In case of inclement weather, classes will NOT be held if the Charlotte Mecklenburg schools are closedl
At our new art center: Register now for these classes and workshops: starting in January:...drawing, painting in acrylic, oil, water soluble oil, watercolors, etc.
*Water Soluble Oils with Kevin Brown: Tues. eve. Begins Jan 5th 6:00 -9:00 pm 8 weeks $200.
704-541-6944 or artistsgallery@bellsouth.net. watch for new workshops too!
*** Joe Miller (Cheap Joe himself!)
"Making Something Out of Nothing" Watercolor Workshop at Nancy Couick Studios
April 2, 3 & 4, 2009 Comments: "The best workshop they ever attended!" What a great time we had at this one!!! thanks Joe!
Watercolor classes ! Call today ! Current class schedules: Nancy Couick Watercolors Tues Afternoon Class 1:30 - 4:00 pm Tues Evening Class 6:30 - 9:00 pm Wed Morning Classes (Advanced - independent study)10:00 - 12:30 Wednesday afternoons 2:00-4:30 pm Thursday Morning Classes 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Offering Beginning to Intermediate Students Intermediate to Advanced Students Independent Study with individual critique Classes meet in six week sessions and are ongoing.
Pat Weaver Look for her article in "Watercolor Magazine" Workshop Feb. 18, 19, 20, 21, 2010 $395 four days ($100 deposit)
Anne Abgott will come back next year for two workshops: July 26, 27, & 28, 2010 August 26, 27, & 28, 2010 Reknowned workshop instructor and Author of “Daring Color” Watercolor (All Levels) Call today to reserve your space! These are guaranteed to sell out! We were "wait list only" this year. 3 Days $250, $100 deposit will reserve your space! Karlyn Holman will be back in 2010 Renowned artist and author of: “Watercolor – Fun and Free” and other books Watercolor (All levels) November 5, 6 and 7, 2010 3 Days $250.
Nancy Smith Couick "Watercolor Boo Boos!" How to Fix Them! Watercolor (All Levels) 1/15/2010 to 1/17/2010 3 days $195 $100 deposit will reserve your space
2011 Workshops Yes, we are taking reservations now! Watch for more info on these artist's upcoming workshops:
Joseph Fettingis - April 7,8,9, 2011
Janet Rogers - September 7,8, and 9,10,11, 2011 (a 2 day of Expressive florals and flowers in the landscape) and (a 3 day of Portraits and figures in watercolor)
Steve Rogers summer 2011 tbd & others!
♥♥♥
Additional classes and workshops at Nancy Couick Studios in Charlotte ...Watch for announcements of upcoming workshops. If you are interested in taking weekly classes, or to schedule a workshop in your area, please contact Nancy using the form below.
Tuscany and Venice!!!
We will go to Tuscsany, staying in a four star Villa Hotel in Fiesole, a delightful village in the hills overlooking Florence (we'll be able to see the lights of Florence at night!) We'll learn to cook from an Italian chef, visit beautiful gardens, paint, tour Florence and Fiesole, and enjoy the amazing views from this hilltop villa!
Leaving Tuscany, we'll stop along the way in Padua to visit the famous and amazingly beautiful Scrovegni Chapel, painted centuries ago by the artist, Giotto! The frescoes depict the entire life of Christ in tremendous color and detail!
From Tuscany, we'll go to Venice where we'll stay in the four/five star luxury hotel famous for the Venice Film festival. We'll visit Burano and Murano where we'll stop to photograph and to paint the colorful buildings and see the glass blower's shops and visit the lace makers! We'll enjoy a private boat tour of the Grand Canal. St. Mark's Square and the gondolas make perfect settings for us to stop and paint. We'll get to know the fairyland that is Venice! Wine tasting will also be a feature of our trip! These will be memories to last a lifetime!
I'll post more details and photos soon! We are now accepting reservations for this trip! Your $1000 deposit will guarantee that the price won't increase! Just call or email for more information! Hope to see you in Italia!!! Ciao!
From The International Kitchen website for 2009 Trip: Photos can be seen on their site and will be posted here later! (Just click on link above and it will take you there!)
Award-winning watercolor artist and gallery owner Nancy Smith Couick will assist you in creating delightful plein air watercolors throughout your adventure in the lovely Italian town of Fiesole and the city of Venice! For more on Nancy Smith Couick, please see: www.nancycouick.com.
About the location: Start your trip in Fiesole, a charming town, high up in the hills above Florence. It was founded in the 9th century and has maintained its connection with its Etruscan roots. While conveniently located just a short distance from Florence, it is an oasis of greenery and peaceful beauty, boasting remnants of Etruscan walls, Roman baths and a Roman theater. The Villa Fiesole Hotel is located on one of these Etruscan hills, with a sweeping view of Florence. The hotel's 32 rooms are quite elegant and boast all the modern amenities. In addition to the beautiful gardens and panoramic terrace, there is a lovely swimming pool.
After five splendid nights in the glorious region of Tuscany, head north to the Veneto. Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world, a labyrinth of canals and calli (narrow streets), campi (small neighborhood squares) and ancient buildings, where it seems one can literally step back in time. Built during the Middle Ages amid the tidal waters of the Adriatic, Venice has for over a thousand years charmed and intrigued all those who wander its paths. Modern-day Venice testifies to the splendors of its long history, from the Basilica di San Marco to the world-class museums such as the Accadmia, the Peggy Guggenheim, the Ca’ D’Oro and the Scuola di San Rocco. Experiencing Venetian life and culture is a wonderful opportunity for artists and painters alike to create something really special.
Your accommodations in Venice will be at the 5-star Hotel Des Bains Resort, a beautiful hotel found on the quaint island of Lido. The hotel is found immersed in a flourishing green, private park, and the well-known Lido beach. Spend your leisure time sketching by the pool or sample some Venetian cuisine at one of its several dining options.
About the lessons: Chef Jacopo Tendi and his wife Anna Bigi will welcome you into his mother’s family home located in a charming apartment in Piazza Beccaria. Jacopo has been a professional chef since 1990. Following his family’s cooking traditions (his grandparents were restaurant owners), he attained a culinary degree at the Istituto Professionale per il Turismo of Florence. Jacopo has worked in some of the finest restaurants in Florence and Tuscany (Cammillo, Vescovino, Mammarosa) and in addition to giving private cooking classes in this elegant apartment in Florence, he now also holds cooking classes in his country home where he lives with Anna and their two children Agnese and Riccardo. A daily teaching experience supports Jacopo’s belief that good cooking can be an easy and joyful experience that everybody can do. His hands-on classes transmit, in a familiar and unpretentious atmosphere, the down to earth character and the strong, vibrant and naturally genuine flavors of Tuscan food. After arrival in the home, guests will have a chance to prepare some Tuscan dishes together with Jacopo (antipastos and/or tiramisu) and also enjoy a brief introduction to Tuscan cuisine (meats, pastas, sauces, herbs, the emphasis on seasonal vegetables). Lunch will follow enjoying dishes which have been made and finished together with Jacopo using the freshest of ingredients and of course you will also enjoy your meal accompanied by local Italian wine!
Watercolors, Wine and Cooking in Tuscany and Venice with Nancy Smith Couick
Fiesole and Venice
Itinerary
Day One - Sunday, May 10
Group transfer from the Florence airport in the afternoon.
Check into your classic room at Hotel Villa Fiesole, located on one of the most panoramic hills overlooking the town.
Welcome meeting with a local representative of International Kitchen for a brief introduction to the program in Florence.
Dinner at the hotel, local wine included.
Overnight.
Day Two - Monday, May 11
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet your official Fiesole guide to discover its ancient archaeological area with its Etruscan and Roman ruins dating back to the first centuries BC.
Explore on foot the famous panoramic hill overlooking “Florentia” (the Roman colony of Florence), the Roman theater and San Francis’ monastery with its beautiful paintings by Beato Angelico and Perugino.
Light lunch in Fiesole.
Time at leisure in the afternoon to paint your surroundings from the theatre, comfortably sitting on its ancient stone tiers.
Return back to the villa in late afternoon.
Dinner at Hotel Villa Fiesole, local wine included and overnight.
Day Three - Tuesday, May 12
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet your driver for a quick transfer to Florence by minivan, where you will enjoy a cooking class in a private chef’s house followed by lunch.
Depart to Villa Gamberaia, situated in an ideal location, overlooking the city of Florence and the Arno valley.
At the villa, stroll through the significant Renaissance Gardens and contemplate the beauty of its design setting in the surrounding landscape, a perfect spot for a relaxing afternoon dedicated to sketching.
Return back to the villa in late afternoon.
Dinner at Villa Fiesole, local wine included.
Overnight.
Day Four - Wednesday, May 13
After breakfast, transfer to Florence.
Meet your official guide of Florence for your special three-hour walking tour, where you will learn about the secrets of “The Cradle of the Renaissance” and the questions that linger about its history.
Lunch on your own with suggestions from your guide.
Afternoon at disposal for shopping.
Tickets for Accademia or Uffizi can also be reserved in advance upon request.
Return back to Villa Fiesole in late afternoon.
Dinner at the villa and overnight.
Day Five - Thursday, May 14
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning at disposal for individual activities.
You may want to visit the nearby Fattoria di Maiano with its stunning XV century villa or relax by the quiet pool at the hotel.
Lunch on your own.
In the afternoon transfer to Palazzo Pitti to explore its famous gardens.
The Boboli Gardens, behind the Palace, the main seat of the Medici grand dukes of Tuscany at Florence, are some of the first and most familiar formal XVI century Italian gardens. Rich of statues and ponds, they are a true source of inspiration for artists. Later in the afternoon explore Giardino Bardini, a natural “balcony” above Florence that held art exhibitions and enjoy a pleasant stroll among olives, Roman statues and oaks.
Enjoy Florence from this enchanted place. You will be able to recognize all its towers, noble palaces and nearly touch the stunning Brunelleschi’s dome.
Dinner at a local trattoria in the authentic district of “Oltrarno.”
Return back to Villa Fiesole and overnight.
Day Six - Friday, May 15
Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out from Villa Fiesole and transfer to your hotel in Venice, with a short stop along the way to visit the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua.
Arrival at Hotel Des Bains on the Lido.
Rest of day at leisure and overnight.
Day Seven - Saturday, May 16
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the late morning, a two hour “orientation” walking tour of Venice.
Enjoy the rest of day on your own. Take some time to sketch or paint your interpretation of Venice.
At 6:30 p.m. enjoy a tasting of three wines with a selection of cicchetti (Italian tapas).
Overnight.
Day Eight - Sunday, May 17
Breakfast and morning at leisure.
Meet in the afternoon for a Grand Canal boat tour, complete with a Bellini, the famous drink of Venice.
After your tour, a pizza dinner has been arranged in a charming trattoria.
Return to the hotel and overnight.
Day Nine - Monday, May 18
Breakfast.
Today is an optional “painting day.” You can choose to follow Nancy to the islands of Burano and Murano. Ferry to the island of Murano to see the famed glass blowers. Following, visit Burano, where you can spend the day painting and photographing the colorful houses and see the lace makers there. This will be a great opportunity to see the fishing boats, canals, shops and see the lace makers and glass blowers while they work!
Dinner on your own.
Return to the hotel and overnight.
Day Ten - Tuesday, May 19
Breakfast and remainder of day at leisure.
Meet for a typical Venetian farewell dinner.
Return to the hotel and overnight.
Day Eleven - Wednesday, May 20
Breakfast followed by group transfer to the Venice airport.
Five nights accommodations in double classic room at Villa Fiesole on B&B basis
Transfer from Florence airport to Villa Fiesole
Daily breakfast
Welcome meeting with local assistant at Villa Fiesole
Four dinners at Villa Fiesole, drinks and local wine included
Three-hour walking tour in Fiesole with official guide
Light lunch in Fiesole, wine not included
Morning cooking demonstration with Chef Jacopo Tendi, lunch to follow included
All transportation to/from Florence/Fiesole as mentioned in the program
Entrance tickets to Villa Gamberaia on day eight
Three-hour walking tour in Florence with official guide
Afternoon excursion to Boboli and Bardini Gardens with English speaking escort on day 10 (entrance tickets included)
Farewell Tuscany dinner in a local restaurant in Oltrarno, local wine and drinks included
Included in the program: Venice
Transfer from Villa Fiesole to Venice
Five nights accommodation at Hotel des Bains on the Lido in Venice
Daily breakfast
Two-hour walking tour of Venice
Seventy minute Grand Canal boat tour
One pizza dinner with wine
Farewell dinner with wine
Departure transfer to Venice airport
Italy Tour May 2008
Wow! What a trip! We are back and planning next year's adventure already! Stay tuned...... Italy May 17-27, 2008 The Italian Riviera (including Portofino and The Cinque Terre!)also the Piedmont Wine Region Cooking, Painting, and Wine Tour!!! for Painters and non-painters alike!
We'll stay in a village on the Ligurian coast for the first leg of this trip, taking cooking classes and day trips to coastal villages and to the Cinque Terre, we'll spend an afternoon shopping and painting in picturesque, romantic Portofino! From there we'll travel to the Piemonte wine region to stay in a Four Star Relais Villa with wine tastings and tours to vineyards and watch how Italians make cheese! Our Relais (a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World) has a view of vineyards and the Alps in the distance! Our farewell dinner will be at a Michelin star restaurant!
May 5th-15th, 2007 for 12 days! "for painters and non-painting friends!" http://www.theinternationalkitchen.com to register, or contact Nancy in Charlotte using the contact form below. A $1,000. deposit guarantees your space! so let us know if you're interested in hearing more about this one... We're happy to send you a brochure by email or snail mail! You can view the itinerary and photos of the 2007 trip locations on The International Kitchen website. Click on the Tuscany tours - Nancy Smith Couick.
Italy 2006! WOW! What an amazing trip!
We were so pampered! It was the best ever!
Italy - The Amalfi Coast and Rome 2006 -Painting and Cooking! Sold Out!
Italy trip May 12 -23rd on the Amalfi Coast and in Rome - combining cooking classes and watercolor painting ( you can take bothor either classes or simply relax and enjoy the beauty of Italy!) check out the websites for the hotel and the International Cooking School! 7 nights on the Amalfi Coast and three in Rome! Just click on these links for our private four star hotel in Amalfi http://www.oasiolimpiarelais.it/index.htm and to access the trip page with itinerary directly - click on this link http://www.theinternationalkitchen.com/News-article-sid-447-topic-cccc what fun! I am ready to go! We'll stay in Rome at the Via Veneto (for some serious shoppping!)
Painting Workshop - on location in Italy - May 13 - 24, 2005 Tuscany and Venice!
Explore the medieval hill towns of Tuscany & experience the canals and mystique of Venice, Italy with seasoned travelers and talented instructors, Nancy Couick & Nancy Carver.
Enjoy the local wines· Daily art demonstrations and critiques
Enjoy a painting expedition in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Learn the basic principles and techniques of watercolor painting and journaling as you capture the warm light and colors of Italy. Our goal is to share methods to create the experience of a unique place, time of day, season, light & atmosphere.
We will be working in watercolor and concentrating on how to capture the colors and mood with studies and photographs on location that enable you go back to your studio to later create your masterpiece.
Paint the vineyards, with rows of vines marching up the gently rolling hillsides—single files of dark green cypress trees, perhaps leading to a medieval tower. Ancient roads lead to rust-colored farmhouses and golden hued hilltop towns in Tuscany. It will be a glorious setting in which to learn new painting skills. Plan now for the time of your life. Emphasis will be on painting and sketching the countryside and on the crafts, culture and cuisine of Italy—a charmed land blessed with the genius of man and nature.
Photos I have taken in Italy! La Vita e`Bella in Italia! Life is Beautiful in Italy!
Shop Window in Tuscany
Gondolas on Venice Canal
Grand piazza in Sienna
Bagno Vignoni Cafe - nice spot for lunch!
Bagno Vignoni Thermal Pool
Under the loggia in Bagno Vignoni
View from Pienza Walls
View from Castiglione
Beautiful Burano - and great shoping too!
Burano Doorway
A glass of wine at the Academia Bridge - cafe
The Grand Canal
A terrific canal-side cafe in Venice!
The Gondoliers at San Marco
Sunset in Venice
Links to other related sites
If you need to order class supplies, they have my supply list, just give them a call!
If you are interested in purchasing any of the paintings or prints on this web site, please either call or email us...or simply use the contact form on the last page of our site!
Award-winning watercolor artist and gallery owner Nancy Smith Couick will assist you in creating delightful plein air watercolors throughout your adventure in the lovely Italian town of Fiesole and the city of Venice! For more on Nancy Smith Couick, please see: 
About the lessons: Chef Jacopo Tendi and his wife Anna Bigi will welcome you into his mother’s family home located in a charming apartment in Piazza Beccaria. Jacopo has been a professional chef since 1990. Following his family’s cooking traditions (his grandparents were restaurant owners), he attained a culinary degree at the Istituto Professionale per il Turismo of Florence. Jacopo has worked in some of the finest restaurants in Florence and Tuscany (Cammillo, Vescovino, Mammarosa) and in addition to giving private cooking classes in this elegant apartment in Florence, he now also holds cooking classes in his country home where he lives with Anna and their two children Agnese and Riccardo. A daily teaching experience supports Jacopo’s belief that good cooking can be an easy and joyful experience that everybody can do. His hands-on classes transmit, in a familiar and unpretentious atmosphere, the down to earth character and the strong, vibrant and naturally genuine flavors of Tuscan food. After arrival in the home, guests will have a chance to prepare some Tuscan dishes together with Jacopo (antipastos and/or tiramisu) and also enjoy a brief introduction to Tuscan cuisine (meats, pastas, sauces, herbs, the emphasis on seasonal vegetables). Lunch will follow enjoying dishes which have been made and finished together with Jacopo using the freshest of ingredients and of course you will also enjoy your meal accompanied by local Italian wine!
