The Artist’s Sketchbook: A Personal Journey to Creative Freedom

Artist and educator Aris Moore will be leading a five-day sketchbook and drawing retreat at Hortulanus, our villa set on twenty hectares in the hills of Seggiano, Tuscany.

About Aris Moore

Aris Moore has been a teacher for nearly thirty years and an artist for as long as she can remember.  She lives and works in the seaside town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Aris shares her time between teaching  private lessons to students of all ages at a local art and music school and as a working artist.  Her work has been shown throughout the United States and art fairs throughout Europe and Asia. She has also been included in many publications.  When Aris is not teaching, in her studio or drawing at local coffee shops she is spending time with her twenty year old twins August and Owen and their very talkative cat Theo.  She also enjoys time in the woods nearby and floating at her favorite swim spot when the tides allow.  

About the course

This is a small, focused retreat for ten participants. With a group this size, Aris is able to connect individually with each student and guide the group through a shared creative experience. She brings over thirty years of teaching experience and is known for helping artists develop trust in their own process and voice.

The retreat is built around daily drawing exercises that prioritize experimentation, intuition, and observation. Participants will work with a wide range of materials (colored pencils, pens, markers, charcoal, pastels, and watercolor) exploring how each can be used in new and personal ways.

The goal is not to produce perfect pages, but to create a sketchbook that reflects process, thought, and discovery. Exercises will cover mark-making, line quality, memory drawing, composition, color, texture, space, and light. By the end of the retreat, each sketchbook will serve as a record of the artist’s exploration and growth.

In addition to studio time, the group will take short excursions to nearby towns and natural sites. The retreat also includes cultural experiences such as wine tasting and either pasta or pizza making. All meals are shared and prepared with local ingredients.

Five participants will stay on-site at Hortulanus, with the remaining guests accommodated in a nearby B&B. Rooms at the villa are offered on a first come, first served basis. Transportation between accommodations and for excursions is included.

Location

Hortulanus is a restored villa overlooking Castello di Potentino and the village of Seggiano. The property includes gardens, vineyards, olive groves, an infinity pool, hot tub, sauna, and a studio in a converted limonaia.

Pricing

• Private single room at Hortulanus: €4,100 per person

• Double occupancy at Hortulanus: €3,800 per person

• Private single room at nearby B&B: €3,800 per person

Included in the price

Just about everything is included in the price of the course, including:

• Airport pick-up and drop-off

• Local transportation for excursions

• All meals

• Lodging

• Full instruction by Aris Moore

Not included

• Flights to Rome

• Travel insurance

A 50% deposit is required at booking. The remaining balance is due once the course is confirmed. Cancellations made within forty-eight hours of booking will receive a full refund.

This retreat is for artists who want to reconnect with their sketchbook, explore new materials, share meals and conversation, and experience the landscape and rhythm of rural Tuscany. We hope to see you soon!