Name: Oil Painting Italian Countryside Retreat in Le Marche
Start: 2025-07-12
End: 2025-07-18
Location: 63086 Force AP, Italy

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Immerse yourself into the zone in the midst of stunning Italian countryside, on this vibrant oil painting retreat. Whether you are already experienced painting in oils, or a complete beginner, this summer art escape will let you create to your heart’s content, in a relaxed and tranquil country house, nestled amidst rolling hills, sunflower fields, vineyards and olive groves. There is an abundance of inspiration everywhere you look. With views this good, there may not seem much need to head anywhere. But of course, we venture out to historic towns, such as the Renaissance city of Ascoli Piceno, boasting Italy’s finest Travertine Squares. We’ll explore the local culture and engage in some traditional activities, including evening visits to ancient local towns and summer festas, A fun and vibrant Cooking Class will introduce us to healthy secrets of the Mediterranean Cuisine. Our curated program, also includes a fantastic vineyard paint and sip, a relaxing day trip to the stunning sea-side for a swim or sketching charming coastal scenes and soaking up the atmosphere and sea-side flair on the palm-lined promenade with its stunning Liberty (Italian Art Nouveau) villas. Or maybe, you just feel like pitching yourself in a cafe and sketching the little fishing harbour before enjoying a superb sea-food lunch.A well balanced and curated program of demonstrations, plein-air opportunities, cultural and culinary explorations of the area, make this a perfect and relaxed experience of one of Italy’s most beautiful and varied regions, Le Marche.

63086 Force AP, Italy

Oil Painting Italian Countryside Retreat in Le Marche

Painting Holiday Italy

Jana and john the owners of Retreat couldn’t be more helpful and understanding with the booking , johns art classes are amazing he has so much patience with everyone , even a beginner with his tutoring will produce a work of art , because of  his demos and Encouraging manor   Thank you John and Jana .

Watercolour Class

Thank you for your kind comments Domenic. I am glad you enjoyed the class.

The sunday afternoon watercolour class was very enjoyable. It was nicely paced and challenging enough to eb worthwhile.

Oh my gosh. I thought I had done this. Im not sure which trip but both Cinque Terre and Venice watercolor retreats were beyond fantastic!!!  Accommodations were central but out of crazy crowded areas and very comfortable.  The painting locations were  stunning and made so much more memorable by studying, drawing and painting them.  
I would do both all over again!!!! 
Thank you so much, John and Yana!!!!


Goldster Painting & Drawing Group

John was fully dedicated during all the time. His experience is obvious and I guess that his suggestions and instructions helped me to move forward with my painting. The most important aspect of this experience is, that I had great time during the artistic retreat with John and my class mates. I am for sure interested to have another one in a future.

Venice Watercolour Retreat

The Venice retreat was spectacular. 
We stayed in a quiet neighborhood very close to wonderful local restaurants. We painted in beautiful locations, enjoyed walks through the city and took in the fabulous sights that only Venice can provide.
John is an excellent teacher. He teaches in a supportive and easy to follow manner with humor and understanding.
My painting skills have improved immensely.
I highly recommend this extraordinary painting retreat.

What a fabulous experience in Cinque Terre! John is an excellent teacher, a delightful storyteller and a wonderful host. 
I loved the hotel and my private room had a terrace overlooking the village and seaside. The staff was accommodating and the food was wonderful. 
My painting skills have improved learning traditional techniques in a step by step process in the most picturesque settings!
I highly recommend this excellent retreat.


Cinque Terre Retreat

Have just returned home after attending the October 2025 Venice Watercolour Retreat.  This was a wonderful experience and I learnt a lot about watercolour painting, in stunning Venice.  As someone who loves watercolours however is early in my painting journey, this retreat was perfect.  John was an excellent and patient teacher, the small group environment was supportive (and fun) and the setting provided opportunity for learning about many aspects of watercolour, as well as the opportunity to spend time, and get to know Venice, food, environment, culture and art.  I have returned home, inspired to paint, with new skills and a new group of friends who I will stay in touch with.  Many thanks to John and Janna for organising this and hope to do more retreats in the future.


This is a must for every living human being even if you’re not a painter, not an artist, or are not a traveler. This is about opening your eyes to that which is around you, opening your understanding to the world at large, and opening yourself up to all of the possibilities in this life and beyond. It is a master class in how to enjoy life. 

John is not “just” a painter. John is not “just” a teacher. John is magic. John is an empathic soul who will help open you to all that is you using the guise of painting to make you do so. And John is not alone. Jana will be there every step of the way guiding and gently mentoring all who cross her path through her compassion and understanding. Together they are a formidable team that you simply shouldn’t miss.

As if this alone isn’t enough, add the majestic Italian background with all of it’s history, culture and beauty into the mix. Paint it, nurture it, come to understand it from a fresh perspective that you can only glimpse by living it for those few precious days. Immerse yourself in the beauty of it, the taste of it, the joy of it and then translate that to your own life. That is after all the point! 

Go. Do. Be. Become!

Art & Wellness Escape

This was a life changing and life affirming holiday, which I will never forget. Each day was filled with unique experiences, special places and attractions to paint and delicious food in authentic restaurants. I feel I visited the 'real' Florence; John's guidance and teaching with anecdotes and stories  brought the city to life. I have learnt so much about watercolour painting and I intend to act on John's teaching in the future. 
Thank you for a unique and amazing experience!

Florence Watercolour Retreat

A magnificent trip! Fantastic experience and teacher.  Great accomodations.  Well worth every minute. I highly recommend it! 

I am based in Singapore and I had the most wonderful, truly life-changing experience attending the 5-day watercolor retreat in Florence in September 2025. Just when I thought Italy couldnt be more magical, this retreat proved me wrong. From start to finish, everything was beautifully organized — the stay, hospitality, food, wine, and evening walks all made it truly unforgettable.

The teaching itself was exceptional. John is patient, sincere, and deeply encouraging. I came away not only with new techniques and a much better understanding of watercolor as a medium, but also with the confidence to begin exploring my own style. He has a way of supporting every participant at their level, always with kindness and positivity. 

This retreat was the perfect balance of learning, inspiration, and relaxation, and I met some amazing people on this journey. Highly highly recommend!

Fantastic accommodation and location. 
Really good food and a thoroughly enjoyable experience. 
A great learning experience with fellow artists. 

Sorrento and Amalfi Watercolour Retreat

If 10 stars were possible, I would definitely call this a 10 star workshop! Over the last 30 years I have taken various watercolor classes from 2 weeks in Bali to afternoon community ed, and I learned more from John in 5 days than all of the others combined!!! John's method of starting by reinforcing and clearly making relevant the basics, to en plein supervised trips into the ancient villages of Italy brought my amateur hobbyist dabbling to a level that made it a pleasure to NOT create mud on expensive paper. John also had an amazing skill of making this adventure a true holiday with humor, openness, stress-free and fun. I have never walked away from prior workshops with such inspiration to paint and the feeling of it was all worth it! Additionally, the inclusion of a few hours of getting away from the brush and doing something to relax and enjoy a nice break was an an excellent balance to the workshop. I look forward to learning more from Maestro John!

We had a wonderful week in the most beautiful and relaxing setting - learning about painting techniques and discovering the beauty of sunflowers, straw bales, light and shadows. Food was plenty and excellent. Would love to come back! 

Oil Painting Italian Countryside Retreat 19th -25th July 2025

Grateful thanks to John for his patient, detailed and energetic teaching and the incredible wide range of subjects covered. 

This retreat was a truly unforgettable experience, blending the serenity of Italy’s countryside with the joy of artistic discovery. I learned not only how to see, but how to capture its beauty in oil paint.
The homemade meals were exceptional, filled with local flavors and heartfelt hospitality. Our days were beautifully balanced with enriching visits to a historic town and relaxing moments on a stunning beach. It was the perfect harmony of creativity, culture, and comfort!

I would highly recommend this course as a great way to spend 5 days in Italy whilst learning watercolours. John was a great teacher, patient and supportive as well as being very friendly and good fun. He covered a wide range of watercolour techniques as well as covering colour theory and composition. Our group all got on really well and we had a great time as well as learning a lot during our time in Cinque Terre which was beautiful.

However, some feedback which I know was shared by the other attendees in this group. It should be made very clear that single travellers will be in the small single rooms at Villa Adrianna. The three of us who were travelling alone were all advised that all beds for participants were double and very spacious. Whilst in the end my room was ok, it was not what I and others had been expecting so meant our initial arrival was rather negative.

We also all assumed that what we had paid was fully inclusive so were surprised to have to pay for the ferry and trains. It is not so much the cost, but it was not cheap - for me it was an extra $110 AUD, it was that it had not been made clear that there was more to pay.

I would also highly recommend having at least one or two nights where dinner is not at the hotel. Monterosso is beautiful and whilst the hotel food was ok it was rather dull to be eating there night after night when we had all travelled so far to be in Italy and see the local sights and culture. The service was also very slow and dinner did not start until 7:30.We were all happy to pay for our dinner out and this really enhanced our experience of the whole process. However, the breakfasts were great.

We also found that the hotel manager did not deal well with any complaints and was very defensive.  Other than this it was great and I had a wonderful time. 

I have been doing Goldstar art lessons online for a while now, and really enjoy them.  John Skelcher is an excellent  teacher, and I continue to learn new art skills all the time, whether it's Watercolours, Acrylics or Pastels and  more.   It's also great value for money. Thank you  

Goldster Drawing Group

That was my forth week in a row painting with John:

From the very first brushstroke, this retreat was a dream come true. John is not only an incredibly talented artist, but also a deeply sympathetic and gifted teacher. His calm, encouraging presence and intuitive guidance created a space where everyone, no matter their level, could grow and thrive. He has that rare ability to explain techniques clearly while also inspiring confidence and creativity.

The retreat was superbly organized from beginning to end. These were truly intensive days, filled with learning, discovery, and inspiration — a perfect blend of art, culture, and connection. Highly, highly recommended! Thank you, John, for such a beautiful experience and Jana for all the support by the orgaization of my trip. I ll go back to switzerland with 1001 memories 🙏🏻🙏🏻

That was my third week in a row with John. looking forward to my last one

From the very first brushstroke, this retreat was a dream come true. John is not only an incredibly talented artist, but also a deeply sympathetic and gifted teacher. His calm, encouraging presence and intuitive guidance created a space where everyone, no matter their level, could grow and thrive. He has that rare ability to explain techniques clearly while also inspiring confidence and creativity.

The retreat was superbly organized from beginning to end. These were truly intensive days, filled with learning, discovery, and inspiration — a perfect blend of art, culture, and connection. Highly, highly recommended! Thank you, John, for such a beautiful experience and Jana for all the support by the orgaization of my trip. I ll go back to switzerland with 1001 memories 🙏🏻🙏🏻

We have enjoyed painting holidays a lot. Professional tutoring, great place to learn watercolor, good place to stay . Great group !
Diana & Rolf

Hi Carol, thank you so much for your kind words. I am glad you enjoyed your watercolour adventure, and we are looking forward to welcoming you on one of our retreats again soon.

John deserves 5 Stars for his excellent leading/touring of our Painting Holiday.  We suggested to him that he call it 'Watercolor Adventures'.  As every time we headed out we had an incredible experience.  
John finds little nooks and crannies in the community to paint in. He then follows up with an excellent lesson in the afternoon with a beneficial critique by the end of the day.  
He was born to teach painting and drawing.  He loves it! He can explain any principals of art for any level of student.   
John is very entertaining and can talk about Art History, Italian/ British life, food, wine, government and many stories to entertain! 
We loved our time together. We highly recommend his Retreat.
Tip: Wear good walking shoes, you'll need them. 
 

Did Johns art class he is brilliant i have been joining his classes for about four years now and every week there is something new and interesting to paint , his guidance through these classes is really fun , not only do we learn to paint in different mediums but we also learn about the history of the subject and when appropriate the history of the artist how may have painted the original subject .

I am continuing my artistic journey with John after being with Goldster for over 4 years and find him an excellent teacher.  He explains things very well, particularly the drawing stage and I have found myself drawing and painting many subjects that I would not have previously considered or thought capable of.

John has a very relaxed manner and is very patient, supportive and encouraging no matter what the outcome.  He is also very knowledgeable and interesting and I have learned a lot from him.

I would have no hesitation in recommending his online classes and would love to visit Italy some day to do them in person!

Excellent tutor in John Skelcher. Not only does he guide you through the whole subject, he gives so much information on the history of all the resources that we attempt to copy. He’s also very encouraging to all levels of pupils. 

John is a keen and dedicated instructor. I really appreciate what he has taught me over the past four years. I am taking time off for medical reasons and can't wait to return! The group of participants was helpful and encouraging & we became like  family .It was a positive and life altering experience, which I will treasure for the rest of my life ...Thank you John .
   Sincerely , Fatma 

I have enjoyed , all the painting classes lead by John Skelcher, very informative, fun and interesting.

Many thanks to John Skelcher for his very patient and skillful tuition and varied lessons. Having discovered his tuition during lockdown I am so pleased he is continuing to teach online. He is very generous with his time and gives helpful critiques of our work. I would thoroughly recommend this group.  Thank you John

The coarse was wonderful, the locations were beautiful, the instructor was informative, caring and gave a lot of detailed instruction. I highly recommend this class.

John's on-line art sessions are very informative, a mixture of subjects and mediums.  John is a fantastic tutor, he's very knowledgeable, patient and always interested in our artworks and how we are developing.  He is excellent at passing on this knowledge and also gives constructive criticism where needed.  No matter the subject, we always learn something.  

John is a great tutor,whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced artist,His lessons are always interesting and informative,highly recommended 

Really enjoying John’s vast knowledge and teaching methods. 

Fantastic coaching from John who is a patient, positive teacher,I have learnt and improved so much.

John Skelcher is an excellent tutor.  Extremely patient and encouraging.  

This is a wonderful art class with our brilliant tutor,John Skeltcher.

Enjoying drawing and painting along with John online. I usually do the drawing part and after a break do the painting. I post my finished work in the online group and John leaves his comments. Hopefully I am improving in skill level but I very much enjoy the process having never done drawing or painting before. Would highly recommend.

Oil Painting Italian Countryside Retreat in Le Marche in 63086 Force AP, Italy

Immerse yourself into the zone in the midst of stunning Italian countryside, on this vibrant oil painting retreat.&nbsp;Whether you are already experienced painting in oils, or a complete beginner, this summer art escape will let you create to your heart’s content, in a relaxed and tranquil country house, nestled amidst rolling hills, sunflower fields, vineyards and olive groves. There is an abundance of inspiration everywhere you look.&nbsp;With views this good, there may not seem much need to head anywhere. But of course, we venture out to historic towns, such as the Renaissance city of Ascoli Piceno, boasting Italy’s finest Travertine Squares. We’ll explore the local culture and engage in some traditional activities, including evening visits to ancient local towns and summer festas, A fun and vibrant Cooking Class will introduce us to healthy secrets of the Mediterranean Cuisine. Our curated program, also includes a fantastic vineyard paint and sip, a relaxing day trip to the stunning sea-side for a swim or sketching charming coastal scenes and soaking up the atmosphere and sea-side flair on the palm-lined promenade with its stunning Liberty (Italian Art Nouveau) villas. Or maybe, you just feel like pitching yourself in a cafe and sketching the little fishing harbour before enjoying a superb sea-food lunch.A well balanced and curated program of demonstrations, plein-air opportunities, cultural and culinary explorations of the area, make this a perfect and relaxed experience of one of Italy’s most beautiful and varied regions, Le Marche.

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should you need to have out of hour pick/up or drop-off, we can arrange it for you.

Oil Painting Italian Countryside Retreat in Le Marche

Oil Painting Italian Countryside Retreat in Le Marche

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