Rome Urban Sketching 2027

November 4-8, 2027

(Registration deadline is June 7, 2027)

PLEASE NOTE: THE $200 EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT EXPIRES June 7, 2027.

You're invited to join an exciting 5-day urban sketching workshop in Rome, Italy taught by inspiring sketching instructor, Irena Spector. We will take in the history, authentic Italian food and cultural sites and Irena will teach 5 great sketching workshops to a small group of 10-15 participants. We will explore and sketch, sketch, sketch at every opportunity with new friends who love to sketch as much as we do.

Click HERE to download the printable brochure.

Meet Irena Spector

Irena is an urban sketcher and mixed media watercolor artist based in Tel Aviv. Originally from Odessa, Ukraine, she developed her love for drawing through observing and sketching the city around her. Alongside her career as a psychiatrist, she continues to pursue art, and over the past decade has become an active member of the Urban Sketchers community, both as a participant and instructor. Her work focuses on capturing the atmosphere of urban life through expressive watercolor and mixed media.

Irena's teaching approach—starting with simple shapes and washes, building gradually the sketches with mixed media, and adding people without getting caught up in anatomical detail. Although Irena's finished sketches may look quite complex, the approach starts simply and can be adapted to different levels of experience. More experienced sketchers can build on the same steps and explore further.

About Rome

This is shoulder-season in Rome which means hotel prices are considerably lower and the city will be less crowded with tourists. We're looking forward to making art in good company. The average temperatures for that week in Rome: high of 19°C (67°F) and an overnight low of 10°C (49°F)--perfect weather for our sketching workshop!

When to Arrive?

November 2, 2027

Welcome to Rome! Your arrival date is your decision but we suggest you arrive by at least November 2, 2027 so that you have time to settle in and possibly to adjust to a new time zone or the vagaries of travel which, as we know, could include a missed or delayed flight. Better to be relaxed at the start of your vacation workshop. *

Warm Up Sketch + Welcome Reception

November 3, 2027

Workshop participants who arrive early are invited to meet in the hotel lobby at 2:00 for a warm up sketch (optional). Irena will not be teaching. This is just your opportunity to dust the cobwebs off your art materials.

In the evening all workshop participants and nonPainting Companion ticket holders are invited to a welcome reception at 6pm.

Below is our proposed itinerary.

PLEASE NOTE: THE ORDER OF EVENTS AND SUBJECTS PROPOSED IN THIS ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Day 1--the Jewish Ghetto + the Colosseum

November 4, 2027

Today we will enjoy our first workshop with Irena in the Jewish quarter, one of the hidden treasures of the capital, a small neighborhood rich in archaeological and cultural heritage.

After lunch we will visit inside the Colosseum, a UNESCO heritage site and one of the world’s most iconic monuments.

Afterwards we will enjoy free sketching time either outside the Colosseum or near Constantine's Arch.

Day 2--The Forums

November 5, 2027

Today we will enjoy Workshop #2 in Trajan's Forum.

After lunch we will enjoy free sketching time inside the Roman Forum among the columns, villas, temples, arches and basilicas. You could spend a whole day exploring the archeological ruins of the Forum. Once a bustling marketplace for commerce and trade, political rallies, military parades, and the sacred ceremonies of the Vestal Virgins. There's so much to sketch! It's sketching heaven!

Day 3--Castel Sant'Angelo + a Museum + the Piazza San Pietro

November 6, 2027

Today we will make our way to a spot near to the Castel Sant'Angelo where Irena will teach Workshop #3.

After lunch we will visit a Museum.

The afternoon is free to stop and sketch the Piazza San Pietro or nearby neighbourhoods as we make our way back to the hotel.

Day 4--Bocca della Verità, the Temple of Hercules Victor + the Capitoline Museum

November 7, 2027

Today we will visit the Isola Tiberini enroute to our workshop locations, This unique, boat-shaped island in the Tiber River blends ancient mythology, medical history, and charming local culture. The island has been linked to medicine since 293 BC, when a temple to the Greek healing god Asclepius was built here following a plague.

We will enjoy Workshop #4 in a park on the Tiber River where can be found the Temple of Hercules Victor and the Temple of Portunus, two 3rd or 4th century temples--lots of sketching opportunities.

After lunch we will try our courage with a visit to the popular Bocca della Verità (the Mouth of Truth) which, according to enduring medieval legend, will bite off the hand of any liar who places their hand in its mouth. Of course, we will take every opportunity to stop and sketch along the way.

In the afternoon we will visit the Capitoline Museum where we will see the Capitoline She-Wolf, the bronze symbol of Rome's founding myth, the original gilded-bronze Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, the Dying Gaul, monumental marble fragments of the Colossus of Constantine, and fine paintings by masters like Caravaggio and Rubens.

Day 5--Piazza della Minerva + the Pantheon + Trevi Fountain

November 8, 2027

Today we will enjoy Workshop #5 in a quiet piazza with an elephant and an obelisk. The granite obelisk is an ancient Egyptian artifact originally carved around 580 BCE under Pharaoh Apries. Bernini designed the whimsical landmark in 1667.

After a leisurely lunch we will visit the nearby Pantheon. This ancient wonder was built by Agrippa in 27 BC! It features the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome, spanning 43.2 meters (142 feet) across with a 9 foot oculus in the ceiling.

The afternoon is free to sketch the Pantheon and/or nearby Trevi Fountain. There are so many possible sketching subjects in Rome it's impossible to choose!

Trevi Fountain is the world's largest Baroque fountain, a marvel of 18th-century art, and an iconic Roman tradition. According to folklore, tossing a coin over your right shoulder with your back to the fountain guarantees a return trip to Rome. Two coins bring new romance, and three lead to a marriage. Roughly €1.25 to €1.4 million are collected annually from this fountain and donated to the Caritas charity to support local soup kitchens and homeless shelters.

In the evening we will enjoy our farewell dinner (included).

Departure

November 9, 2027

It's time to say goodbye but you will never forget the friends you made or the skills you learned during this great week! We gently advise you to extend your stay for a long relaxing holiday! You're here now, why not explore the sites you missed and practice all that you learned in your workshop.

PLEASE NOTE: THE ORDER OF EVENTS AND SUBJECTS PROPOSED IN THIS ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Recommended Workshop Supply List

Paper: A4 cold-pressed watercolour sketchbook or loose sheets, preferably 300 gsm, 100% cotton (cellulose is fine too). Lightweight support board for loose sheets.
Watercolours: Small palette of 8–12 colours.
Brushes: At least two round synthetic watercolour brushes — one large and one medium/small.
Coloured pencils: At least two water-soluble pencils — light ochre and dark blue or violet.
Crayons: A few bright colours — oil pastels, wax or water-soluble crayons.
Other media: Any favourite materials, such as acrylic markers, keeping the selection compact.
White: White gouache or white pencil.
Essentials: Water container, sharpener, paper tissues or cloth, small bag for supplies, and 1 or 2 lightweight folding stools or chairs (one to sit and one (optional) for the supplies

FAQs

Q: What will my spouse/travelling buddy do while I'm in my art class?

A: Your art class is your time and your spouse/buddy can take this time to explore each village on their own. They will see parts of the village, museums and cafes that you will not have time to see because you will be in your art class. At lunch you can share what you learned in your class and your spouse can tell you about what they discovered during their adventures.

Click HERE for more FAQs.

For more information about this vacation package contact Brenda Murray Studio56Boutique@gmail.com.

Tour Includes

A welcome reception
All art classes
Admission to the museums and sites mentioned
Farewell dinner

Tour Excludes

Flights to/from the area
Hotel
airport pick-up and drop-off
Meals (except those listed above)
Painting supplies
City taxes payable by guest at check out
Tips and gratuities
Porterage/luggage handling
Travel insurance
Expenses of a personal nature
Items not explicitly specified in the inclusion list

Ticket Prices in USD

Save money by taking advantage of the $200 Early Bird discount until June 7, 2027!

$1699.	Early Bird Participant Ticket price (if deposit received before June 7, 2027 deadline)
$1899.	Full Participant Ticket price (if deposit received after June 7, 2027 deadline)
$1299.	nonPainter Companion ticket price (such as a partner or travelling buddy)*

*NonPainter Companion tickets include the same attractions and meals as the Workshop Participants with the exception of the art classes.

VIP Members get an additional $100 off their ticket price!

This Studio 56 VIP Rewards Program is a loyalty incentive for participants who have previously taken part in a Studio 56 Vacation Workshop. Click HERE to learn more.

How to Register for this Workshop

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, that is, by June 7, 2027. The remaining balance is due 120 days prior to the start of the workshop, that is, July 7, 2027.

To make a deposit, please scroll to the bottom and click BOOK NOW.

PLEASE READ OUR REFUND POLICY.

Bring a Friend and Get a $50 Rebate

Click HERE to learn more.

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.

Accommodations

The official hotel of this workshop is a modern 4-star hotel located just an 8-minute walk to the Trevi Fountain and a 6-minute walk to the Spanish Steps. A group rate of €170 (including VAT) has been arranged including breakfast for a double room for single use. There is a €7,50 per night/pp city tax that should be paid on arrival. Our group has free cancellation up to 7 days before arrival.

How to Make a Hotel Reservation

Before you make a hotel reservation, click the blue BOOK NOW button below to make your deposit that will ensure that you have a spot in this workshop.

After you have secured your spot in this workshop, you will be sent information about the hotel with instructions for how to book a room. Please do not make nonrefundable flight or hotel reservations before the workshop has been greenlighted.

Participants can stay in this hotel or book into another nearby hotel or Airbnb if they prefer.

Travel + Medical Insurance

Last minute cancellations in this workshop for any reason are nonrefundable therefore protect your investment in this vacation by purchasing trip cancellation insurance. Click HERE for a list of US trip cancellation insurance providers. Some credit card companies may also offer travel insurance if you paid for your trip using that credit card. What happens if you become ill before the start of the workshop and need to cancel? You will seek a refund from your insurance company.

Be sure to get medical insurance as well. As a visit to the hospital in a foreign country can be very expensive.

Pedestrian Friendly?

Participants must be fully mobile and able to walk for up to 30 minutes because we will be seeing and sketching all the major sites in Rome and it is not possible to get a hotel that is next door to all of them. If you are not fully mobile and able to walk up to 30 minutes, we recommend you consider a different Studio 56 workshop that is less physically demanding.

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, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea (resident 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.

For More Information

Email Studio56Boutique@gmail.com or call Brenda Murray at 519-572-1757.

How to Register for this Workshop

To guarantee your spot in this exciting vacation workshop, participants must pay a deposit by clicking the BOOK NOW button below.