Picture a week where your sketchbook and your swimsuit get equal use. On the northern tip of Sardinia's Emerald Coast, where the chalk-white cliffs of Bonifacio across the strait and the turquoise shallows of Santa Teresa di Gallura collide in the most extraordinary light, we've built a painting holiday that's as much about slowing down as it is about experiencing the lively cultures of two of Europe's most beautiful Mediterranean islands: Sardinia and Corsica.

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Days settle into an easy rhythm: mornings out sketching the dramatic Sardinian coastline above crystalline water, a long, leisurely break through the heat of the afternoon for a swim or a wander into bustling Santa Teresa, and back out again as the late-afternoon light turns golden. Each day winds down with a relaxed group review of the day's work.

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Home for the week is split between two beachfront villas, each with its own personality. Villa Teresa was the very first house built in this bay, and it still holds the best seat in the house — a terrace over one of Sardinia's most beautiful stretches of sea, where you can walk down the steps to the water in your bathing suit. It's sister villa across the street features sea views from every bedroom and a large garden with a private path leading from the veranda directly onto the sand.

Together, the two villas set the rhythm of the week — mornings on one terrace, sunsets on the other, and Santa Teresa's white-sand coastline stitching it all together. And when the sketchbooks close for the evening, it's a five-minute stroll into town, for a wide selection of delicious Sardinian lunches and dinners.

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Twice during the week, we will embark on two extraordinary excursions.  A one-hour ferry carries us across to Bonifacio, Corsica (France!) — a medieval town perched dramatically on limestone cliffs, its narrow lanes and honey-coloured stone offering some of the most picturesque sketching of the entire trip. On another day, a boat tour winds us through the Archipelago di La Maddalena, the jewel of Sarinia's Emerald Coast, where you'll find hidden coves, granite islets, and water so clear it seems to glow from within.

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This is a week for painters who want it all: dramatic subject matter, easy beach days, good food and wine within walking distance, and the kind of light that makes you want to capture it all in your sketchbook!

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This workshop is designed for all levels, from pure beginners to the most experienced artists. Instructor Diane Olivier's sessions include demonstrations en plein air, individual instruction, and critiques. Drawing takes place each morning, with a review of the day's work to close things out.  ​

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A word from Diane:

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The workshop will cover the use of pastels and sketchbooks as you record your adventures. I will be presenting demonstrations and working individually with each of you to help you realize your goals. With over 35 years of full time college teaching and 25 years of hosting workshops my love for teaching continues to grow. My goal is to support ALL participants from beginners on up.

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We will be walking on old, cobbled streets, along coastal paths, and at the beach with your drawing supplies -- participants should be comfortable with carrying their gear on uneven surfaces and should be fit enough to walk unassisted, and be able to manage going up and down steep, uneven stairs with their gear. Not recommended for people with limited mobility.​​