JOIN ELIZABETH ST. HILAIRE in Venice!

Open to students of all artistic levels, Watercolor Sketchbook Venice is an immersion in Venetian inspiration, along the city’s romantic canals and piazzas, as you create your own personal sketch journal with daily instruction and guidance from Elizabeth. 

For years Elizabeth has been using watercolor sketch-journaling to document her own personal trips to Italy, and in this exciting Venice workshop she shares with you her process, techniques and approaches – plus an incredible variety of tips!

But Watercolor Sketchbook Venice is more than a sketching workshop. It’s a week filled with fellowship, camaraderie and fun beyond your wildest dreams – in one of the world’s most spectacular cities. In addition to daily lessons and demos with Elizabeth, you’ll sketch quintissential Venetian scenes at canal-side cafes, as gondolas float past. Plus you’ll take exciting excursions to the islands of Murano and Burano, with a dizzying variety of hand-blown glass shops and colorful houses. Oh – and get ready for delectable food in our favorite family-run restaurants!

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HAND-MADE FABRIANO Sketchbook!

Elizabeth will be personally constructing your sketchbook from hand-made Fabriano paper – Italy’s finest. While sketching, drawing and painting in the pages of your sketchbook you’ll learn how to…

• Break your Venetian subject matter down into simple shapes
• Render reflections of light on water  – and on the colorful glass of Venice
• Incorporate vibrant colors into your work
• Achieve shading, depth and dimension
• Add text to your journal pages to document your Venice experience
• Sketch in your journal while staying within a desired palette
• Compose a compelling page layout in your own distinct style
• Incorporate borders as a design element
• Find your own personal style, as you capture the essence of Venice
• Use an empowering approach to improve your water color sketching
• Embellish your watercolor with ink pen details
• Develop imagery and form for depth and interest
• Incorporate essential light and shadow into your sketches
• Easily improve your sketching skills through daily practice
• Pencil sketch your subject and keep it loose
• Post your artwork on social media

ITINERARY

DAY 1: Arrival Venice

• Arrival, workshop orientation, welcome dinner
• Dinner

Upon your arrival at Venice Marco Polo Airport, you’ll take a water taxi or water bus (vaporetto) on your own to our canal-side hotel. (Instructions provided after booking.) After check-in at our boutique hotel in one of Venice’s still-authentic neighborhoods, you’ll enjoy a walking tour, followed by an introductory lesson with Elizabeth. Afterwards it’s time to enjoy a delectable welcome dinner at our friends’ classic Venetian restaurant. 

DAY 2: Murano & Burano

• Highlights: Sketching with Elizabeth, excursion to Murano & Burano
• Breakfast, dinner

This morning, after breakfast, you’ll join Elizabeth for an inspiring sketching session set in a selection of her favorite, carefully chosen spots along Venice’s winding canals—quiet corners where the light dances on the water, laundry flutters from balconies above, and gondolas glide silently by. Here you find endless inspiration for your watercolor sketchbook.

This afternoon we embark on a scenic excursion by Venice’s iconic water bus – Vaporetto – through the enchanting Venetian lagoon, heading first to the island of Murano, world-renowned for its centuries-old tradition of hand-blown glass. Here you’ll have time to explore the island’s artisan shops and perhaps find a one-of-a-kind glass treasure.

Next we continue to Burano, a picture-perfect island famous for its lace-making heritage and irresistibly colorful houses. After a walking tour that showcases the charm and history of the island, we head to our friends’ inviting trattoria for a dinner that features the islands specialties. Afterwards we make our way back to Venice by vaporetto.

DAY 3: Venice

• Highlights: Sketching with Elizabeth Piazza San Marco, Basilica San Marco
• Breakfast, aperitivo

This afternoon, you’ll join Elizabeth in the charming Cannaregio district for an inspiring sketching lesson. As you wander through the neighborhood, you’ll capture the essence of Venice—its graceful footbridges, winding canals, and timeless architecture that defines the unique character of this part of Venice. Lunch today is on your own.

This afternoon, you’ll dive deeper into your sketching journey alongside Elizabeth, uncovering her unique watercolor techniques that bring her colorful sketches to life. As the sun begins to dip, we’ll enjoy a leisurely aperitivo together—perhaps a chilled spritz or a glass of local prosecco—before we make our way to the iconic Saint Mark’s Square. Here we’ll stroll beneath the elegant 18th-century porticos, where the air hums with music and history, and pause to admire the storied Bridge of Sighs. The evening culminates in an unforgettable experience: an exclusive, after-hours tour of the magnificent Basilica San Marco. With the crowds gone, we can marvel at the shimmering 12th-century mosaics and the radiant Pala d’Oro altarpiece. A truly magical night.

DAY 4: Venice

• Highlights: Sketching onsite, Vivaldi concert (optional)
• Breakfast, light dinner

This morning, after breakfast, it’s off with Elizabeth to a charming coffee bar where you’ll sketch cappuccino and Venetian pastries – delicious! Afterwards we’ll visit one of Venice’s spectacular churches, followed by exploration and lunch on your own. 

This afternoon you’ll join Elizabeth for a demo on sketching bridges and water before walking to the inviting Piazza dei Apostoli, a lovely campo (piazza) with park benches and a medieval well where you can position yourself for sketching. This evening you can opt in for pizza, or grab an early dinner on your own, followed by an optional Vivaldi concert in a 17th century church.

DAY 5: Venice 

• Highlights: Artisan demo, gondola ride
• Breakfast, dinner

This morning, after breakfast, we walk to to our friend, Paolo’s, incredible workshop. Paolo is an artisan who hand-crafts oarlocks for gondolas, and is an amazing wood-working artist. After learning about the unique and surprising purpose of the gondola oarlock, it’s off to the gondola dock for a leisurely gondola ride along the city’s labyrinth of canals. Afterwards you’ll gather with Elizabeth to learn her best techniques for drawing gondolas and water.

In the afternoon, you’ll gather with Elizabeth for a final wrap-up session on a rooftop terrace as you add final touches to your Venice sketch journal. This evening you’ll enjoy a celebratory aperitivo and dinner at our friends’ cozy trattoria, housed in a former gondola factory.

DAY 6: Departure

Departure to Venice Marco Polo Airport or Venice Santa Lucia Train Station

VENUE: Boutique Hotel Ca d’Oro

Hotel Ca’ D’Oro is just a few-minutes walk from Venice’s Rialto Bridge and the Piazza San Marco, yet tucked away in a neighborhood that reflects Venice of a bygone age, with fabulously narrow calle (avenues) and inviting piazzas. The roof-top terrace with views across the rooftops and canals of Venice is not to be missed!

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• 5 nights stay at Boutique Hotel Ca d’Oro, Venice
• All breakfasts
• 4 dinners
• Private taxi excursion to islands of Murano & Burano
• Guided walking tour Murano & Burano
• Visit to glass-blowing factory
• Visit to Basilica San Marco and Piazza San Marco
• Guided walks in Venice
• Live Vivaldi concert (optional/extra)
• Private visit to Paolo the oarlock artisan
• Gondola ride
• Daily in-depth lessons, demonstrations, presentations  – plus group and one-to-one instruction with Elizabeth in cafes, coffee bars, piazzas and alongside romantic Venetian canals
• Hand-made Fabriano paper sketch journal
• ALL SUPPLIES! Including your own hand-made Fabriano paper sketchbook and watercolor sketch set
• Free time for shopping and exploring on your own

Not included: Artist-grade brushes (Elizabeth will share suggestions), airfare, meals, alcoholic drinks, buses, trains or boat transportation outside of that which is specifically listed in the trip package, gratuities for 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. ☺️

ABOUT Elizabeth St. Hilaire

Elizabeth St. Hilaire is an award winning full-time artist, art workshop instructor, and published author. She is a former Golden Paints Artist Educator, a former Ambassador for Princeton Brush, and a former Creative Team Artist for Gel Press. Her work is also featured on Fredrix Canvas packaging.

Her unique mixed-media artwork is created from torn tidbits of hand-painted paper which she glues down over an acrylic under-painting. St Hilaire’s collages are collected and have been exhibited both nationally and internationally. Images of her work are reproduced and available nationwide on wall canvas, household items, stationery, clothing, jewelry, and more.

Elizabeth is a Signature Member of National Collage Society, holds a BFA from Syracuse University, and has been working in her medium for over 15 years. She has published seven books on her process.

Visit Elizabeth’s website at PaperPaintings.com

DATES AND DETAILS

• Dates:
  • September 15-20, 2025 
• Trip Price:
  • From $3,895 USD shared twin/double
  • From $4,595 USD single occupancy
  • Select room type upon booking. Note: If you are traveling alone, and would like to be assigned a room partner for double occupancy, please let us know upon booking
• Room Descriptions:
  • Deluxe Double (double or single occupancy)
  • Deluxe Double Canal View (double or single occupancy)
  • Jr. Suite Canal View (double or single occupancy)
• A $700 deposit is required to book your space
• View our Terms and Cancellation Policy

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