- A welcome reception
- 5 art classes
- Entrance fees to the Doge's Palace tour + museums, a tour of the Basilica San Marco, the Scala Contarini del Bovolo, the Borge's Labyrinth, and the Murano Glass Factory
- a 7-day vaporetto pass
- Farewell dinner
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Renata Lahalle's Venice Vacation Workshop
May 6-10, 2024
Explore and sketch the secret campos and winding canals of Venice with Renata Lahalle. This vacation package includes 5 art classes taught by Renata plus several demonstrations, many sketching opportunities, vaporetto rides along the Grand Canal, entrance to the Doge's Palace + attached museums, a tour of the Basilica San Marco, the Scala Contarini del Bovolo, the Rialto Bridge and the Jewish Ghetto. We are looking forward to making art in good company. Average temperatures in Venice at this time of year are a high of 66-74°F (19-23°C) in the day and a night-time low of 52-60°F (11-16°C).
Note: This workshop will be in English and French--a truly bilingual excursion.
Meet Renata Lahalle
Renata was born in Switzerland and grew up in Bogotá. She now lives in Spain. On her blog, she shares her passion for drawing with all those who wish to progress without headaches. Her third book has just been published, a collection that guides the reader to draw easily in a travel sketchbook.
For her, drawing should remain a pleasure, and that's what she'll be sharing with you during this workshop, where you'll be doing creative pages for travel sketchbook in Venice. This workshop is held in English and French. To find out more about Renata, click HERE.
Sunday May 5, 2024
Students arrive and settle into the hotel. Workshop participants who arrive early are invited to meet in the hotel lobby at 2:00 for a warm up sketch (optional Renata will not be teaching). All tour participants are invited to a welcome reception in the evening. We will meet at 6pm in the hotel lobby and walk from there.
Day 1 Tour the Doge's Palace + Prison and the Bridge of Sighs
Monday May 6, 2024
After breakfast we will orient ourselves to the city with a vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal. Then we will take a guided tour of the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Doge's Prison.
After lunch we will settle in a nearby campo where Renata will teach Workshop #1.
Day 2 Explore the Hidden Jewels of Venice
Tuesday May 7, 2024
Today we will discover the Scala Contarini del Bovolo, a hidden jewel in Venice. This arched spiral staircase was built in 1400 and is a marvel of medieval construction. Afterwards Renata will teach workshop #2 in a nearby leafy campo.
Day 3 Tour Murano + Burano
Wednesday May 8, 2024
Today we will take a day trip by boat to the glass making island of Murano for a tour and then we will continue on to Burano. This quiet little island with its rows of jellybean-colored buildings is the perfect location for a quiet lunch and then Workshop #3.
Day 4 Tour the Basilica San Marco
Thursday May 9, 2024
In the morning we will marvel at the mosaics and paintings inside the Basilica San Marco during our guided tour of the church.
The winged lion is the traditional emblem of St Mark, the patron saint of Venice, and it is ubiquitous in the city, benevolently looking down from the tops of towers and pillars and churches. After lunch Renata will teach Workshop #4 from a nearby campo.
Day 5 Church of San Giorgio Maggiore + Farewell Dinner
Friday May 10, 2024
Today we will take the vaporetto to the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore where we will visit the marina and the only labyrinth in Venice. Here Renata will teach workshop #5.
In the evening we will enjoy our farewell dinner (included).
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ORDER OF EVENTS AND SUBJECTS PROPOSED IN THIS ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Departure
Saturday May 11, 2024
It's time to say goodbye but you will never forget the friends you made or the skills you learned during this great week! Or extend your stay for a long relaxing holiday :)
Recommended Workshop Supply List
For this workshop, Renata advises you to bring the following supplies, please CLICK HERE for the list.
Recommendations for nonSketcher Companions
While Workshop participants are working during their 3-hour class, nonWorkshop participants (spouses/travelling buddies) may wish to enjoy activities on their own. There are lots of museums and tours available that we won't have time to see as a group. Here are a few ideas:
- Visiter the Pinault collection at the Palazzo Grassi
- visit the Guggenheim Museum
- take a food walking tour
- visit the DaVinci Museum
- Visit the Jewish Museum
- Visit the Lace Museum
- Visit the Casanova Museum
FAQs
Click HERE to review frequently asked questions. For more information about this vacation package contact Brenda Murray at Studio56Boutique@gmail.com.
sketch pic
Tour Includes
Tour Excludes
- Flights to/from Venice (Italy)
- hotels
- meals (except farewell dinner )
- Painting supplies
- Porterage/luggage handling
- Travel insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Items not explicitly specified in the inclusion list
Early Bird Prices! Book now before Dec 8, 2023 and save $200USD!
$1899.USD $1699.USD Workshop Participant
$1299.USD NonSketcher Companion Participant (such as a partner or travelling buddy)
NonSketcher Companion tickets include the same attractions and meals as the Workshop Participants with the exception of the art classes.
To reserve your spot in this workshop, a $500USD nonrefundable deposit is required for Workshop Participants and a $300USD nonrefundable deposit is required for nonSketcher Companions 150 days prior to the start of the workshop (Dec 8, 2023). The remaining balance is due 120 days prior to the start of the workshop (Jan 7, 2024).
Please read our Refund Policy.
Greenlighting a workshop
Workshops are greenlighted when the minimum number of tickets (10) has been sold. All ticket holders will be notified by email when this happens. Please do not book non-refundable flights or accommodation until we have given the go-ahead for the workshop.
Bring a Friend and Get a Discount
Here's how it works. You and your sketching buddy register for the workshop with your deposits. Then send us an email and tell us you are registering with a sketching buddy. You will each be sent a discount code for $50USD that you can apply when you pay the balance of your tickets.
The small print: This discount code cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount code and it can only be applied to 2 Workshop participant tickets if the workshop sells out with 15 participants.
Accommodations
The official hotel of this workshop is La Meridiana Hotel on Lido near the Lido vaporetto stop. A group rate of 180€ + tax (2.80€ per person per day) including breakfast has been arranged for a double room with single occupancy.
The hotel cancellation policy
The hotel will charge a 30% deposit during the first part of January 2024. There is free cancellation up to 60 days prior to arrival. There is a 50% charge on rooms cancelled from 59-15 days prior to arrival. There is 100% charge on rooms cancelled less than 14 days prior to arrival or in the case of a no show.
Before making a hotel reservation, please click the BOOK NOW button below to ensure you have a spot in this workshop.
After this workshop is greenlighted all participants will be contacted with information about how to book the hotel and get the group rate.
Travel + Medical Insurance
Last minute cancellations in this vacation workshop for any reason are nonrefundable therefore protect your investment by purchasing travel insurance. Click HERE for a list of US travel insurance providers. Some credit card companies may also offer travel insurance if you paid for your trip using that credit card.
Pedestrian Friendly?
"Pedestrian-friendly" is not the same as "Pedestrian-only". Venice is a pedestrian-only town with 400 small arched bridges that are crossed by going up and down some stairs. You must be fully mobile and able to walk for 20-30 minutes and manage stairs. This town is really not pedestrian friendly if you are relying on a walker or have mobility issues. If you are not able to walk 20-30 minutes and manage stairs, we recommend you consider a different Studio 56 workshop that is less physically demanding.
Covid-19 Vaccinations
The instructor and tour manager are fully vaccinated against covid-19. This tour will be following all locally recommended protocols.
Practical Tips
Flying in to Marco Polo Airport you can travel to Venice either by bus (cheapest 40-45 minute drive + vaporetto), or by taxi or Uber (16-20 minute drive + vaporetto) or by direct water taxi airport to hotel (most expensive).
Your Tour Manager
Participants will be accompanied by Studio 56 owner, Brenda Murray. Brenda is a Canadian artist and arts advocate, the founder of Urban Sketchers Waterloo Region and a former Urban Sketchers Board member. A seasoned traveler, Brenda has traveled to Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea (lived there for 4 years), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, UK, and the USA (35 states). Brenda will be on hand to assist the instructor and to ensure that everything runs smoothly. She has completed the St. John's Ambulance Emergency First Aid - CPR C - AED training. Learn more about Brenda HERE.
Do you have questions?
Email Studio56Boutique@gmail.com or call Brenda Murray at 01-519-572-1757.
How to Register for this Vacation Workshop
To register for this exciting vacation workshop, click the BOOK NOW button below to pay the $500USD Participant ticket deposit and/or the $300USD nonSketcher Companion deposit. This is the only way to hold a spot in this workshop. Registration closes when 15 workshop participant deposits have been received.
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