Venice Sketching Workshop with Scott Christian Sava

October 3-7, 2022

"Venice, it’s temples and palaces did seem like fabrics of enchantment piled to heaven.” Percy Bysshe Shelley

Explore and sketch the cobbled lanes and labrynthine canals of Venice with Scott Christian Sava. Together we will sketch this glorious, shabby, magical city with its elegant Gothic porticos and fresh Adriatic breezes. Average temperatures in Venice at this time of year are a high of 67-70°F (20-21°C) in the day and a night time low of 56-54°F (14-13°C).

This vacation package includes 5 art classes taught by Scott 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, and the Jewish Ghetto.

To learn more about Scott Christian Sava follow him on Instagram and Tiktok and check out his IMDB listing and you can read about his work on Wikipedia. 

Sunday October 2, 2022

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). 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 Sketch a Church, Stroll Piazza San Marco + Climb a Spiral Tower

Monday October 3, 2022

After breakfast we will orient ourselves to the city with a vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal stopping off at the Church of Santa Maria della Salute. Built in the 17th century as a way to show thanks to God for the end of the plague, this iconic octagonal church is home to several Titian paintings. Here Scott will teach Workshop #1 Sketch a Church. 

After lunch we will stroll through the Piazza San Marco and explore the waterfront. Then climb to the top of the Scala Contarini del Bovolo, an arched spiral staircase built in 1400.

Day 2 Tour the Doge's Palace + Prison and the Bridge of Sighs

Tuesday October 4, 2022 

Today we will take a leisurely stroll along the many labyrinthine canals and bridges as we make our way to the Doge's Palace where we will take a guided tour of the palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Doge's Prison.

Venice is home to more than 100 bell towers, each one unique (and a couple are even leaning slightly!). After lunch we will settle in a nearby campo where Scott will teach Workshop #2 Sketch a Tower.

Day 3 A Visit to the Rialto Bridge + Market + Tour the Jewish Ghetto

Wednesday October 5, 2022

In the morning we will walk to the famous Rialto Bridge and Market to explore the market stalls and wares that have been sold from this exact spot for hundreds of years. Then we will make our way to the edge of the Grand Canal where Scott will teach Workshop #3 Sketch a Canal View.

In the afternoon we will tour the oldest Jewish ghetto in Europe, passing under its gates and learning a bit of its history. 

Day 4 Tour the Basilica San Marco + Sketch a Winged Lion

Thursday October 6, 2022 

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 Scott will teach Workshop #4 Sketch a Winged Lion from a nearby campo.

Day 5 Church of San Giorgio Maggiore + Farewell Dinner

Friday October 7, 2022 

Today we will take the vaporetto to the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore to see the often painted Chiesa di San Giorgio Maggiore (church) and to take in the view of Venice from the water.

Then we will make our way to one of the 400 charming bridges that can be found in Venice.  Here Scott will teach Workshop #5 Sketch a Bridge.

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 October 8, 2022

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

Click HERE to view or download a recommended workshop supply list.

Recommendations for nonWorkshop Participants 

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:

• visit the Guggenheim Museum
• take a walking food tour
• take boat tour to Murano, Burano + Torcello
• 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. 

Tour Includes

Cost in USD

USD$1599. Workshop Participant

USD$799. NonWorkshop Participant (such as partner or travelling buddy)

NonWorkshop Participant 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 $500 nonrefundable deposit is required for Workshop Participants and a $300 nonrefundable deposit is required for nonWorkshop Participants. Don't hesitate. Registration is closing soon. To make this deposit scroll to the bottom of this page and click BOOK NOW.

Please read our Refund Policy.

Travel + Medical Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance protects the investment you’ve made in your trip and is highly recommended. Travel medical insurance is mandatory. Travel medical insurance pays for emergency medical services which may be significantly more expensive than expected. Participants will be asked to provide proof of medical insurance after registration.

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 and it is mandatory that all participants 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 (40-45 minute drive + 9 minute walk), or by taxi or Uber (16-20 minute drive + 5 minute walk). 

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. Learn more about Brenda HERE. 

Do you have questions? 

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