LAKE COMO, ITALY
6 day (Small group) painting retreat (Todd Bonita)
September 29 - October 05, 2024 (Limit 8)
LAKE COMO, Italy
September 29 - October 05, 2024
Painting retreat w/ Todd Bonita
All Inclusive (6 night Hotel / Brekafast / Lunch / Airport transfers / ground transport / Ferry tickets) $2,800 (double occ). *add $550 for single room w/private bath.
* Non-painting guest $1,600.
(LIMIT 8)
Call Todd to Register: (603) 819-9100
or email: [email protected]
Escape to the picturesque shores of Lake Como, Italy, for a weeklong PleinAir painting retreat. Immerse yourself in breathtaking landscapes, refine your artistic skills, and indulge in the beauty of Italian culture. Join us for a transformative experience surrounded by stunning scenery, expert guidance, and the serenity of Lake Como.
This small group (limit 8) will be an intimate experience, painting, morning sessions, and golden hour/evening sessions. Enjoying lakeside meals together, exploring the Italian landscape, Demonstrations, lectures, group critiques, cafés, good conversation and lifetime memories.
There will be a daily demonstration and discussions on composition, design, value and capturing light and atmosphere in your paintings. Beginners, experienced artist and those who have never painted before are welcome to join this supportive and spirited group.
Scroll below for:
Registration
Accommodations / meals
Travel / Passport
Art Supply
Itinerary
FAQ
More.
September 29 - October 05, 2024
Painting retreat w/ Todd Bonita
All Inclusive (6 night Hotel / Brekafast / Lunch / Airport transfers / ground transport / Ferry tickets) $2,800 (double occ). *add $550 for single room w/private bath.
* Non-painting guest $1,600.
(LIMIT 8)
Call Todd to Register: (603) 819-9100
or email: [email protected]
Escape to the picturesque shores of Lake Como, Italy, for a weeklong PleinAir painting retreat. Immerse yourself in breathtaking landscapes, refine your artistic skills, and indulge in the beauty of Italian culture. Join us for a transformative experience surrounded by stunning scenery, expert guidance, and the serenity of Lake Como.
This small group (limit 8) will be an intimate experience, painting, morning sessions, and golden hour/evening sessions. Enjoying lakeside meals together, exploring the Italian landscape, Demonstrations, lectures, group critiques, cafés, good conversation and lifetime memories.
There will be a daily demonstration and discussions on composition, design, value and capturing light and atmosphere in your paintings. Beginners, experienced artist and those who have never painted before are welcome to join this supportive and spirited group.
Scroll below for:
Registration
Accommodations / meals
Travel / Passport
Art Supply
Itinerary
FAQ
More.
REGISTER
REGISTRATION:
$2,800 All Inclusive / double occ. Includes:
* add $550 for single occ room w/private bath.
* Non-painting guest $1,600.
* 6 Nights hotel in Bellagio, Italy, Lake Como.
*All Breakfasts
* All lunches
* Ground transfer from Milan airport to Bellagio hotel
* Ground transfer return to Milan airport
* Ground transport in Bellagio
* All Ferry rides
* Demonstrations, Critiques, Lectures, Painting location guide
* (Does not include air, travel insurance or dinners). Half the fun will be sampling various lakeside Italian cuisine.
Call Todd Bonita (603) 819-9100
email: [email protected]
$1,000 Deposit to reserve your space. Check made out to Todd Bonita and mailed to:
Todd Bonita
28 McShane Ave
Greenland, NH 03840
Please write, "Lake Como" in the memo on the check.
CANCELATION / REFUND POLICY:
* 120 days notice or more refunded 100% of your payment to date, less $50 deposit admin and thrid party admin fee.
* 90 days notice or more refunded 100% of your payment to date, less $500 deposit admin and thrird party admin fee.
* Less than 60 days NO REFUNDS. NO EXCEPTIONS.
I recommend you arrange for travel insurance in the unlikely event of an unintended disruptions to your travel plans. Please understand that your deposits are used so that we can reserve our accommodations, transportation and reservations to third parties. For this reason, we have a strict, refund / cancellation policy that honors our agreement to these third parties. Registration in this workshop presumes you have read the refund / cancellation policy and agree to it. To confirm you have read the policy, we will ask for a confirmation email to follow your registration.
In the event that you must cancel, your deposit and / or installment payments will be forfeited as detailed by the dates shown above. We will make every effort to find a wait-listed alternate to take your place.
$2,800 All Inclusive / double occ. Includes:
* add $550 for single occ room w/private bath.
* Non-painting guest $1,600.
* 6 Nights hotel in Bellagio, Italy, Lake Como.
*All Breakfasts
* All lunches
* Ground transfer from Milan airport to Bellagio hotel
* Ground transfer return to Milan airport
* Ground transport in Bellagio
* All Ferry rides
* Demonstrations, Critiques, Lectures, Painting location guide
* (Does not include air, travel insurance or dinners). Half the fun will be sampling various lakeside Italian cuisine.
Call Todd Bonita (603) 819-9100
email: [email protected]
$1,000 Deposit to reserve your space. Check made out to Todd Bonita and mailed to:
Todd Bonita
28 McShane Ave
Greenland, NH 03840
Please write, "Lake Como" in the memo on the check.
CANCELATION / REFUND POLICY:
* 120 days notice or more refunded 100% of your payment to date, less $50 deposit admin and thrid party admin fee.
* 90 days notice or more refunded 100% of your payment to date, less $500 deposit admin and thrird party admin fee.
* Less than 60 days NO REFUNDS. NO EXCEPTIONS.
I recommend you arrange for travel insurance in the unlikely event of an unintended disruptions to your travel plans. Please understand that your deposits are used so that we can reserve our accommodations, transportation and reservations to third parties. For this reason, we have a strict, refund / cancellation policy that honors our agreement to these third parties. Registration in this workshop presumes you have read the refund / cancellation policy and agree to it. To confirm you have read the policy, we will ask for a confirmation email to follow your registration.
In the event that you must cancel, your deposit and / or installment payments will be forfeited as detailed by the dates shown above. We will make every effort to find a wait-listed alternate to take your place.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Our hotel is situated several hundred yards from the shores of Lake Como in the town of Belaggio.
FLIGHT
Milan - Malpensa airport, Italy
* I am flying into Milan - Malpensa airport. Its the largest airport in the vicinity of Belaggio with the most flights. We will pick you up from the airport on Sunday sometime between 1- 4pm. Please send us your flight info when you book your flight and we can give you a specific time in that window.
PASSPORT
* If Italy is an International flight for you, you will require a passport. Make sure yours is up to date and not expired. If your passport expires within three months of travel, you will need to update it.
FLYING w/ PAINT (TSA)
* PLEASE NOTE * Pack your oil paints in your luggage and NOT your carry-on. You CAN travel with Gamsol brush cleaner, it is TSA approved for your packed luggage. on international flights, you will not be able to travel with Liquin, it has a flashpoint above the TSA regulated, fit to fly rule. Print this Airline Inspectors sheet below and keep it with your paints, packed in your luggage.
GAMBLIN (Travel with paint tips)
This is an excellent, soup to nuts over view of how to travel with your paints and deal with TSA and insure best odds of smooth travel. CLICK HERE.
Milan - Malpensa airport, Italy
* I am flying into Milan - Malpensa airport. Its the largest airport in the vicinity of Belaggio with the most flights. We will pick you up from the airport on Sunday sometime between 1- 4pm. Please send us your flight info when you book your flight and we can give you a specific time in that window.
PASSPORT
* If Italy is an International flight for you, you will require a passport. Make sure yours is up to date and not expired. If your passport expires within three months of travel, you will need to update it.
FLYING w/ PAINT (TSA)
* PLEASE NOTE * Pack your oil paints in your luggage and NOT your carry-on. You CAN travel with Gamsol brush cleaner, it is TSA approved for your packed luggage. on international flights, you will not be able to travel with Liquin, it has a flashpoint above the TSA regulated, fit to fly rule. Print this Airline Inspectors sheet below and keep it with your paints, packed in your luggage.
GAMBLIN (Travel with paint tips)
This is an excellent, soup to nuts over view of how to travel with your paints and deal with TSA and insure best odds of smooth travel. CLICK HERE.
ART SUPPLY LIST
ART SUPPLY LIST
(Click here to go to an illustrated page of my Plein air painting supplies)
(Think light weight and portable, find creative ways to simplify...I manage to pack everything below in a back pack. I get most of my supplies online at ASW, Jerrys Artarama, Dick Blick, Cheap Joes or Utrecht).
Portable Easel
French easel, half box easel or Pochade box for working outside.
(I use the 8x10" or 10x12" Open Box M system and sometimes the 6x8" Guerilla box for traveling, both are mounted to a photographers tripod. If you prefer the French easels, go with the lighter and smaller Jullian Half box easel. Last year I also bought the Cadillac of outdoor easels, The Soletek easel. It's not cheap, I bought mine used on Ebay. You might check Ebay or try "All of Craigslist" search for whatever easel you decide to go with. * Here is a terrific article on Pochade Box reviews from the popular Lines and Colors blog. This will give you a thorough understanding of whats available and best for you. Click here.
Palette
I recommend a wood palette....try to avoid paper pallets.
Paint
*(I recommend a minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primaries plus white (with maybe a few extras)....Please spend the extra for professional grade paints. I use Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and Utrecht but there are many good options.)
Alkyd White (Alkyd is a quick dry paint that plays nice with oils. For brands, my favorite is Winsor & Newtons Griffin Alkyd. There are many other excellent quick dry whites.
Titanium White
Cad Yellow
Yellow ochre
Alizeran Crimson
Cadmium Red
Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean Blue or Pthalo blue
Burnt Sienna
Sap Green
Ivory black (*Optional)
raw Umber(*Optional)
Painting surface
Canvas, canvas or linen mounted on board or gessoed wood panel (sizes can range from 6x8” to 14x18” but I would not go larger)...For a travel workshop like this, I will likely limit myself to only one or two sizes, like 8x10". This will simplify my wet carrier system as well.
Brushes
*Assortment of bristle brushes (I suggest large, medium and small in three styles: Flats, Rounds and Filberts. I mostly use Robert Simmons Signet series flats #3, #6 and #10)
*One or two Royal sable flats in medium and large sizes (size 10 or 16) for blending and softening edges (I prefer Langnickel.)
*Small synthetic rounds for details. (I suggest Winsor and Newton Septre Gold 2 in the 404 series...size 4 and / or size 6)
Other
Trowel type Pallet knife
liquin ***You cannot travel with Liquin*** There are many quick dry mediums flight friendly, like Gamblins solvent free gel.
Gamsol ***You cannot travel w/ Gamsol or Solvents*** I will provide Gamsol when you get there for $10 per can.
paper towels (Blue shop towels are the best)
Ruler, straight edge or a mahl stick (something to make straight lines with is handy)
A Veiwfinder: Important! Whether homemade or store bought, it must be adjustable or proportionate to your canvases. Viewcatcher is good.
Artist paint box or back pack for supplies
Wet paint carrier. I love the PanelPaks...they are lightweight and convenient.
*Appropriate clothing for outdoor weather and conditions.
Optional
Hat
sunglasses
Water bottle or something to drink, snack
Sun block
Camera
Umbrella
(Click here to go to an illustrated page of my Plein air painting supplies)
(Think light weight and portable, find creative ways to simplify...I manage to pack everything below in a back pack. I get most of my supplies online at ASW, Jerrys Artarama, Dick Blick, Cheap Joes or Utrecht).
Portable Easel
French easel, half box easel or Pochade box for working outside.
(I use the 8x10" or 10x12" Open Box M system and sometimes the 6x8" Guerilla box for traveling, both are mounted to a photographers tripod. If you prefer the French easels, go with the lighter and smaller Jullian Half box easel. Last year I also bought the Cadillac of outdoor easels, The Soletek easel. It's not cheap, I bought mine used on Ebay. You might check Ebay or try "All of Craigslist" search for whatever easel you decide to go with. * Here is a terrific article on Pochade Box reviews from the popular Lines and Colors blog. This will give you a thorough understanding of whats available and best for you. Click here.
Palette
I recommend a wood palette....try to avoid paper pallets.
Paint
*(I recommend a minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primaries plus white (with maybe a few extras)....Please spend the extra for professional grade paints. I use Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and Utrecht but there are many good options.)
Alkyd White (Alkyd is a quick dry paint that plays nice with oils. For brands, my favorite is Winsor & Newtons Griffin Alkyd. There are many other excellent quick dry whites.
Titanium White
Cad Yellow
Yellow ochre
Alizeran Crimson
Cadmium Red
Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean Blue or Pthalo blue
Burnt Sienna
Sap Green
Ivory black (*Optional)
raw Umber(*Optional)
Painting surface
Canvas, canvas or linen mounted on board or gessoed wood panel (sizes can range from 6x8” to 14x18” but I would not go larger)...For a travel workshop like this, I will likely limit myself to only one or two sizes, like 8x10". This will simplify my wet carrier system as well.
Brushes
*Assortment of bristle brushes (I suggest large, medium and small in three styles: Flats, Rounds and Filberts. I mostly use Robert Simmons Signet series flats #3, #6 and #10)
*One or two Royal sable flats in medium and large sizes (size 10 or 16) for blending and softening edges (I prefer Langnickel.)
*Small synthetic rounds for details. (I suggest Winsor and Newton Septre Gold 2 in the 404 series...size 4 and / or size 6)
Other
Trowel type Pallet knife
liquin ***You cannot travel with Liquin*** There are many quick dry mediums flight friendly, like Gamblins solvent free gel.
Gamsol ***You cannot travel w/ Gamsol or Solvents*** I will provide Gamsol when you get there for $10 per can.
paper towels (Blue shop towels are the best)
Ruler, straight edge or a mahl stick (something to make straight lines with is handy)
A Veiwfinder: Important! Whether homemade or store bought, it must be adjustable or proportionate to your canvases. Viewcatcher is good.
Artist paint box or back pack for supplies
Wet paint carrier. I love the PanelPaks...they are lightweight and convenient.
*Appropriate clothing for outdoor weather and conditions.
Optional
Hat
sunglasses
Water bottle or something to drink, snack
Sun block
Camera
Umbrella
ITINERARY
ITINERARY
Day 1 (Sunday : Arrive in Milan - Malpensa airport. We will pick you up between 1 -4 pm and take you to your hotel in Belaggio (1 hour). Sunday is a free day to relax from travel if you wish. Please feel free to meet us for a drink or dinner at 7:30pm. If you are fatigued and wish to relax, please do not feel obligated and get your rest. Its nice to be invited to the party even if you dont wish to come. We are a small group and it will be fun to paint together and have many opportunities to enjoy meals together all week.
Day 2 (Monday : First day of workshop begins after breakfast. Brekfast is between 7 -9 in the hotel restaurant. We wil meet with our gear, ready to paint at 9am, after breakfast, in front of the hotel. A bagged lunch will be waiting for you so all you have to do is paint, relax and enjoy the Itailian landscape. This will be our daily routine. We will paint Belaggio waterfront, break for lunch, relax, critique our morning paint. An evening paint will follow just before sunset. We are a small group (8) and it will be fun to eat together but please feel free to have your own quiet time if you wish. You will always be invited and we hope you will if you are not pooped. Pacing yourself is key.
Day 3 - 6 (Tuesday - Friday): Our routine will be the same as above, painting in a different nearby town, daily. All towns will be a 10 -15 minute ferry ride and include Belaggio, Varenna, Menaggio and Lenno.
Day 7 (Saturday) A coach will pick us up at 9am in fron of the hotel after breakfast. Please have your luggage ready for your one hour transport to Milan - Malpensa airport.
Day 1 (Sunday : Arrive in Milan - Malpensa airport. We will pick you up between 1 -4 pm and take you to your hotel in Belaggio (1 hour). Sunday is a free day to relax from travel if you wish. Please feel free to meet us for a drink or dinner at 7:30pm. If you are fatigued and wish to relax, please do not feel obligated and get your rest. Its nice to be invited to the party even if you dont wish to come. We are a small group and it will be fun to paint together and have many opportunities to enjoy meals together all week.
Day 2 (Monday : First day of workshop begins after breakfast. Brekfast is between 7 -9 in the hotel restaurant. We wil meet with our gear, ready to paint at 9am, after breakfast, in front of the hotel. A bagged lunch will be waiting for you so all you have to do is paint, relax and enjoy the Itailian landscape. This will be our daily routine. We will paint Belaggio waterfront, break for lunch, relax, critique our morning paint. An evening paint will follow just before sunset. We are a small group (8) and it will be fun to eat together but please feel free to have your own quiet time if you wish. You will always be invited and we hope you will if you are not pooped. Pacing yourself is key.
Day 3 - 6 (Tuesday - Friday): Our routine will be the same as above, painting in a different nearby town, daily. All towns will be a 10 -15 minute ferry ride and include Belaggio, Varenna, Menaggio and Lenno.
Day 7 (Saturday) A coach will pick us up at 9am in fron of the hotel after breakfast. Please have your luggage ready for your one hour transport to Milan - Malpensa airport.
F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
....."Prossimamente".....
1) What if it rains?
We will sing songs about the rain. We will find an outdoor spot with ample, overhead coverage and paint.
2) What if my plane is delayed on arrival?
The latest our vendor can provide pick up is at 4pm Sunday arrival at Milain airport as a group. If your plane arrives after 4, you will be responsible for the one hour taxi/coach to our hotel. I am more than happy to assist you with logistical info and arranging for your pcik up / drop off at the hotel. We got your back.
....."Prossimamente".....
1) What if it rains?
We will sing songs about the rain. We will find an outdoor spot with ample, overhead coverage and paint.
2) What if my plane is delayed on arrival?
The latest our vendor can provide pick up is at 4pm Sunday arrival at Milain airport as a group. If your plane arrives after 4, you will be responsible for the one hour taxi/coach to our hotel. I am more than happy to assist you with logistical info and arranging for your pcik up / drop off at the hotel. We got your back.