JOIN ANASTASIA in Italy…

for an extraordinary print-making workshop that combines Anastasia’s expert instruction, an abundance of Italian food-related inspiration and in-depth cultural experiences – all set in a charming medieval hill town. Italy’s rich history of stamp-carving and print-making is the ideal setting for this all-inclusive workshop that includes daily lessons with print artist Anastasia Inciardi, along with cultural experiences, private excursions and delectable meals. From Gaetano’s history of print-making to Vesario’s abundant produce stand to Cristian’s delightful pasta making lesson, you’ll enjoy a multitude of interactions with locals and a fabulous variety of food-related inspiration as you learn to carve (and print!) your own multi-layer linocut.

ABOUT Anastasia Inciardi

Anastasia (Ana) Inciardi is a relief printmaker based out of Portland, Maine. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and went on to study Art and Art History at Kenyon College. During college Ana discovered her love of carving linocuts. She began with mostly images of objects and buildings but then, increasingly more often, she was inspired by food. Growing up Italian American, food has always been central to her family; entire weeks were planned around meals and every outing or activity involved some sort of culinary reward. Carving linocuts of food connects her to her family and the experience of bonding with others over a good meal.

ABOUT Addison Wagner

Addison Wagner is an organic farmer and artist living and working in Portland, Maine. In addition to her reverence for good, nourishing food, she comes with a background in a number of 2D visual mediums including drawing, collage and printmaking. Addison will be joining Anastasia as an assistant instructor to provide additional support as you work towards creating your own unique culinary-themed prints. She’ll be available during studio time to answer questions regarding composition, carving technique and color-mixing.

IN THIS EXTRAORDINARY WORKSHOP You’ll Learn How to 

• Gather inspiration and source material using Italian food magazines, cookbooks, art books and food photography as well as local meats, cheeses and produce gathered from the farmers’ market
• Consider line quality, cropping and positive and negative space to create a strong composition
• Sketch or trace and transfer image onto a linoleum block
• Select and use different hand-carving tools to bring your subject to life
• Mix colors using oil-based printmaking ink
• Use rubber brayers to apply ink to your carved linoleum block
• Print using various methods including Ana’s small-etching press, printmaking barons and spoons; so you can use your print-making skills back at home with or without access to a printing press
• Create a single colored print using one piece of linoleum
• Create a multi-layer linocut piece
• Layer and apply ink to multiple pieces of linoleum to create multi-colored prints
• Print multiple editions (each will turn out a little differently) to exchange with other members of the course and take home as gifts and mementos!
• Celebrate each other’s work with an art show and print swap on the final day of class

ITINERARY

Day 1, Monday, September 30: Arrival

• Highlights: Arrival, welcome, workshop overview
• Dinner

Upon your arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport, our private drivers will transport you to the Italian countryside, and your boutique hotel accommodations in the unspoiled village of Città della Pieve. After check-in you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the historic center of the village with trip facilitator, Pamela Haack, followed by a workshop overview with Ana and Addison. Afterwards it’s time to enjoy a welcome aperitivo, followed by a delectable dinner prepared by Chef Vito.

Day 2, Tuesday, October 1: Studio, Cantina Murogrosso 

• Highlights: Visit to Valerio’s produce shop, cantina tour + wine tasting, studio time
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner

This morning after a delicious breakfast, our drivers will transport you to the nearby village of Chiusi where you’ll enjoy a visit to our friend, Valerio’s, produce shop filled with seasonal fruits and vegetables that arrive daily from farms throughout Italy. Here, with Anastasia’s guidance, you’ll select – and take with you – a few items that catch your creative eye. Next we continue to a nearby winery, where you’ll take a tour of the vineyards with Paola, followed by time to photograph various wine bottles, olive oil cans, as well as grapes and grape leaves. (You might even take some items back with you for a linocut!) Afterwards you’ll enjoy a picnic-style lunch, served wine produced here at the cantina.

This afternoon, after returning to Città della Pieve, you’ll have some time to relax and recharge before joining in Anastasia in the art studio where you’ll practice carving a single-color linocut, as well as learn about handling printing tools. You’ll also learn how to print by hand with Ana’s manual printing technique.  This evening it’s off to dinner at our friends’ inviting trattoria.

Day 3, Wednesday, October 2: Farmers Market, Pasta Lesson

• Highlights: Farmers’ market, pasta lesson, studio time
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner

This morning after breakfast, we’ll stop at Valerio’s fruit and vegetable stand for his produce offerings that he brings to town each Wednesday morning, where you might find further food subjects for printing. October boasts a fabulous variety of foods from local farmers, including, grapes, pears, figs, aglione (a type of local garlic), peppers, the last of the season’s tomatoes … and so much more! Then it’s off to the studio for a morning session with Anastaia and Addison as you begin to sketch and design different colors/layers for your 2-3 color print, and start carving your 1st layer. 

After lunch at a nearby cafe, you’ll have some free time, followed by a continued session in the studio with Ana and Addison. This afternoon you’re in for a treat, as we head to our friend, Cristian’s, bistro for a delightful pasta-making lesson where you’ll learn about the history of farm-to-table foods in Italy, as well as different pastas and sauces. Fascinating! After a peek inside Cristian’s private cantina, you’ll enjoy dinner, featuring your hand-made pasta, of course.

Day 4, Thursday, October 3: Studio, Saffron Tasting

• Highlights: Saffron tasting, studio time, Renaissance art tour
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner

This morning, after breakfast, it’s off to the studio with Ana and Addison for a morning session where you’ll being carving the 2nd layer in your lino-cut, as well as starting some test prints. Today’s early lunch  is served up at our friend, Alessandro’s saffron shop, where you’ll also enjoy a private tour and tasting. 

This afternoon, it’s back to the studio with Anastasia where you’ll continue to carve and print your food-related designs. This evening, after a Renaissance church art tour, it’s off to a favorite restaurant for a Tuscan-inspired dinner.

Day 5, Friday, October 4: Studio, Farewell Celebration

• Highlights: Final printing, aperitivo + pizza in private home
• Breakfast, dinner

This morning, after breakfast, it’s off to the studio for a full morning session where you’ll work on completing your projects and printing your final pieces. Lunch today is on your own, followed by time to relax and recharge.

This afternoon it’s back to the studio where you’ll enjoy a celebration of prints, as well as an oh-so-fun print swap. Afterwards you’ll take one last walk through the avenues of the village, including a stroll through Italy’s narrowest street, as we head to a private location for a special aperitivo and celebratory pizza night.

Day 6, Saturday, October 5: Departure 

Early morning transport to Rome Fiumicino Airport

VENUE Boutique Hotel Vannucci

Hotel Vannucci began as a project of Vittoria Spinola, daughter of King Vittorio Emanuele II, who fled Pisa (and an arranged marriage with her elderly husband) to start a new life with her lover in Città della Pieve. Here, she and her soon-to-be new husband, Paolo, built two villas that became luxurious holiday accommodations for wealthy Romans vacationing in the countryside. In 1903 one of the villas became Hotel Vannucci, and today it maintains the elegance and refinement of its inception, with luxurious sleeping rooms, marble bathrooms and inviting gardens. A stay here is truly special, nestled just outside the medieval walls of the historic, and unspoiled, village of Città della Pieve. 

VIEW the Photo Gallery

WHAT’S INCLUDED

•  5 nights stay at Boutique Hotel Vannucci, Città della Pieve
• Group transportation to/from Rome Fiumicino Airport on arrival and departure days
• Private transportation service to/from all towns and sites included in the itinerary
• All breakfasts
• 3 lunches
• 5 dinners featuring regional specialties and accompanied by local wines
• Winery tour and tasting
• Pasta-making lesson
• Visit to local famers’ market
• Saffron tasting
• Village walking tours
• Carving tools (to keep and take home with you)
• Use of small etching press and printmaking brayers
• Supplies! Including: unmounted linoleum, Rives BFK white paper, Cranfield oil-based blocking printing ink, transfer paper, pencils, erasers, sharpies, scissors, various forms of inspirational ephemera
• BONUS!! One-on-one zoom session after the workshop to help with printing at home, art feedback, and printing tips!
• BONUS!! Each student will receive a print from each student from the class at the end!
• BONUS!! Each student will receive multiple prints of Ana’s.

Not included: Airfare or transportation, outside of that listed in the trip itinerary, alcoholic drinks or meals ordered “on your own”, gratuities for drivers and hotel staff

The Unexpected is Part of the Journey: Sometimes unexpected things come up. If there is unscheduled closing or schedule change, we carefully pivot to include something that is equally as wonderful and interesting, so that the quality of your experience is never at risk. ☺️

DATES & PRICES

• Dates:
  • September 30 – October 5, 2024
• Trip Price: $3,495 USD – $4,095 USD per person (choose room type upon booking)
• Room Descriptions:
  • Single: Single occupancy, single bed, private ensuite bathroom
  • Classic: Single occupancy, double bed, private ensuite bathroom with walk-in shower
  • Superior: Single occupancy, double bed, private ensuite bathroom with tub/shower combination
  • Deluxe: Double occupancy, double bed or two singles, private ensuite bathroom with tub and shower (specifically for couples or friends traveling together)
• $700 deposit (partially refundable for 30 days) is required to secure your space on this workshop
• Arrival/departure airport is Rome Fiumicino
• View our terms and cancellation policy here

1 SPACE – BOOK NOW!