July12 - July 26, 2012 La Romita School of Art Terni in Umbria, Italy THE COURSE: Benno Philippson, architect and watercolorist, has developed a thoughtful system for showing you how to prepare to paint by examining and sketching the underlying structure of what you see, so that you are ready to complete larger works in the studio. His travel journals that he will share with you are jewels of plein air sketches, tiny watercolors, value and gesture studies as well as journal entries. In the richness of the Umbrian landscape, in a different location every day, Benno will support artists of a wide variety of skill levels to find their own way. Demos on perspective, composition and form, the figure in the painting, the use of light, color and scale will include techniques specifically for the traveler who wants to paint on site. Over two weeks the neophyte artist will find a way of seeing and capturing on paper that new understanding. The experienced artist will be supported into expanding personal directions in painting. The media of instruction will be pencil, ink and watercolor. Benno will share his own methods for journaling that include drawing and painting with anyone interested. Participants who prefer to work in acrylics or pastels will still find what Benno teaches to be of value. THE SETTING: The Italian hill towns of Umbria, beginning at La Romita located in the hills above Terni, 100 miles north of Rome THE SCHOOL: La Romita School of Art, a non-profit summer art school founded more than forty years ago, presents a series of two-week workshops from late spring until late October. Founded by Enza and Paola Quargnali, it is now run by Enza and her husband, Ben Benson. Edmund Zimmerman is the director on site. The setting is a former monastery renovated for its current use as an art school. Students typically come from the United States, Great Britain, Canada and Australia. All instruction is in English. MEALS: Almost all meals are included, with an occasional lunch in a town we are visiting for a full day. The La Romita chefs are superb, keeping very much to the Umbrian tradition for fine cuisine. A TYPICAL ITINERARY: [the actual plan may vary] Every day you go to a new place to draw and paint. Day 1 Arrival at the Rome international airport for transport as a group to Terni and La Romita Day 2 San Gemini (medieval hilltop jewel) Day 3 Carsulae (ruins of a Roman town) Day 4 Assisi (mystical home of St. Francis) Day 5 Orvieto (the incredible Cathedral) Day 6 Stroncone (classic walled town) Day 7 Cività di Banoreggio (a Rick Steves favorite) Day 8 Scheggino (riverside known for trout and truffles) Day 9 Todi (a favorite with US artists) Day 10 Labro (Aspills down the hill like frosting@) Day 11 Villa Lante (the perfect renaissance garden) Day 12 Perugia (capital of the Etruscan confederation) Day 13 Spoleto (home of the Festival of Two Worlds) Day 14 Valle San Martino (tiny, perched on a mountain top) Day 15 Morning departure Many of the towns are not on the tourist route, so you can see Italian country life in Umbria exactly as it takes place every day. COSTS: For 2012 each session is $3750. The cost includes room and almost all meals, all instruction and painting excursions. Airfare is not included. BENNO PHILIPPSON: A SHORT BIO Benno graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in architecture, a master's degree in urban planning and nearly enough credits in art for a second major. He has been drawing and painting since childhood, ever since he could hold a pencil or a brush. His works are held in private collections in the United States, Europe, Great Britain, New Zealand and Japan. He has taught art to architecture students and has taught third graders about architecture each spring in the Architecture in the Schools program in Portland, Oregon. He regularly shows his work at the Village Gallery of Arts in Portland and has shown in group and one man shows in the Pacific Northwest for more than three decades. He is a life member of Oregon Watercolor Society. Benno is organized, systematic, relaxed, gentle in his critiques and generous with his time and experience. A past participant at La Romita, he was delighted to join the teaching faculty for 2008 and also 2010. CONTACT INFORMATION: E. Benno Philippson E-mail: bennophilippson@gmail.com Telephone: 503 644 4488 1610 NW 133rd Ave. Portland Oregon 97229 La Romita School of Art, Inc. PO Box 58219 Washington DC 20037 www.laromita.org 1 855 476 6482
For a look at Benno's travel journals, go to ionahandcraftedbooks.com and look at Gallery for samples of Benno's
travel journal of Norway bound in leather. | 
