Sketchbooking in Rovinj
May 27 - June 1, 2024
with Diane Olivier

Taught in English

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: DEC. 31, 2023
I encourage artists of ALL levels. Groups of no more than 10 insure that I can work individually with you and develop my days according to your needs. We will be working in sketchbooks in the charming historic fishing village of Rovinj, "The Pearl of the Adriatic". Rovinj is a charmingly picturesque town with narrow, cobbled streets, pastel colored buildings, and a bustling harbor. Our rooms will be in the boutique hotel Villa Tuttorrotto as well as in a private apartment, Villetta Garibaldi.
Breakfast will be served each morning at the Villa Tuttorotto. Lunches and dinners will be at the participant's choice of eateries in town and are not included.
Per Person Price (shared room):
2000 euros
Single Supplement (for your own room with double bed):
350 euros
- Includes wine & cheese welcome reception, and all breakfasts
- Four hours of teaching daily

Drawing Instructor Diane Olivier
Drawing has always been my primary media, working with both traditional and nontraditional materials on scales ranging from small book size to mural size. My subject matter ranges from figurative, landscape and cityscapes to non-representational. The media ranges from charcoal to graphite, to full color pastels to non-traditional mixed media. The sense of touch between the tools and the paper and the immediacy of the mark are important element in my process. It is a dance between the eyes, the hand and the soul.
Holiday Director Kate Kilbourne
Since 2000, Kate Kilbourne has lived part of the year in San Francisco, California, and part of the year in Troo, France... until 2017 when her partner Robert bought a flat in Cadiz. Now Kate spends the early spring and late fall in Spain. She is fluent in French and is learning Spanish as fast as she can!
Historic renovated lodging at
Apartment Villetta Garibaldi, less than a three minute walk away from Villa Tuttorotto, is a typical attached stone house. Being centrally located, all the local amenities are in the immediate vicinity. Villetta Garibaldi provides us with our own kitchen and dining area which we will use for group gatherings.
Note that we will assign rooms in order of deposits received, so get your deposit in right away to get the best room available!


Drawings by Diane Olivier
Click to enlarge




As of the thirteenth century, Venetians ruled the city of Rovinj. They recognized that the hilly inhabited island of northern Istria, just across the sea from their home, could be of huge strategic importance. Soon the tower of the St. Euphemia basilica became the most important landmark for their sailors and the port became the safe harbor for their fleet.
The Massatto family was well-known for generations, as skillful fishermen. So, the hard work made them earn a beautiful, though modest palace overlooking the port of Rovinj, as well as the name of the street where their home was.
The devastating consequences of the second World war made the Massatto family leave Rovinj and Istria. As the new owners entered the property in the early 1950’s, they encountered only the oldest palace inhabitant, the city barber. As he didn’t like the idea of the change of ownership, he tried to persuade the new owners that the house was worthless: “ TUTTO ROTTO”, he was shouting (“all is rotten”). The newcomers, however recognized the importance of the building.
Soon the new owners started refurbishing this palace of the poor, and made the old barber happy.
It is only ten years ago that the owners of this unique villa decided to open its doors to the public, and thus, began to share it’s history with guests anxious to stay behind the medieval city walls, while witnessing the crypts where the inhabitants were once hiding the food and salt from the pirates.
As you come to visit us, we promise that you will be given a smile by the eighteenth century Madonna and her child that will make you come again and again…
Included in Holiday
-
4 days of instruction
-
5 nights accommodation
-
Daily Breakfast
-
Welcome Wine & Cheese reception
-
sketch sharing sessions at the end of each day
Not Included
-
Air fare & Ground Transport
-
Travel insurance
-
Medical insurance
-
Sketching Materials
Cost
The cost for the 5 night holiday, inclusive of everything listed under "Included in Holiday", varies according to whether you prefer a single room or are planning to share a double.
Accommodation is in the wonderful Villa Tuttorotto and it's annex apartment Villeta Garibaldi. Visit their website for more details.
Double Room: 2000 euros
Per person
Single Room: 2350 euros
Per person
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Sign up by Dec. 31
and receive a 200 euro discount!
20% Discount
for non-drawing participants