Casole Fields

Copyrighted © 2009 by Linda Warner Constantino. "Casole Field" 10" by 8" oil on linen.

This sunny field is indicative of some many views in Tuscany. The rolling hills of farmland are everywhere. I liked the wildness of the field against the structure of the plowed fields.

Demo Painting Using Portland Grays

"Carmen's House"Copyrighted © 2009 by Linda Warner Constantino. Oil on linen board 8 by 10 in.

Here is a demo painting I did one day of the Plein Air Painting in Tuscany workshop using the Gamblin Portland grays. I think it was a good exercise to help students see value. I used portland gray light, medium, deep, chromatic black and titanium white.I layed in the grayscale painting first painting thinly and then added the local colors in afterward. The day was a bit hazy and lent itself to focusing on a range of values rather than strong plays of light and shade.

You can see the grayscale stage of the painting in this photo.

Here are some of the workshop participants painting away.

Tuscan View

Copyrighted © 2009 by Linda Warner Constantino 9 by 12 oil on linen.

I returned from Italy on Friday July 3. It was very difficult to post while there as the internet connection was a bit slow and I was very busy! So I will post them now and try to reconstruct the time at the workshop. It was a lot of fun and the group seemed to bond well. We all now have some wonderful painting memories to go along the the art we created.

This first painting was done before the workshop in an area of Tuscany near Casole about 20 minutes from Spannocchia.

Spannocchia at Last!

I am here at Spannocchia a few days before my Plein Air Painting workshop so I can get organized and get a little painting in, as well as scout out some painting sites.
It is such a great place. It is rustic and feels very authentically Italian. Around the grounds are the workings of this organic farm .The gardens are being tilled, the sheep are being herded and everything is green and thriving.


The ambience is warm and people come and go from all over but gather in evening to share a family meal outside under a canopy. People chat and exchange stories of the day over the simply prepared and wonderfully fresh food which includes vegetables from the gardens here and wine from their own grapes.

I have been out painting to some of the nearby towns and areas. I will post some paintings when I get a chance to photograph them. I am looking forward to a week of painting and exploring the stunningly beautiful and quietly natural part of Italy.

Sunny Doorways

Copyrighted © 2009 by Linda Warner Constantino.- 8" by 10"- oil on linen.

Spannocchia Soon! I am busy preparing for my plein air painting workshop which takes place at Spannocchia from June 22-29. I have been looking forward to returning there all year. I will be posting workshop goings on each days so you can get a sense of what it is like.We will be painting in some nearby towns as well as at Spannocchia. If you would like to receive the daily postings just sign up in the upper right hand box on this page.Stay tuned!

Back to Spannocchia

Copyrighted © 2009 by Linda Warner Constantino. Oil on gessoboard.

It's a bit early but I am already excited about going back to Spannocchia to paint this summer. I am anxious to see how it is in the summer time as I was there last in the spring. A small group is signed up to go and I am holding the workshop open until April 15. The airfares have dropped dramatically and the dollar is much stronger against the euro than last year. More importantly, the time spent painting is never forgotten and sharing this experience makes it more fun. So if you are interested in going Email me or check out the workshop section on my website.

Cinta Senese Pigs

Copyrighted © 2008 by Linda Warner Constantino. 6" by 8"- oil on canvas panel.Click on image to view larger.

These are not just any pigs. They are Cinta Senese pigs that are an endangered species domesticated at Spannocchia .

Speaking of Spannocchia I have gotten the dates firmed up for next summer's Plein Air Painting in Tuscany workshop that I will be teaching there. It will be from June 21 through June 28, 2009. I should have the prices firmed up in the next week or two. Email me me if interested.