Sketchbooking in Rovinj
May 9 - 14, 2025
with Laurie Wigham
Taught in English
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FEB. 1, 2025
We will be working in sketchbooks in the 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 Villa Tuttorotto with fabulous sea views. Breakfast will be served each morning at the Villa. Lunches and dinners will be at the participant's choice of eateries in town and are not included.
The class will be a mix of technical information (how to mix colors, seat-of-the-pants perspective, the best inks to use in fountain pens, etc.) and creative exploration to develop each student's unique voice.
In my own work I switch mediums frequently to make myself pay attention to what’s happening on the page, but also to reach for what technique will best tell the story of this time, this place. Participants can use whatever medium they’re most familiar with, but I will bring a bag of random art supplies so students can try out things they don’t know how to use and to make a mess. Discovering what a new tool wants to do can open up doors you didn’t even know were there.
All levels of experience are welcome. With a small group (no more than 10) I can work individually with each student and plan a class to work for everyone.
I’m looking forward to wandering the streets of Rovinj with you and discovering the stories this place wants to tell.
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 Laurie Wigham
After nearly three decades doing graphic design and illustration in the tech industry, Laurie fell out of love with the computer and went back to making art without an undo button and getting ink stains on her fingers. Laurie works in the wilderness and on city streets, and her watercolors have been shown at galleries around the Bay Area. She has taught sketching for SF State University’s Sierra Nevada Field Campus, the Urban Sketchers organization, John Muir Laws’ Nature Journal Club and during her artist residencies in national parks. She founded and leads the SF Sketchers Meetup group, which has nearly 5,000 members and hosts sketching events around the Bay Area.
Website | Facebook | Flickr | Instagram | SF Sketchers
Holiday Director Kate Kilbourne
Since 2000, Kate Kilbourne lived part of the year in San Francisco, California, and part of the year in her house in Trôo, France... until 2017 when her partner Robert bought a flat in Cádiz, Spain. Now Kate and Robert spend the spring and fall all over Europe, running Plein Air Holidays in France, Spain, Italy and in Croatia where they lived for nine months during the Covid pandemic. Kate is fluent in French and is learning Spanish as fast as she can!
Historic renovated lodging at
We will gather for daily critiques at Diane's apartment near the hotel featuring a living room with balcony overlooking the sea.
Note that we will assign rooms in order of deposits received, so get your deposit in right away to get the best room available!
Sketches by Laurie Wigham
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. Visit the Villa Tuttorotto 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! (When booking use discount code: EARLYBIRD)
20% Discount
for non-painting participants
(When booking use discount code: PARTNER)