This is your

INVITATION

to join us for the Abstracting the Tuscan Landscape painting retreat in Chianti, Italy with artist, Andrew Faulkner, April 23-30, 2026.

It will be an unforgettable week with Andrew where you’ll dive deep into bold color, expressive brushwork, and dynamic composition – all inspired by the rolling hills, olive groves, and vineyards of the Chianti countryside.

We’ll be staying at a charming Italian farmhouse, complete with a spacious 430-square-foot art studio where tall windows open onto flower gardens, rolling hills and stunning scenery. 

This intimate workshop is designed for intermediate painters who have some experience with drawing and oil or acrylic painting and are ready to push their landscape work into more expressive, abstract territory – all while soaking in the sights, flavors, and creative energy of Tuscany, of course.

There are only 10 spots available (only 2 spots left!) and this is Andrew's only retreat of 2026, so don't miss out. 

a farmhouse with a view

CAPPUCINOS, CHIANTI & CREATIVITY.

Picture yourself sipping morning cappuccinos in a 200-year old Italian farmhouse in the hills of Chianti before an entire day of abstract painting workshops and endless artistic inspiration with artist, Andrew Faulkner...

Join us for this extraordinary painting retreat and let the stunning Tuscan landscape be your muse as you spend your days in painting workshops, your evenings sipping Chianti Classicos and fueling yourself in between with creative conversations and delicious Italian cuisine. 

You’ll enjoy five full days of immersive painting with Andrew; three mornings of gentle and relaxing yoga; a wine tasting with a gastronomic lunch at a beautiful castle; and a free day, midweek, to explore the stunning surrounding scenery – all with a warm, friendly group of fellow artists.

If Andrew’s past Chianti retreats are any indication, you’ll never want to leave this peaceful place – or this beautiful Italian way of life. And don't forget, there are only 10 spots available. 

painting

& SKETCHING

With 5 full days of hands on instruction from Andrew, you’ll discover how to find inspiration and compose dynamic scenes drawn from the stunning Chianti landscape. You’ll work on sketching and developing color studies (including a digital sketching demo to expand your tools and techniques).

Andrew will guide you through underpainting strategies that add depth and energy to your pieces, as well as expressive brushwork and palette knife methods to bring boldness and movement into your art.

You’ll refine your color mixing with fresh, intentional approaches, and learn how to organize value, composition, and color effectively to create more compelling paintings.

By the end of the week, you’ll have developed an intuitive sense of knowing when your painting is truly finished - which is sometimes the hardest part!

Why this 

WORKSHOP IS SO UNIQUE

This workshop offers a way to learn that goes far beyond a typical studio class.

Here, you’ll be soaking up inspiration directly from the rolling hills, olive groves, and timeless villages of Tuscany. 

Andrew's signature style and ability to quickly shift from photo to sketch allows you to dive in right away and keep your process loose and free, bypassing the usual roadblocks of wondering what to paint or how to get started.

His unique and streamlined approach opens up space to explore composition, value, and color harmony in inventive, intuitive ways – all while soaking up the golden light, rich textures, and captivating colors of Italy.

Class size is capped at just 10 painters, keeping things intimate and personal. And with five full days of instruction, you'll receive plenty of one-on-one feedback from Andrew in a supportive, inspiring setting that encourages growth, experimentation, and a deeper connection to both your art and this beautiful corner of the world.

And to make this week even more extraordinary, Andrew is teaming up with painter, Weatherly Stroh, co-founder of Art of Life Creativity Retreats to make this an even more supportive and inspiring experience.

And really – where better to loosen up your brushwork and ignite your creativity than in the hills of Chianti, Italy?

Ancora 

DEL CHIANTI

We'll be staying at the wonderful Ancora del Chianti, a 200-year old stone farmhouse outside of Greve-in-Chianti.

In Italian, Ancora means “anchor,” and this beautiful corner of Tuscany truly lives up to its name!

For centuries, this region has been a place where artists, explorers, and dreamers have launched bold ideas, and returned home changed.

With a sprawling light-filled art studio, gorgeous gardens all around and warm Italian hospitality, Ancora del Chianti is the perfect anchor for your own creative growth, exploration and the perfect spot to let your painting flourish.

life is a

COMBINATION OF MAGIC AND PASTA.

-federico fellini

What would a week in Italy be without tasting its true local flavors? Each day, we’ll enjoy fresh breakfasts, lunches, and dinners prepared by our wonderful hostess, Laura, at our farmhouse, Ancora del Chianti.

You’ll also have one free day to explore and have lunch at a nearby restaurant of your choice – perfect for discovering a new favorite Tuscan pasta or treat yourself to that incredible Italian gelato! 

And we have one gastronomic group lunch planned at the Castello di Verrazzano as part of our wine tour and tasting experience.

Chianti Tasting 

AND A CASTLE VISIT

Nestled between Florence and Siena, the Chianti region is the heart of Tuscany’s timeless beauty.

Picture rolling hills lined with vineyards and olive groves, medieval stone villages perched in the distance, and historic castles watching over centuries of tradition.

Renowned for its bold Chianti Classico wines made from the Sangiovese grape, this landscape offers more than just scenic views – it’s a place where art, history, and nature intertwine will inspire your every brushstroke.

While it's tempting to never leave our lovely location, we'll venture out into the Chianti countryside for a tour of Castello di Verrazzano followed by a decadent Chianti wine tasting (of course!) and a delicious gastronomic lunch of local Italian delights. 

Andrew

FAULKNER

Born into a long line of artists, designers, and architects, Andrew Faulkner combines the structural sensibilities of his architect father with the bold, vibrant and riotous color sense of his interior designer mother. He studied under colorist George Chapman, a student of Joseph Albers, and learned the art of creating atmosphere through color.

After a successful 30-year career in graphic design, Andrew made the leap to painting full-time – joking that he was finally getting a “real job.” In his Sausalito, California studio, he now balances abstract forms with emotional depth, blending design expertise with a painter’s sensitivity to light, space, and mood.

His pieces have been shown in galleries nationwide and are held in notable private collections and public spaces, including commissioned works at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco.

Andrew’s paintings are currently exhibited at The Pamela Walsh Gallery (Palo Alto, CA), The Portland Art Gallery (Portland, ME), and Hagan Fine Art (Charleston, SC). His illustrations have also appeared in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

Teaching in Tuscany just hits different for Andrew. The light, the color, the history—it all strikes a deep chord with his colorist sensibilities. Being at Ancora-del-Chianti a few years ago was so inspiring he can't wait to head back. Having first experienced Italy as a kid and again on a high school exchange program, returning now with students feels like a full-circle moment—like coming home to beauty.

Weatherly

STROH

Weatherly found her artistic spark early, creating her first oil painting at age 11 using a plein-air paint box passed down from her great-great-uncle, Gari Melchers, a celebrated American Impressionist.

Since 2011, she's been a full-time oil painter, known for her expressive animal portraits and vibrant landscapes infused with Her work blends modern painterly techniques with deep connection to her subjects.

Her paintings have been featured as cover art for Wellington’s Winter Equestrian Festival and are held in private collections nationwide. Based in Wellington, Florida, she co-founded Art of Life Creativity Retreats, leading inspiring art retreats to Tuscany, Sardinia, Morocco, and Croatia.

Weatherly fell in love with Italy while studying in college in Florence and Corciano (outside of Perugia). She returns often to lead retreats, paint en plein air and, of course, sample that fantastic Italian gelato! In 2024, she attended Andrew’s Abstracting the Tuscan Landscape retreat, where their shared love of bold color and Italian light sparked their friendship and this creative partnership.

When she’s not painting in her Florida studio, Weatherly continues to perfect her favorite Italian tradition: the mid-afternoon siesta.

Laura

AND FILIPPO

Laura and Filippo are the owners of the charming Ancora del Chianti 200-year farmhouse where we'll be staying for the retreat.

A watercolor artist in her own right, Laura has PERFECTED the art of hospitality and will be taking care of our group in every way.

From incredible farmhouse meals to planning any additional Tuscan excursions, Laura will always be ready to help with a smile!

And Filippo will be tending to the gardens, vineyards and olive trees that make Ancora's setting in Chianti so extraordinary.

Greve in Chianti

CHIANTI REGION

Greve-in-Chianti is known as the gateway to the Chianti region.

This is the kind of place that makes you want to linger longer. Its central piazza is lined with shops selling handmade ceramics, fragrant olive oils, and local cheeses. Grab a cappuccino and people-watch, wander through the weekly outdoor market, or treat yourself to a glass of Chianti Classico and a requisite scoop of creamy gelato (because gelato!).

This Chianti region town is charming, simple, authentic, and deeply Italian. Florence is just 19 miles away and Siena is 26 miles away making it the perfect home base for time in Tuscany.

Our farmhouse villa, Ancora del Chianti, is just a short 10-minute drive from Greve-in-Chianti.