The painting trip to Tuscany, Italy far exceeded my expectations. The accommodations at the I Veroni former factory were wonderful. We had a villa with a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside with a little kitchenette and a large living room. The instructor, Stefan Baumann, was a great teacher and he provided much more hands-on instruction than was originally scheduled on our itinerary. The group meals provided at local restaurants like Bastion Contrarion and Trattoria Archemide were wonderful, three- and four-course meals. The tour of the I Veroni winery and the tasting meal was a highlight of the trip. The painting trip into Florence with our small pochade or thumb boxes where we painted at the Palazzo Vechhio was also a very memorable and rewarding experience. All in all, a wonderful painting trip that I would highly recommend to anyone.

The accommodations for the Brittany trip were very good, and the food was fantastic. The chef, Nicholas, provided some of the best food that I have ever had at a restaurant--fresh appetizers like artichokes, wonderful entrees, fresh quiches, beautiful tomato tarts, and savory stews. The painters who attended along with their spouses were a very congenial group whom I very much enjoyed. Nan Dawkins extended herself to ensure that we got to some great painting locations including Brignogan, and a day trip to the Isle de Batz. The beach was within walking distance and we had a great time painting there. All in all, a very enjoyable trip with a great instructor.

Very well planned and wonderful experience. Lovely people, fantastic food and great location.