Next October we're heading to the southern coast of Italy for our art retreat! We are going to paint and practice self-care, enjoy delicious homemade Italian food, explore through excursions, and immerse ourselves in nature!
October 11-18, 2027
Expressive Watercolor
Italian art retreat
Email questions
Email questions
Register here!
Last year's video
Last year's video
- The Quick Facts:
- COST TBD
- $1,000 deposit to hold your spot
- See full pricing below
- Duration: 7 nights, 8 days
- Trip is non-refundable; travel insurance is required to help cover expenses for interruptions or if you need to cancel
- However, in the rare event that Tammy Kaye or the venue cancels the trip, you will receive a full refund of the retreat costs you have paid Tammy Kaye.
- Cost includes:
Meals
Excursions + transport
Airport transfers
You're in the right place.
How would you like to spend a glorious week painting, exploring, swimming, and dining in the gorgeous and peaceful countryside of the south of Italy, off the coast of the Ionian Sea?
During this relaxing art retreat, we will be staying in a beautifully restored historic Italian farmhouse overlooking the sea. The venue and grounds are reserved for our group, and you will have full access to explore the gardens, roof-top terraces, and open spaces.
We won’t be rushed, but we will be enjoying many activities in this incredible place as we experience what the calmer side of Italy has to offer. In addition to 7-8 painting sessions together, we will embark on exciting excursions and also savor our free time. Choose to swim in the warm sea, relax on one of the rooftop terraces with a good book, bike to the flamingo lake or sea, or maybe even take a nap :)
Each student will receive a beautiful journal from Tammy as she will give students a writing prompt to spend a few minutes in self-reflection at the beginning of each class. This activity will help to promote intentionality and growth during the retreat.
"Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living"
-Miriam Bird
Prices include all retreat amenities: Accommodations, food, excursions, transportation, and painting classes with me.
Double Occupancy - $3,900 per person
** *9 spots left ***
Venue Accomodations
Triple Occupancy $3,500 a person
** *5 spots left ***
Spacious and beautifully decorated room has both a queen and a twin bed and its own bathroom. Rooms come with soap, shampoo, and a hairdryer. Each room has wifi access and AC and heating as needed.
"This experience was unforgettable"
This experience was unforgettable. The staff was amazing and very accommodating. Tammy was the best and taught me some new techniques that I can’t wait to go home and share with my painting group!
Sandy
What my students are saying
"Tammy's painting retreat in Italy was a magical experience"
Tammy's painting retreat in Italy was a magical experience. It was such a joy to be able to absorb the wonderful scenery, make new friends, enjoy the most wonderful vegetarian meals and take part in the art sessions knowing Tammy had taken care of every detail. I also loved that mindfulness was built into the daily art sessions. The location itself is spectacular, a painter's dream! Transfers to and from the airport were seamless. The staff at the Masseria were exceptional. All in all a five star experience.I loved the simplicity of the venue and the commitment of the owners to creating an environmentally sustainable space. It was very special.
Anonymous
" Everyone should take this chance of a lifetime opportunity"
Tammy Kaye‘s retreat was amazing. The venue was in a perfect location in the content of her class was exactly what I needed. We had a lot of fun painting, laughing, eating together, and getting to know one another. I’ve made some lifelong friends. Everyone should take this chance of a lifetime opportunity. Having a dedicated space for relaxing, painting and adventures was perfect.
Thank to Tammy and her wonderful friends to pulling this all together.
Anonymous
- Art classes, tuition, and painting demonstrations with Tammy Kaye
- Accommodations at the Masseria Specula
- Exclusive usage of the venues and grounds, retreat rooms, gardens, and terraces
- Rooms have AC/heat, hair dryers, and Wifi
- Meals are vegetarian and lovingly prepared by local chefs with fresh ingredients. This is part of their strong commitment to the sustainability of their venue
- Excursions include: A painting and shopping trip to local towns and an additional outing, TBD. We will also have additional fun activities to immerse ourselves in the culture. Private transportation to all excursions provided
- Bikes, beach chairs, and umbrellas are provided by the venue, as well as paper towels and glass water jars for painting
- Complimentary cappuccinos, coffee, and tea will be available
- Local taxes, as well as state and provincial taxes, are included in the price of this trip
- Private WhatsApp group to share details of our upcoming plans
- 1 scheduled courtesy transfer from the airport and 1 scheduled courtesy transfer to the airport at assigned times
What's Included:
What's Not Included:
- Airfare
- Travel insurance - This is required for covering medical expenses, travel interruptions, and personal cancellation to cover anything that might require cancellation or a change in travel arrangements
- If you are not able to schedule your flight within the recommend flight times for arrival and departure, you will miss the scheduled courtesy transfer and will find transportation on your own
- Lunch during our shopping trip(s)
- Tips for staff (not required, but a kind gesture if you desire to do so)
- Other expenses you may incur on your own
- Daily journal prompts before each class to focus on personal growth
- Mindfulness exercises to help ground and be more present
- Warm-up painting exercises with foundational techniques
- Group demonstrations of compositions
- Personal guidance as requested
- Hours of class painting time (my students usually do 3-4 hours in the morning and again in the afternoon!)
- Freedom to come to class or rest in your space as you wish!
- Usage and instruction of how to use mixed media in watercolor paintings
- Subjects such as florals, landscapes, foods, and travel journal-style instruction to capture elements found during excursions
- We will have about 8 classes to paint together
- Some classes will be on the beach or outside of the studio but mostly in the studio
- Several classes will focus on bringing the reference photos you took during the retreat to life and I'm happy to help you achieve that
- Saturday - We will focus on classes Monday-Friday, as well as Sunday. Saturday is a free day with no formal instruction but rather a time for you to explore more of the area on your own.
- Those that choose to stay at the venue can enjoy meals all day. If you choose to book an excursion or outing on your own, you can request a packed lunch if desired. There will be a fun activity at the venue if you choose to stay there.
Sample Schedule
Sample Schedule
1. Do you have to have experience with watercolor to go on this trip?
Frequently Asked Questions
3. This trip is non-refundable so what if the trip is canceled by Tammy Kaye or the Italian Venue?
2. How much will we really be painting versus exploring Italy?
Although this is a watercolor painting retreat, you don't have to have previous experience with the medium! The way I teach is inclusive of all skill levels, whether you are a beginner, experienced, or just starting out with me in Italy! My big focus is to let go of the need for perfectionism in our art, using simple self-care techniques when we paint to learn to enjoy every step of our session, not just the end result. There is great joy and peace from putting brushstrokes on paper!
As I have listed in my sample schedule for the week, I have 7-8 classes planned, each of which may last 3-4 hours (my students love to stay painting!). There are several days where we have a morning and afternoon sessions and the other days we have less as we go out to explore. But as we begin our trip together, we can be flexible on the length and amount of classes. The most important thing to me is that we are relaxing, don't feel rushed, and experience joy together by balancing painting with Italian fun :) We must have room for chill time and swimming.
Travel insurance is required to attend this trip and it will cover cancelations and interruptions made by you. In the event that the trip is cancelled by myself or the venue, you will receive a full refund of what you have already paid me for the retreat.
- A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 is required to hold your spot
- 50% of your remaining balance is due April 1, 2027, and the remaining balance is due August 1, 2027
- Feel free to pay your fees in full if you desire, and no processing fee will be charged
- Payment options include: Personal check if in the United States. If you pay via electronic payment with PayPal, there is an additional $50 fee per payment to cover credit card fees.
- If you are overseas and you pay via electronic payment on PayPal, there is a $50 fee per payment to cover credit card fees.
Payment Info
Cancelation policy
- Once you have put down your deposit, you have confirmed your participation in the trip and it is non-refundable. Any additional payments are also non-refundable.
- We require you to purchase travel insurance for medical expenses, travel interruptions, and personal cancellation to cover, in the event you have to cancel or make a change in your travel arrangements. We will require proof of your insurance 30 days after you book your flight.
- In the event that Tammy Kaye or the venue cancels the trip, you will receive a full refund of the retreat costs you have paid Tammy Kaye.
Contact me if you have any questions!
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