Italian Printmaking Retreat

Educated at the Treviso’s Artistic High School, Francesco had a five-month period
as an etching assistant of the FBAUP of Port; he has completed the
three+two-year Masters degree in graphics at the Academy of Fine Arts of
Bologna. He’s been lecturing in printmaking at the Academy of fine arts of
Bologna for two years; he currently lives between Margaret River (Western
Australia) where he teaches printmaking techniques at Margaret River
Printmaking and Italy where he’s a lecturer at the Academy of fine Arts of
Carrara and runs Printmaking Retreats and Symposium at his Studio.

LONG WEEKEND - Arrive Friday pm, depart Monday morning
A great opportunity to leave the hustle of the city for a long weekend in the Apennine hills surrounding Florence and Bologna.
This workshop gives artists of any level the space to create a series of prints or drawings while immersed in the Italian countryside.
Every day we will enjoy sunset Aperitivo while recapping our day in the studio!
$1450 Solo room double bed (euro 880)
$1350 Shared room double bed (euro 820)
$1195 Dorm single bed (euro 725)

ONE WEEK Arrive Monday, depart following Monday
A week in our studio gives you the perfect moment to relax into country lifestyle and nurture your creativity. Develop your project from sketching through planning to executing a series of prints.
Our week long workshop provides established artists the freedom to evolve their practice through traditional and experimental printmaking techniques. For those who are new to printmaking or artistic practice you will be guided though techniques and leave with a series of prints and a thirst for more!
A day is set aside to explore the city of Bologna or Florence and experience the culture, flavours and architecture.
$3450 Solo room double bed (euro 2090)
$3150 Shared room double bed (euro 1910)
$2950 Dorm single bed (euro 1789 )

10 DAYS Arrive Monday , depart Thursday week
10 days is for those who want to grow and expand the perimeters of their own artistic practice, a rare opportunity to generate a professional body of work. We believe that experiencing an authentic creative Italian lifestyle with country walks, meditation and food is as important as creating art. Arrival on Monday and departure Thursday week.This retreat is for those who appreciate a slower pace and want to expand their own art practice.

$5250 Solo room double bed (euro 3184)
$4750 Shared room double bed (euro 2880)
$4550 Dorm single bed (euro 2770)

ITINERARY...

Day 1

INTAGLIO ON ZINC AND ALUMINUM PLATES

As a start we will learn foundation skills applied in printmaking through a range of techniques. We will mainly work on zinc and aluminum plates. We will explore different methods like
Etching, Aquatint and Dry point to start with (the chromatic options are also limitless!). This workshop introduces the traditional intaglio range of techniques. The same day there will be space for exploring the processes that fit the most into your art practice.

Day 2

The participant will have the opportunity to keep working on the project started the day before under the assistance of Francesco who will be guiding him/her/they to develop the initial idea for reaching the best outcome possible.

Day 3

We will start the day with a quick (2 hours) workshop about the combination of Dry point and Carborundum and incorporate the two techniques with others explored during the first 2 days of the art experience.

DRY POINT & CARBORUNDUM
Generating tonal effects without the use of any chemical it's the
aim of this 2 hour class. Being able to combine the drawing side of the process
(dry point) with darker areas and details (carborundum) would be the focus of
the workshop. This would make possible expand sizes of the plates while keeping
the environment safe and sound . NON-TOXIC print making is what we love and the
direction we take as much as we can.

Day 4
We will have a break from the Printing room while we will reach out to contemporary local realities related to Print making.
The options are: Casa Morandi, Bologna (Giorgio Morandi’s home and studio in the city) Stamperia il Bisonte, Firenze (very active Printmaking center where there is a range of courses, exhibitions and artist talks) KAUS, Urbino (Italian International Printmaking center) Archivio Bruscaglia (a place where some of the best prints of Renato Bruscaglia and many other amazing artists are kept) Private Artist’s Studio Visit (Manuela Candini, Toni Pecoraro, Agim Sako, Bruno Fronteddu and others.

Day 5

We will start again our printing time with another quick workshop of
Monotype. NATURALLY PRINTED In this course (2 hours) we will work with the
natural environment around us. Working solely with natural forms:
seeds/stems/leaves etc.. Anything else that you have sourced from nature can be
included if you like. We will provide a variety of articles for you to choose
from as well. We will produce a kaleidoscopic variety of images referencing
back to the origins of the natural world around us. We will weave through
various compositions, coloured prints and natural pigments derived from resins
and spices. The options are endless as you can bring any natural items that you
wish to permanently capture is this timeless technique. The world is yours to
create with! After the lunchtime we will incorporate some of the knowledge
acquired to our own project.

Day 6, 7, 8
After understanding the best processes for translating our ideas we will focus on the ones and push the boundaries of Printmaking!

INTAGLIO MASTER CLASS

Based on 3 days sessions (4 hours each) this class aims to explore deeply peculiar traditional processes like sugar lift, mezzotint and others that combined with the ones we know will help to build up more understanding about our own practice.
DAY ONE Generating plates of different materials like zinc, polycarbonate, cardboard, tetra pack will be the focus of this first session.
Proofing what we made as part of this will make us understand what the second session will be.
DAY TWO and THREE Exploring different printing methods with
the plates we made will be our goal. Single Mono prints and small editions will
be produced for you to take back to your art Studio. Part of this 3 days will be understanding what an edition of multiple prints is, the rules, the standards and so forth.


Day 9
We will look at all the artwork produced, discuss it and with references (books, prints etc.) we will understand the directions that the future own practice will aim for. There will be also more Studio time if needed.

Day 10
After packing up professionally the prints achieved we will have a final lunch for celebrating the experience and head to the Airport or train station for the departure.

• Bushwalks
• Common areas to relax,
• Kitchen access ( fridge etc),
• Places of Interest,
• Artists studio visits

• Accomodation ( various options available - see class info)
• All meals
• Tuition

Every day there will be the opportunity to go for bush walk, exploring the natural surrounding and taste the local flavors at the “ Osteria “ (restaurant).
An Aperitivo will be provided daily with gluten free and vegan options as well.

Not included Airfares, insurance, alcoholic drinks, other drinks and transport prior to your arrival at Belvedere, or other transport/tours not specified in our itinerary, are not included.

The retreat takes place at Piazzale Ca di Facchino 3 Belvedere di Catstel del Rio (BO) ITALY

Google Map link

Passports and visas
It is the Participant’s responsibility to ensure that their passport is up to date, has at least six months validity and that you supply us with the Participant’s name exactly as shown in the passport.
You must check what the visa requirements are in your country of origin.

Payment Arrangements
We require a deposit of 50%, to hold your place.
Full payment is required on or before 1st May before the workshop.

Payment may be directly from the website using paypal or by direct deposit, email margaretriverprintmaking@gmail.it for an invoice with bank details if you prefer this method.

Cancellation by you
Any cancellation by you must be made in writing (letter/email).

The deposit will not be refunded if you cancel after payment of the deposit as this is used
to hold the accommodation and is forfeited to the accommodation provider.
If you cancel after the final payment is made, we will refund the amount paid less
the deposit and non-refundable accommodation costs at CA’ Colmello.

We will not refund any money to you if you cancel after 30th of April 2024 although you can
gift your place to a friend, subject to the friend first signing our Terms and Conditions.
Also, we will not refund any money once the workshop has commenced.

Cancellation by us
We may cancel your attendance at the Workshop at any time by written notice to you (given in writing by letter/email) if you do not comply with any of these Terms and Conditions.

In that event you will forfeit the Deposit paid and costs incurred by us for non-refundable
accommodation costs at Ca’ Colmello and we will refund the remaining money if
we cancel before the Workshop commences.

In all other cases we will not refund any money.

Travel insurance
We require that you take travel insurance to cover for unforeseen events both before and during the Workshop and that you provide us with details of the cover prior to leaving home for the Workshop.

We recommend you obtain cover for cancellations fees that could result from
illness, accident and death and the like.

Minimum numbers of guests
Each Workshop has been priced on the basis of a minimum number of guests attending.
We reserve the right to cancel your booking if fewer than 6 people have
confirmed their booking and paid their Deposit within 90 days from the proposed
day of commencement of the Retreat.

We will refund all money paid by you if we cancel your booking because fewer than 6 people have confirmed their booking.
Your tutor In the unlikely event your tutor is unable to attend due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, we will substitute a worthy replacement.

Flights
You must organise your own flights to arrive prior to the commencement of the Retreat.
Please organise to arrive in Bologna the day prior to the start of the retreat before 4pm to allow time to travel to Belvedere and attend the welcome dinner.
Please provide flight details in writing (email) so we can arrange someone to meet you at the airport.

We are not liable for any costs incurred by a participant due to late arrival or airline delays for
whatever reason.
If your flight is late, or you have missed a transfer, we will endeavour, if we are given sufficient notice, to have someone at the airport to meet you at the time of your arrival.

Extra Accommodation
If you require any extra days accommodation at Ca’ Colmello please contact us in writing via email
with the extra dates and we will endeavour to secure them for you (subject to availability).

We will provide information regarding the extra cost. People with mobility issues, please note that our accommodation at Ca’ Colmello does have stairs.
Please note: bottled water is included.
Health requirements You acknowledge that you do not suffer from any medical condition that would prevent you from participating in the workshop without risk to my health and safety. If that is not the case, please advise us of any health conditions and ensure that you carry sufficient medication for any medical conditions.
Italy has no mandatory requirements for inoculations,
please consult your GP if you have any queries.

Dietary Requirements
If you require any special dietary considerations please email us before the workshop.
Responsibility
Baggage and personal effects are at the participant’s own risk
at all times and we take no responsibility for losses incurred by you in relation to loss of baggage or personal effects. We will take all reasonable care to run the workshop. However, we accept no responsibility or liability for death, injury, sickness or accident to you or any person, or loss of or any damage to any property or otherwise, or any cancellation, delay, substitution,
or deviation arising out of, or in connection with any accommodation, transportation, conveyance or any other services provided by hotels, resorts, restaurants or any other services as per the itinerary.
All optional services are booked at the participant’s risk. We are under no obligation or liability to any person as a result of inaccuracy or changes to any tour or itinerary.
All art tutoring will be delivered to the best of the ability of your tutor.

No refunds will be made for any perceived shortfall in the quality of teaching or the experience from that advertised. Due to varying exchange rates, fuel costs, Government taxes, etc. prices quoted are subject to change without notice.
However, all attempts will be made to absorb minor alterations in currency fluctuations. By paying for this workshop you are agreeing to these Terms and Conditions.