Island Girl Art Studio's Art, Culture & Culinary Tours to Italy.
Our Next Art Tour to Italy will take place in November 2025.
Contact IslandGirlArtStudio@shaw.ca to receive info.
This is a unique, custom- curated small-group travel experience. We're a boutique experience , not the big-box store
( one size fits all) travel excursion.
For that reason, each tour is limited to 6 participants.
By the way, you do not have to be an artist to join this tour, just love beauty, architecture, art, and Italian food and culture.
Because I have lived in Florence and travelled there every year for over ten years now, I will introduce you to a side of Florence the typical tourist will never experience - even if you've been there before. Meet my friends there ( local artists, restauranteurs & shop owners,)We are travelers, not tourists.
We will visit Tuscany in the slow season, escape the crowds and the extreme summer heat, and experience " la dolce vita" ( the sweet life). This is Truffle season. The holidays are just around the corner, the light is changing, there is beauty and tradition around every corner.
Somehow time stands still here.....
Come spend a magical week with me in the birthplace of the Renaissance. This city is the place I have called home - where I have lived, studied and created art in my studio. This is the country of my ancestors.
For 7 days we'll be immersed in the art, history and Italian culture. We start by being in the historic center, as our accommodations are situated in an ancient Renaissance tower built in 1286 in Santa Croce by one of the most important families in Florence, now owned by another noble family and lovingly restored, preserving it's historic exterior while transforming it's rooms into luxury suites with effortless grace and timeless Tuscan charm. This is a 5 star boutique experience.
The tour includes accommodation with daily breakfast, custom art workshops with local artists ( Florentine Paper Marbling, Watercolor & Urban sketching) an Italian cooking class, a wine tour/tasting at an ancient Medici estate and your private tour guide to all daily events and sites. All events, classes and museums are arranged for you in advance.
We'll do things Italian-style, so participants are given 'opt-out' times from the itinerary for relaxation or to attend one of the many local events on their own. Expect to be captivated and amazed and leave with lifelong memories! Choose the tour that suits you best:
#1 - "Love at First Sight Tour" - is for those who have never been to Florence, or have only breezed through the city and want a full emersion into Florentine culture & the Renaissance.
# 2 - La Dolce Vita Tour - this is a tour for those who have been to Florence before or have attended the "Love at First Sight Tour" and want something just a little bit different. This week is divided with half of our time in the city at the start of the week and then a few days in the country at a beautiful Villa to slow things down and decompress before we leave to go home or carry on with our International travels. The first part of the week will be spent in Florence visiting galleries, museums, shows/events and restaurants and the remainder of our time spent in the Tuscan countryside just outside of Florence where we'll have a communal kitchen ( dinners provided with breakfast and lunch on your own) and our Art classes/workshops will take place at the Villa.
# 3 - Saltare Tour - saltare means ' to skip' in Italian, so this is your opportunity to visit a location in Italy you might not have been to before. We will start and end the tour in Florence but will travel by train to another destination for part of that week to explore what that unique location has to offer.
* Possible locations may include one of the following: Sienna, Bologna, Lucca, Ravenna, Padova, Assisi, or Turin. - To be confirmed.
What do people say about these tours?
" Penny, I just can't thank you enough for all the hard work you put into this tour ! I'm amazed at the lovely artists and locals you know, your knowledge and passion about all things Florence and Italy is astounding! What an amazing trip!" - L.B 2024 Tour
" I came home filled with so many beautiful memories and experiences that I almost couldn't put it into words in order to tell people about this trip. Unforgettable is all I can say!" - J.M. 2024 Tour
" To be honest, after coming home I fell into a little depression after my time in Florence on this tour, because the people, sights and experiences were so interesting and beautiful that I instantly wanted to go back! " - T.V. 2023 & 2024 Tour
" This fully guided art vacation in Florence was a dream come true for me! This has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and Penny's tour exceeded all my expectations!
From our accommodation in the historic center of Florence to the daily adventures that took us all over the city, to the magnificent museums and galleries, shopping for art supplies, local markets, cafes & dinners, art & cooking classes with local experts - all paired with Penny's extensive knowledge and experience of Florence was invaluable!
Penny's knowledge of local culture and art history was priceless. Her passion for Italy and her ability to immerse us in a world of art, culture and inspiration was beyond my wildest dreams!"
- Natalie. H. 2023 & 2024 Tours
Important Information:
Additional ground transportation fees may apply.
Fees do NOT include airfare, food/alcohol, tips/tax, art supplies.(Students can bring their own art supplies or buy them in Italy.)
Each participant is responsible to arrange their own flights & medical /cancellation insurance.
Participants must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and provide documentation. No exceptions.
Your registration is confirmed only after receipt of your Tour Registration and deposit.
Deposits are NON refundable, but should an emergency occur - your spot can be transferred to a person of your choice or someone on the Waitlist.
DO NOT book flights until your Tour Deposit is paid and your Registration is confirmed by email .
Fees are for your group/ private tour guide, Art classes/instruction, events & group itinerary and accommodations for Tour #1 & #2. Tour #3 may be different.
Participants may be able to extend their stay/accommodations beyond the Tour Dates if there is availability, this is at the discretion of the hotel.
Full details regarding deposits, fees and the cancellation policy is provided to those who have expressed interest in the tour.
***Rates subject to change without notice. (Registration & deposit holds your rate.)
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One Part Creativity,
Two Parts Magic!
Love letters to Leonardo - Mixed Media, by Penny Maday Ciochetti © 2021
Located in Nanaimo, BC, Island Girl Art Studio offers fine art courses for the curious newbie to the emerging professional artist.
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With an emphasis on creativity and freedom of expression, Penny Maday Ciochetti guides students through Drawing, Watercolour, Acrylics and more.
Special Workshops are offered in the summer & winter, please see the Classes & Workshop page.
Staff corporate wellness & creativity workshops are offered and created specifically for your group/function. Email Penny for details and pricing.
Private Paint Night Parties are available for groups of 6 - 8 in either acrylics, mixed media or watercolor. Contact Penny for dates and pricing.
Courses and workshops are added regularly to the website .Registration is done online and courses fill quickly.
The registration policy can be found by clicking on the Orange tab at the top of the Courses page.
Course deposit refunds due to non-compliance with our registration policy will incur a $25 non-refundable cancellation fee. No exceptions.
By registering for a class on this site, you are agreeing with the registration policy.
Thank you
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What's New at
Island Girl Art Studio?
* Classes
* Weekend workshops
* Art Shows / Events
* My Art Books, Art cards, Art at Home Kits
These Special offerings will be shown here soon!
Please go to the Courses Tab for full information on all classes and to Register.
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What people are saying
about Island Girl Art Studio
“I took the Introduction to Drawing Class from Island Girl Art Studio in the Fall of 2019. I looked forward to it every week and thoroughly enjoyed every class. We laughed our way through learning and left a little later than planned each week because we didn’t want to leave. Although I didn’t know it at the time, what I learned in those weeks helped to sustain a creative practice throughout the next year’s lockdowns and beyond.
I am forever grateful for that! “
– M.K.
“I love my weekly painting classes with Penny! We not only learn about colour, texture, and various painting techniques, but we experiment and play with paint! We laugh and have a good time while creating a painting of our choice. I feel totally relaxed after a painting class - it helps me disconnect and recharge, almost like a painting meditation."
– Jen. K
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to know how to draw to take a Painting class?
No, you do not have to know how to draw to take the Acrylics or the Watercolor classes I offer
as I teach you how to use a reference image or photo and how to enlarge it using a grid. This
technique has been around for centuries and used by all the great Masters!
If you know how to draw already, that's a bonus as you can use your sketches to complete
paintings or develop ideas/compositions - but not knowing how to draw won't hold you back
when you are just learning to paint!
Do I have to bring any art supplies or materials to class?
All materials and supplies are included in my classes. If you have supplies/materials - or brushes for example, that you love and use at home, feel free to bring them along, but it's not necessary. For example, in the Acrylics class - an assortment of canvases are provided for students to use (up to a maximum size of
16 X 20 ''). If you wish to paint on a canvas that's larger than 16 X 20'', then just bring this to class with you.
All the paints, brushes, mediums and materials for painting are available for student use in the studio. I also glaze your finished paintings free of charge. In the watercolour class, all materials are also included and in the Drawing class, students are provided with a drawing kit.
Should I register for a Beginner's class if I have painted before but don't feel very
accomplished or have been away from painting for a while?
If you have painted in watercolour or acrylics before, but feel like you need more instruction or
can't complete a painting you are satisfied with -from start to finish, then I recommend taking
the Beginners to get going again!
What do we paint in the Acrylics class, does everyone do the same thing?
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From the very first class, I want students to paint what they are interested in or what they
love. Of course, this does depend on your experience and comfort level, but almost any subject
can be tackled. We don't paint portraits, figures, and abstracts in the beginners class, but after
you have taken that you are better prepared to move on to more advanced projects.
What is different about your watercolour classes?
I teach transparent, modern watercolour with lots of room to make mistakes, break the rules and
fix mistakes. This approach makes students confident and unafraid! I have been fortunate to have studied and learned from some of the best teachers in North America and Europe and all have one thing in common they are fearless! I paint in watercolour almost every day and although I work in a long list of other mediums (photography, printmaking, acrylics, encaustic, Italian limestone fresco to name a few) - watercolour is a very old love. Students learn how to jump right in and to build on their technique, colour, composition, skills and creativity as they go along. So many people are very intimidated by watercolour, but really it's a lot of fun and very relaxing! The range of this medium is absolutely endless and can produce beautiful artwork right from the start, even if you've never painted with it before.