in the butchering of a thoughtfully sourced pig and wild boar as well as with many traditional preparations that come with the early spring harvest.  During this week, we will experience a full nose-to-tail processing of a hog, from breaking down the carcass, to salting, to tying, and of course, tasting as much salumi and product as we can.  This is one of the top places in the world to experience all these amazing traditions and products in one place - Umbria is truly home to some of the best salumi, wines, cheeses, and forageable plants in the world.  Expect this week to be very hands-on with lots ofopportunity for participation and ample time to discuss methods and practices in the ideal setting. 

5.450,0 €

Join acclaimed clay sculptor, Richard W. James,  for an exciting two-week workshop focused on various techniques for creating life-sized busts and hands using both hollow and solid construction methods. We'll explore the anatomical structures that give these body parts their communicative power and practice techniques for achieving life-like sculptures with clay.
Students will begin with a clay skull and add muscle in layers to finish off with a hollowed-out bust. We'll go over hair, eye, and ear techniques as well as proportional guidelines. Additionally, you'll discover a hollow construction technique for building quick, stable forms.

Discussions and demonstrations will cover topics such as professional development, impactful contemporary figurative artists, and portfolio strategies. All skill levels are welcome, and you'll have the opportunity to exhibit your work at the end of the workshop. Don't miss this chance to hone your skills in the art of sculpture!

4.750,0 €
- Spring ’23 SPECIAL OFFER: Buy one, get one for 50% off before April 30 (Double occupancy only)
- For full time students enrolled in a degree seeking program receive 2 for 1 pricing (verification required. Please contact ICA for more info)

Experience some of the great mosaics treasures of the world and create your own mosaics!

Rick Shelley's comprehensive, two-week mosaic workshop welcomes both beginning and advanced mosaic enthusiasts.  Each week offers excursions to many magnificent treasures throughout Italy that will lead participants to a deeper understanding of mosaic arts.

Rick will teach you how to create mosaics.  At our studios in Monte Castello, learn to shape stone, glass and ceramic into tesserae. Experiment with glues and cements to adhere tesserae onto wooden panels. Work with the beautiful and traditional practice of gold-leafing glass.  Design and execute small mosaics using outlines, shadows and highlights - simple images, letters, or symbols are ideal subjects. You will learn first-hand, why mosaic is the most enduring form of pictorial art.  From our central location in Italy, tour outstanding monuments and collections in Rome, Ravenna, Venice, and more.  Visit mosaic schools and studios where you will meet Italian mosaic artists and study their techniques - all under the guidance of a master-mosaicist,  Rick Shelley. (To see Rick in action, see his video:"Making mosaics in Italy" 

This year we are providing 3 workshop options: week 1 only, week 2 only or the full 2 week program.

3.199,00 € - 5.950,00 €

Join acclaimed painter Rachel Constantine and discover the beauty of Italy in a unique way with a landscape painting workshop in the medieval hill town of Monte Castello di Vibio. The picturesque landscapes offer the ideal setting for painters looking for fresh challenges. There are countless opportunities to capture the ever-changing landscape, from the majestic mountains to the Tiber River winding through the valley. The area is rich in history and offers opportunities for exploration and discovery due to the shifting environment. You can fully immerse yourself in the genuine atmosphere of the small town and its surroundings in less- visited areas. It will be an unforgettable experience to see a timeless landscape where the past and present coexist. Join us for a special chance to paint in one of the most beautiful regions Italy.

This year we are providing 3 workshop options: week 1 only, week 2 only or the full 2 week program.

2.475,0 € - 4.650,0 €
Register for one person and get 50% off for a second person (Double Occupancy Only)

Of Sibyls and Source: Performance in the Landscape is a two-week exploration of live art in geo-mythic sites in Umbria.

This residency aims to open space for research,inquiry, and connection through myth making and embodied presence in/with/of the land. We will spend 3 days hiking in the Parco Nacional di Sibilline, part of the Apennines named for the Sibyl, or prophetess of antiquity, who is believed to have lived there in a cave at the top of Monte Sibilla. We will experience sites of ritual and esoteric rites related to the myth of the Sibyl mentioned in literary sources as well as  living local folk traditions dating back thousands of years.

Our time together will also include day trips to the Nera river with Roman ruins whose source is the Monti Sibillini and entrance into the remarkable Frassasi cave.

Performances may take place at any or all of these locations including the impeccably maintained medieval town of Monte Castello di Vibio, our home base. At the conclusion of the residency we will hold a screening and live performance event in Monte Castello di Vibio.

This workshop is directed towards artists, educators, and advanced students interested in exploring the dynamics of classical art and it’s relationship to Contemporary painting. 

Our broad objective is to share experiences of great works of Italian Art and consider these experiences together as a group - both in context of our work, as well as in related endeavors such as research,  teaching and curriculum/program  development.  In this, we particularly seek participation by academics seeking professional development opportunities in these areas.  however, we also hope to engage painters who are early in their careers and are seeking to understand the role of these historical paradigms in context of our work as painters and teachers of painting today.

In this workshop we will explore techniques to build a colorful surface while relying on the stability of an opaque white glaze underlayer.  This is the core characteristic of Maiolica ware - a central component of Italy’s ceramic traditions. Monte Castello is in the region where this technique took hold and continues to be practiced today.  We will visit active workshops and museums to deepen our understanding of the tradition as we will also consider ways to make it our own.

In class instruction will emphasize a variety of application methods through brushwork and material choices.  We will begin by practicing on locally sourced bisqued tile.  In our exploration of colour and pattern, we will draw inspiration from the environment around us; working in cut paper and other materials to expand our surface ideas. Combined, these exercises will provide the building blocks necessary to approach the surfaces of the forms you make with confidence.  Vessels will be introduced through a series of demonstrations focused on press-molded and wheel thrown forms.  The same courage we develop to approach the surface will also be applied to innovative ways of altering and adding to the forms we create – and all forming methods are welcome.   Arriving with basic clay experience is encouraged.

4.850,0 €

Join our week-long workshop on producing painting and drawing materials using historical methods! This hands-on course is ideal for painters, academics, teachers, art historians, and anyone interested in traditional works. Using Cennino d’Andrea Cennini’s book, "The Book of Art," as a guide, we will explore the production of pigments, paints, and painting surfaces used in medieval and Renaissance art. Our experienced staff will collaborate with Kremer Pigmente to teach participants how to make pigments from raw ingredients, observe miraculous color transformations, and create beautiful and luscious pigments that will last forever. We will cover processes such as levigation, grading, grinding, precipitation of lake colors, and more. In addition, we will visit the National Gallery of Umbria in Perugia to see real examples from Cennini's time and later. Don't miss this unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of traditional art materials and develop a special connection to the materials of the artist.

2.950,0 € 

Join our week-long workshop on producing painting and drawing materials using historical methods! This hands-on course is ideal for painters, academics, teachers, art historians, and anyone interested in traditional works. Using Cennino d’Andrea Cennini’s book, "The Book of Art," as a guide, we will explore the production of pigments, paints, and painting surfaces used in medieval and Renaissance art. Our experienced staff will collaborate with Kremer Pigmente to teach participants how to make pigments from raw ingredients, observe miraculous color transformations, and create beautiful and luscious pigments that will last forever. We will cover processes such as levigation, grading, grinding, precipitation of lake colors, and more. In addition, we will visit the National Gallery of Umbria in Perugia to see real examples from Cennini's time and later. Don't miss this unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of traditional art materials and develop a special connection to the materials of the artist.

4.850,0 € 

Oil painting developed in Northern Europe early in the 15th c. and Italian painters of the next generation quickly adopted the medium to their own unique vocabulary. Antonello di Messina is generally credited with the introduction of oil painting to Italy and more specifically, to Venice. Artists such as Giovanni Bellini, as well as Leonardo further expanded the expressive potential of the medium. The processes that these artists developed consequently influenced the whole history of Western Art. 

This workshop will follow their methods. Working from reproductions participants will use materials of the time, prepared by hand in a traditional way. Beginning on a wooden panel, prepared with rabbit skin glue and chalk gesso, participants will transfer their perforated drawings with charcoal and a pounce, then develop a wash drawing with genuine sepia ink, followed by an imprimatura – a colored “veil” - that establishes a tonality and a very useful neutral color. From here, oil paint ground in class will be used to develop the underpainting. Afterwards, rich glazes of transparent colors made primarily from pigments produced in in our Pigments and Paint Workshop.

2.950,0 € 

In the 14th c. Sicilian painter, Antonello di Messina brought the new medium of oil painting to Italy. In his travels, he brought the medium to Venice, where artists such as Giovanni Bellini, adopted, and expanded the expressive potential of the medium. Perhaps one of the most influential painting teachers in history, Bellini’s pupils included some of the greatest figures in the history of the medium: Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese. Their often huge, operatic paintings mark a kind of crowning achievement for the medium, and the processes they developed consequently influenced other great artists and schools of art that included Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Velazquez and countless others who have followed in their path.

This workshop will follow the oil painting methods of the great Venetian masters. Working from reproductions, participants will reproduce easel-sized works of the Venetian school of the 16th-18th c. They may also choose to copy a detail from larger Venetian masterworks. To as great an extent possible, students will use the same materials of 15th and 16th c. Venetian artists, many of which will be prepared by hand in class, according to traditional recipes.

3.450,0 € 

Autochthonous refers to a variety of grape from a specific terroir. In other words, a particular type of grape adapted to a specific soil and geography, as well as to traditions in cultivation and wine making.  Italy is one of the countries with the most autochthonous grapes in the world - with 545 registered varieties for making wine!  Each one has its distinguishing quality and story. The Italian producers have started to revive these vines, some of which were almost extinct, and produce wines from them, just like the old times.

Guided by wine -writer, Rowena Dumlao, participants will learn about some of these grapes, and their traditions – we will taste them and meet the producers who make them. Printouts will be handed to help facilitate learning during lessons, wine will be tasted and there will be visits to wineries. Let’s dive into the wine world of Italy and see and taste why this country is so special!

The workshop includes daily tastings and winery visits and many 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.

4.350,0 € 

The most basic and important skill that an artist must acquire is the ability to draw. Drawing from plaster casts of Ancient and Renaissance sculptures is one of the most traditional and effective ways for an artist to enhance their drawing skills.

Here in Monte Castello di Vibio, students will work from plaster casts in our collection. Striving towards accuracy at all times, students will render a drawing of a cast of their choice. The process is intensive and time-consuming, but those willing to put in the hard work will be rewarded with heightened skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives as artists.

2.850,0 € 

Living in the Play: Nido* Residency, brings together an international consortium of artists to Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy, for a two-week artist residency that culminates in an exhibition of artworks and corresponding catalog.  *It.: "Nest".

During the residency, your goal individually and collectively is to explore the social historical landscape, use of land resources, and the hidden histories of Monte Castello di Vibio and the surrounding region. This will inform and guide our conversations and contribute to the making practices of each artist amongst Living in the Play: nido.

This residency is in partnership with The Poor Farm Experiment in rural Wisconsin, USA, which has hosted Living In the Play since 2018. We are invested in creating spaces that uplift and connect fellow artists. Our goal is to gather artists through intentional actions that foster community. With a focus on inviting multi-generational and diverse pools of artists, we aim to offer art practitioners ways of engaging their practice with a focused depth of ideas around site, play, and community.

3.750,0 € 

Discover the tradition of human anatomy in Italy with our Human Anatomy Intensive. Experience the 17th-century wax anatomical models at the Specola Museum in Florence, made for medical students to observe venous, muscular, and skeletal systems without a cadaver. Follow in the footsteps of Leonardo Da Vinci and analyze the form and function of the human body, from skeletal and muscular systems to major arteries of the venous system. Work with real human skeletons, anatomical models, and plaster casts in various drawing media in large format sketchbooks. Join us for our appreciation and exploration of the traditional studies of the human anatomy.

2.350,0 € 

Autochthonous refers to a variety of grape from a specific terroir. In other words, a particular type of grape adapted to a specific soil and geography, as well as to tradition. Italy is one of the countries with the most autochthonous grapes in the world - and there are 545 registered varieties for making wine! Each one has its distinguishing quality and story. The Italian producers have started to revive these vines, some of which were almost extinct, and produce wines from them, just like the old times.

In this workshop, we will learn about some of these grapes, and their traditions – we will taste the wines, and meet the producers who make them. Printouts will be handed to help facilitate learning during lessons, wine will be tasted and there will be visits to wineries. Let’s dive into the wine world of Italy and see and taste why this country is so special!

4.350,0 € 

This workshop delves into the precise methods and sophisticated tools essential for crafting a bust directly from a live model. Participants will explore in-depth the intricate anatomy, structural nuances, proportional considerations, cranial aspects, and facial features, while meticulously observing a diverse range of expressions and potential interpretations. Moreover, attendees will gain insight into the time-honored techniques employed by Italian and European old Masters. The program features a blend of interactive group discussions and personalized demonstrations tailored to participants' needs. Open to individuals of all skill levels, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to engage with the art of portraiture.

During the workshop, we will also take a day trip to Perugia in order to visit the National Gallery of Umbria and view their remarkable collection. Afterwards, we will stop in Assisi in order to visit the Church of San Francesco, one of the great monuments of Italy, that features works by Giotto and Cimabue as well as an "all-star cast" of early Renaissance artists!  As a special treat, we will make a brief afternoon visit to see the incredible marble sculpture inside and outside of the Duomo of Orvieto, one of which the most remarkable examples of Italian Gothic architecture with some of the most renowned late medieval marble sculptures.  The opportunity to observe and discuss these great works of Italian art will enhance your understanding of workshop topics, while also enriching your knowledge of the history of art.

3.750,0 € 

This is a two week workshop exploring the potential of paper as a basic material and medium for artistic pursuits. The session includes four areas of instruction: hand papermaking, pulp paper painting and marbling, sewn bookbindings, and designing pop-ups. No prior experience is necessary, and all skill levels are welcome. The workshop is led by internationally known instructors Amanda Degener, Carol Barton, Denise Carbone, and Tom Balbo, and includes field trips to the Fabriano Paper Mill and the city of Florence. Students will learn how to construct pop-ups, create sewn bookbindings, and produce pulp paintings using traditional and non traditional hand papermaking methods. They will also be introduced to suminagashi, a Japanese marbling technique, and natural dyeing and surface treatments on flax papers. The workshop encourages experimentation and creativity and aims to provide students with the technical foundation and structural principles for continued investigation.

4.950,0 €

In a world leaning towards the virtual and on-line, there is a need for artists to come together to share their experiences of using tangible materials. The knowledge of the body and use of ‘haptic’ skills are being lost and now is the time for reconnecting with these materials in order to re connect with ourselves, each other and with the environment we live in.

Ceramic sculptor Sharon Griffin aims to use her work to express how we can connect with ourselves and each other using clay as a tool of experiencing the body. Within this short course, Sharon will demonstrate her knowledge of working with clay as an expressive material, one which will release the innate stories of the maker, acting as a mirror to the artist.

Sharon explains that...’ the clay acts as a mirror to our own experiences. Learning how to listen to the clay helps us have a truer understanding of ourselves... we can tell all of our secrets to the clay. It is our truest friend!'

4.650,0 €