Watermill at Posara, Italy, Newsletter

..... a busy time of the year

The Christmas celebrations started early for us: we were singing our hearts out with Once in Royal David’s City, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O Come all ye Faithful on 28 November, accompanied by a brass band, no less!

The occasion was a joint concert by Inspire Choir, the young people’s choir in which Lydia and Lara sing, and Deveron River Brass, a new local brass band, in which Lara plays the cornet. It was held in Banff Parish Church, complete with giant Christmas tree, and in the first half the choir sang and then Lara did a quick change and played with the band in the second half. To finish off the concert, choir and audience were then led by the band in that trio of traditional carols. There’s nothing finer than singing with a brass band – and it really got us all, early, into the spirit of Christmas.

It’s a busy time for both the girls: Lydia working very hard (practising music two hours a day!) at the Aberdeen City Music School for lots of concerts and Lara playing and singing with band and choir at local churches and residential homes for the elderly, bringing them more musical seasonal cheer. Lara passed her audtion to get into the music school, too (hurrah!).

Both Lydia and Lara were also members of a select group who sang at Duff House, the ‘stately home’ in Banff, for Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond for the launch of his Christmas card – although quite how you launch a Christmas card we are still unclear.

At the watermill we – or rather the builders – are working away on our posh new dining room opposite the Tuscan house in the courtyard. We are getting to the pleasurable stage of choosing the floor tiles and lighting, and thinking how we will best decorate the walls. Mill Courtyard There’s also a new up-to-the-minute catering kitchen, so we are working on that too, and on two lovely new bedrooms for our guests, each with an en suite bathroom, entered from a new roof terrace overlooking the gardens and courtyard.

We’ve called our new bedrooms Courtyard 1 and Courtyard 2 and they are going to be our best rooms. If you would like to be among the first to enjoy them, now is the time to book.

Email us using our secure Contact Form and don’t forget: You’ll get great Early Bird discounts if you book before the end of the year.

The strange tale of Modigliani’s heads

The town of Livorno (known for some peculiar reason to the English-speaking world as Leghorn) is on the Western coast of Tuscany. While it has a fascinating history and the old city can show off ancient fortresses, nobles’ palaces and a network of ancient navigable canals in its historic centre, it is little visited by tourists. In fact, for us, its chief claim to fame is that it is here that you catch the ferry to the famous Tuscan island of Elba.

It was also the birthplace of one of the great early 20th Century artists, Amedeo Modigliani, who lived in Paris in the early 1900s and is famous for his graceful portraits, including those of his friends and colleagues Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau and Maurice Utrillo. Before moving to Paris and turning to painting, Modigliani was a gifted sculptor – and in 1984 the Museo Progressivo di Arte Moderna in Livorno planned to celebrate the centenary of the birth of its famous son with an exhibition of some of his sculptures. This led, as The Florentine newspaper has recently reported, to “one of the biggest hoaxes in the history of Italian art.”

The newspaper tells the rest of the story:

“In search of new pieces, the curator of the museum, Vera Durbè, and her brother, Dario Durbè, the superintendent of the Galleria d'Arte Moderna in Rome, decided to dredge the Fosso Mediceo, a canal where Modigliani was thought to have thrown some of his sculptures before he left Livorno for Paris in 1909.

“After eight days of digging, first one and then two other sculpted heads were found. The Durbè's and other eminent experts promptly declared their authenticity.

“However, just before the heads were due to be exhibited, four university students revealed to the press that as a prank they had sculpted one of the heads with an electric drill and, in the dead of night, had thrown it into the canal. Then a dockworker and would-be artist confessed that he had sculpted two heads and dumped them into the canal.

“Seeing members of the often self-important and aloof art establishment in such a highly embarrassing position was the cause of much mirth throughout Italy.”

That’s as maybe, but in the 20 or so days before the sculptures were revealed as fakes, more than 50,000 people from all over Italy and beyond came to see and praise the ‘magnificent’ pieces of art rescued from the canal. TV crews from America and Japan marvelled at the newly discovered artefacts, sparking renewed interest in the artist – and pushing up the prices of his work. Not that it did Modigliani much good: he died, poverty-stricken, of tuberculosis in Paris in 1920.

When he was living in Paris in the 1910s, the Métro was being built. The impoverished Modigliani stole limestone blocks and railway sleepers for his sculptures, which explains why so many of them are shaped like rectangular blocks. Here’s a genuine one (we hope!), made in Paris in 1912 and currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Two specials for early bookers

We are happy to say that booking continues apace for our 2010 painting holidays, creative writing courses and self-catering apartments, so if you have a favourite tutor, time of year, or a favourite apartment, now really is the time to book to ensure you get your first choice.

And as an incentive to our ‘Early Birds’ we’ve two very special offers this year.

For Early Bird painters and writers: There is £75 off the cost of your holiday if you book before 31 December 2009.

For Early Bird bookers of a self-catering apartment: There is 10% off the rental cost if you book before 31 December 2009. That means a saving of between £29.50 and £68.50 per week, according to which apartment you choose and when you want to go.

Tutor of the month: Guy Gruwier

This month’s featured painting tutor is our first from Belgium.

This adds another country to our international list of painting holiday teachers which, over the years, has included artists from England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, USA, and Australia -- and which this year will also see our first painting holiday tutor from Switzerland.

Guy Gruwier is one of Belgium’s leading watercolour artists and a sympathetic and caring teacher. His week-long course in watercolours at the mill will run from 19-26 June 2010.

Guy paints a ‘realistic-romantic’ style and he passes on his insights and skills with love and patience. Previous students on Guy’s courses remember him as a gifted and very helpful teacher. He likes to nurture his students (beginners are welcome) by first identifying what makes a good subject and then building up for a ‘wow’ effect. He has taught at workshops all over Europe and in Australia & New Zealand.

Guy’s colours are very basic, but he applies them with a vivid and strong touch so as to achieve the maximum of contrast and depth in the final result. He has won several prestigious European awards for his watercolours, such as the 2008 Gold Medal for watercolour of the European Merits of Arts (MAEKV), and the prestigious 2009 Jury Prize at the Namur biennial watercolour exhibition.

Here’s his lovely watercolour 'Good morning, Bruges':

This water colour is painted on Arches 640gsm rough and the original is 74cm x 53cm. Guy says: “If you have never been to Bruges, a marvel of our small country Belgium, you will notice that ancient architecture can be quite unexpected, especially when the first rays of the sun throw whimsical patterns of light and shadow over the buildings.”

And here’s a rural scene, called 'Dark and Light II', which is the same size as the Bruges picture above:

Guy says: “This medieval farm lies In St.-Martens-Latem and is still operating in the ancient traditional way. The incandescent light throws a warm shadow over the old bricks and the contrasts in this scenery were so inviting that I made a painting of it.”

There’s more about Guy and more of his paintings to enjoy on the watermill website. And just to recap: his week-long course in watercolours at the mill will run from 19-26 June 2010.

If you would like to come on Guy’s painting holiday at the watermill, or any other painting course, just let us know and don’t forget Early bird bookers save lots of money. If you book your place under the Tuscan sun at the watermill for a 2010 course before the end of the year, there’s a £75 ‘Early Bird’ discount.

Just email us on our secure Contact Form and we’ll make sure your place is reserved.

Your 2010 painting holiday tutors:
the full list

We’re introducing our painting tutors individually in more depth in our regular newsletters and blogs, but here’s the full list:

Fergal Flanagan
Saturday 15 May to
Saturday 22 May 2010
Gouache, watercolours and pastels
Fergal is a leading Irish painter and an accomplished and sympathetic teacher. He has painted in many locations around the world, producing warm, vibrant landscapes. Fergal works at the Burren Painting Centre in County Clare
For more about Fergal and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page.

Paul Priestley
Saturday 22 May to
Saturday 29 May 2010
Acrylics, oils, gouache
For more than 10 years Paul Priestley ran a college Art Department before setting up his own business teaching art. His painting holidays are much in demand because of the emphasis he places on confidence-building and his students’ individual development: For more about Paul and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page.

John Christian
Saturday 5 June to
Saturday 12 June 2010
Watercolours
We are delighted to welcome John back to the mill this year. He’s been several times before and loves the place. John is such an enthusiastic and sympathetic tutor and his courses are always full - and full of fun! He works in a fast spontaneous manner with a large brush and a limited palette. For more about John and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page.

Guy Gruwier
Saturday 19 June to
Saturday 26 June 2010
Watercolours
Guy is considered to be one of Belgium’s leading watercolour artists. He paints in a ‘realistic-romantic’ style and he passes on his insights and skills with love and patience. Previous students on Guy’s courses remember him as a gifted, patient and very helpful teacher. For more about Guy and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page and see above for more details.

Trudi Doyle
Saturday 26 June to
Saturday 3 July 2010
Watercolours, pastels, acrylics
Trudi enjoys acclaim throughout her Irish homeland and beyond for her vibrant unique paintings. After many years' teaching experience, she has a reputation as a calm, friendly and inspirational tutor. For more about Trudi and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page.

Liz Seward Relfe
Saturday 10 July to
Saturday 17 July 2010
Watercolours
Liz has a widespread reputation for still life floral, and landscape paintings . Her main inspirations are light, colour, and the heathland landscape around her home in Surrey. Liz demonstrates to Art Societies throughout the country and teaches at residential courses. For more about Liz and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page

Jane Anderson Wood
Saturday 17 July to
Saturday 24 July 2010
Watercolours
Jane is a highly regarded painter and teacher working in watercolours. She is enthusiastic and supportive, with many years' experience in art schools, Adult Education and in private classes. For more about Jane and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page

Freda Alschuler
Saturday 24 July to
Saturday 31 July 2010
Watercolours
Freda is a full-time artist and teacher, born in England and now living in Switzerland. Freda has taught in art schools and run painting holidays in America and Europe. While her course will concentrate on watercolours, Freda is also happy to teach acrylics and mixed media. For more about Freda and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page

Annelise Pio Hansen
Saturday 28 August to
Saturday 4 September 2010
Watercolours
Annelise is a regular and very popular tutor at the watermill. Her colours are soft but bright, just like the light reaching the sandy beaches and the soft hills not far from where she lives just outside Copenhagen. For more about Annelise and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page

Laraine Simpson
Saturday 4 September to
Saturday 11 September 2010
Watercolours, oils, acrylics, pastels
Laraine, who's taught at the mill for several years now, is a Fine Arts-Painting graduate of Central School of Art & Design (now Central St. Martins), London. She is highly regarded as a perceptive, patient and encouraging tutor working with beginners and advanced students alike. For more about Laraine and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page

Barry Watkin
Saturday 11 September to
Saturday 18 September 2010
Pastels mainly, but also oils and watercolours
Barry returns to the mill this year for another great course.. His inspiration is the play of light on the landscape and the changing atmospheric effects throughout the seasons. Much of his work is started on site and finished off in the studio. For more about Barry and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page.

Charles Sluga
Saturday 2 October to
Saturday 9 October 2010
Watercolours
Charles is a highly respected and sought after artist and watercolour teacher in Australia. His friendly and enthusiastic approach, and eagerness to impart his wide knowledge, is reflected in his popularity as a tutor, and the waiting lists for his regular classes. For more about Charles and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page.

Fantasy and reality in a writer’s life

Our lovely creative writing tutor Jessica Hart will be returning to the watermill next Autumn following her highly successful course this year. Her week-long course, on Writing romance runs from 25 September to 2 October 2010.

On her blog page on the web Jessica has been musing about the process of writing and actually sitting down to get those words down on paper or rather these days, on the computer screen. She says: “I’ve been doing some more teaching, this time as an evening class on writing popular fiction generally at the university here in York – not quite as glamorous as Tuscany, I know, but just as interesting in a different way.

“ One of the things we’re going to look at is the whole process of writing, so I have been giving that some thought lately. How do I write? It’s easy to talk about character or plotting or dialogue, but actually getting the words onto the screen is a much more mysterious process. For me, it certainly involves at least two rubbishy drafts and an awful lot of staring at the screen in despair."

She adds: “Now that I’ve started to think about it, I realise just how much time I waste every day. I know I’m not alone in the constant search for displacement activities: I’m always checking my email, in spite of the fact that I rarely get a message, and if I do, it’s never anything urgent. I paint my nails a lot too, or at least I did until I discovered permanent manicures (life-changing for those of us with weak, splitting nails) and like to think of this as part of the whole process.

"The mind seems to require a certain amount of festering time, I think (that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it) and the great thing is that you can then justify all sorts of time wasting activities when really you should be slaving over a hot keyboard.”

Jessica has written a very amusing account of her ideal working day – and of the reality, which doesn’t always live up to the ideal! You can read it all on her blog, but here are some highlights:

Jessica’s Day: the fantasy

5.00 am. Leap joyfully out of bed and write for two hours before strenuous work out at gym.

9.00 am. Back at computer after healthy breakfast and continue writing without a break until time for a frugal lunch - a couple of lettuce leaves and low fat yoghurt, perhaps.

2.00 pm. Walk dog briskly and marvel at how invigorated I feel.

3.00 pm. Settle down to work again, interrupted only a call from editor to say that everybody loves my books and that I'm up for innumerable prizes and awards. Respond with suitable modesty, but don't allow myself to be distracted for more than five minutes.

6.00 pm. Finish required number of words and switch off computer, smug in the knowledge that am on schedule to complete book by agreed deadline and that the man of my dreams is on his way from London, clutching vast bunch of flowers, possibly with a little jewelled something secreted about his person, just to throw himself at my feet.

Jessica's Day: The Reality

8.30 am. Stumble blearily downstairs and realize that going to gym would mean going out without washing hair or putting on make up (clearly unthinkable) - or having to do it all over again later, which would obviously be a shocking waste of writing time. Retire back to bed with tea instead. Resolve to make real progress - at least 3000 words - and not fritter day away on displacement activities.

10.00 am. Switch on computer. Open document. Screen terrifyingly blank. Check email instead. No messages. Back to chapter. Screen still blank. Paint nails (thinking time). Screen even blanker.

11.00 am. Contemplate vacuuming sitting room but decide writing still preferable to housework. Type a line. Delete line. Ring friend and discuss heroine's outfit for key scene (research). Rewrite line.

11.30 am. In a rare burst of affection, Douglas, one of my allegedly-feral-but-domesticated-when-it-suits-them tabbies waltzes over keyboard. Depressed to realise that he has written more than I have. Remember ISP notoriously unreliable, so check email again, just in case it didn't work properly last time. No messages.

12.15 pm. Stare out of window and realise that writing career is over. Envisage future, selling house, giving away dog to someone who can afford to keep him, admitting to family and friends that am complete failure. Suitably panicked, write a page.

1 pm. Phew! Time for lunch. Remind self that need lots of energy to write and that to start diet in middle of book would be self-defeating. Substantial meal usually involving cooked cheese obviously required.

2.30 pm. Think about going back to work, but opt to walk Mungo instead. Convince self that dawdling along river is actually giving brain a chance to process ideas and therefore essential part of working day.

3.45 pm. Back home, check email again. Still no messages. Nobody loves me. Nobody wants to get in touch with me. Nobody ever reads any of my books anyway so why am I bothering? Consider alternatives. Go back to staring glumly at screen. Eventually squeeze out another paragraph.

4.15 pm. Rewrite rigorous writing schedule, moving carefully allotted days per chapter back a week. Imagine how will feel when book completed, and devise suitable reward. A trip to Australia? To a desert? Remember bank account and try to think of something cheaper. All right, an evening in front of the television without feeling guilty. How fantastic would that be? Can't wait. Re-inspired, manage to get to end of second page.

5.00 pm. Time for tea. Sit down with whatever book currently reading and marvel at how clever some writers are. Wonder if they spend their days faffing around like me. Decide that it's so good, might as well finish it.

6.30 pm. Feed dog and two cats, in spite of fact that not one of them is prepared to play role of loyal pet, sitting encouragingly on lap, adoringly at feet or, in Archie’s case, even allowing himself to be stroked. About to stump back upstairs when friend appears at door and suggests going for a drink. Launch into explanation of how self-disciplined a writer has to be and why can't possibly go anywhere until book finished. Friend waits patiently for me to agree 'just one'.
10.00 pm. Return home after exhaustive discussion about latest emotional crisis (usually mine).

Concoct another calorie-laden meal to absorb alcohol. Decide guiltily that it's too late to do any work, but had better make a few notes so can start early next day and make up for wasted time. Characters suddenly come to life, and write two and a half thousand words at full speed without even thinking. Feel exasperated at own inability to accept that am simply not designed to do anything useful during the daylight hours. Determine to change routine to take working pattern into account and allow self plenty of time to go to gym next morning.

12.30 am. Somehow forget to set alarm for five o'clock and don't wake up until eight. Start process all over again.

Well, we sure that it’s not all true – at least not every day, since Jessica has written more than 50 best-selling books and won many prestigious awards for her writing, but as writers ourselves we know how lonely it can be and how easily it is to be distracted into displacement activity. (Georges Simenon recommended never writing in a room with a geranium – you’ll always want to water it – and having 100 sharpened pencils to hand, otherwise you’ll be sharpening instead of writing.)

Another advantage of the famous Watermill at Posara creative writing courses is that you’ll have a ready-made support group to help you through the difficult times.

Almost every writing group (10 or so people) swap email addresses and even set up an internet discussion forum to keep in touch with each other and exchange news of triumphs and disasters. As one of the students on Jessica’s course this year said: “The experience of being in a group with 10 like-minded and interesting women was great. We've even started a Yahoo group to keep in touch!”

Just to recap: Jessica Hart ’s week-long course on Writing Romance runs from 25 Sep - 2 Oct 2010.

And don’t forget that our other best-selling, award-winning creative writing tutor, Sharon Kendrick, is also returning to the mill, next Spring. Sharon’s Writing Romance course runs from 8-15 May 2010.

To enjoy the delights of a watermill week, to learn more about the art and craft of writing and how to produce what publishers really want – as well as having that vital encouragement and support from other aspiring writers – now is the time to make reservation. And you can save money, by taking advantage of our £75 off ‘Early bird’ offer. What’s keeping you?

Your 2010 best-selling creative writing tutors

Here are the background details for Sharon and Jessica’s courses in 2010.

Sharon Kendrick
Saturday 8 May to
Saturday 15 May 2010
‘Writing romance’

This will be Sharon’s third visit to the watermill: “One of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. The mountains nearby are tall and green, streaked with a pure white, which looks like snow, but which is really the Carrara marble from which Michelangelo chiselled his David. How neat is that?”

Sharon has written 75 books for Harlequin Mills & Boon and regularly tops the Waldenbooks list in North America as well as selling well all over Europe, Asia and South America. Sharon will pass on the benefits of her vast experience in writing romantic fiction and her intimate knowledge of what publishers like Harlequin Mills & Boon are looking for in a romantic novel. You can find out more about Sharon and her books on her Tutors Page.

Jessica Hart
Saturday 25 September to
Saturday 2 October 2010
‘Writing romance’

RITA* award-winner Jessica Hart has written more than 50 books for Harlequin Romance and has been published around the world in more than 20 different languages. (*The RITA is the US romance-publishing industry's highest award of distinction.) She is also a winner of the coveted Romance Prize, awarded by the Romantic Novelists’ Association in the UK.

Jessica’s second course at The Watermill at Posara will focus on the emotional tension that is key to all romantic fiction and it will provide a practical approach to constructing a satisfying – and sellable – love story. There will be plenty of opportunity, too, to talk about writing romance with like-minded people: “The social side of writing is so often underestimated, especially when it comes to structuring a story,” says Jessica. You can read more about Jessica and her books on our Tutors Page.

Painting holidays and creative writing courses: what's included

It is very important to realise that our painting holidays and creative writing course are truly all-inclusive. There are no hidden extras. Everything is included in the cost: tuition, accommodation (including all linen and towels), pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals (including dinner with wine at charming local restaurants) and local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport; an excursion by train to Lucca). All you have to do is to get to Pisa and we do the rest.

And you don’t have to worry about the strength of the Euro versus the pound. The only Euros you’ll have to spend on your painting holiday or creative writing course are on that extra cup of coffee or a postcard for Mum. Let us worry about the pesky exchange rate.

Prices depend on which room you choose (see www.watermill.net for details). They start at £930+IVA (Italian VAT) per person per week (based on two people sharing), with a discount of £25 for a non-painting on non-writing partner. Single rooms start at £995+IVA (Italian VAT). Italian IVA is currently 20%.

What's available

When the mill is not full of painters or writers, we divide it into five elegant self-contained apartments available for self-catering lets.

Two of these bright, sunny apartments (Apts 1 & 2) are in the three-storey Tuscan house in the mill courtyard, with views over the gardens and the mountains beyond; two others (Apts 3 & 4) are set above the older watermill, with river and valley views; the fifth (Apt 5) is set beside the olive press and the artists’ studio and looks out over gardens and the river. All have comfortable living rooms, well furnished bedrooms, a well equipped kitchen and modern bathroom. There’s more information and plenty of pictures on our website.

If you choose a self-catering holiday you’ll find a thousand fascinating things to do, in the mountains and at the seaside. And the mill is in easy reach of Florence, Pisa, Lucca and the other tourist attractions of Tuscany. But you are actually more likely to spend a lot of your time relaxing at the mill itself, enjoying the beautiful setting and sunning yourself in the gardens …

.If you would like to book a self-catering apartment next year, please call us on (UK number) 01888 568 375 or use our secure Contact Form

And don’t forget if you book before the end of the year you can take advantage of our generous Early Bird bonus, with 10% off all self-catering bookings. (Just quote News19).

Anything more you’d like to know?

If there is anything more we can tell you about our activities, and the true Italian lifestyle, please call us on +44 1888 568375 or use our secure Contact Form. And keep up with our website and blog at www.watermill.net.

In the meantime, with very best wishes,

Lois and Bill, Lydia and Lara, and Bella and Rosa (the Labradogs)

Thank you for reading our Watermill Newsletter! if you have any Newsletter questions, comments or complaints, please write to us using our Contact form.

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