# Historic Towns Travel Sketchbook Retreat with Artist Rod Moore in Italy

Explore the rolling landscapes of Tuscany and craft a beautiful travel sketchbook during a weeklong art retreat with artist Rod Moore. Elevate your sketching skills, whether you are opening a sketchbook for the first time or expanding your techniques. Under the guidance of your instructor, employing his acclaimed Moore Method of Painting, you will study the essentials of sketchbook art.Explore layout and design, bring more depth and atmosphere into your pages, and learn how to take reference photos that inspire future works. The retreat offers an inclusive environment for artists of all levels, with a focus on overcoming creative hurdles and enriching your portfolio. Stay in inviting Tuscan apartments featuring traditional "arte povera" furnishings, set among peaceful gardens, a 66-foot (20-meter) pool, rolling vineyards, olive groves, and a private lake. A reconverted 18th-century granary serves as a spacious, well-equipped studio, offering the perfect setting to create while surrounded by breathtaking scenery and historic architecture.Benefit from daily classes, personalized tuition, and art trips to Arezzo, San Gimignano, and a traditional olive oil mill. Alongside fellow artists, enjoy authentic Tuscan cuisine, a wine tasting experience, and the serene rural atmosphere, making this artistic journey a genuine feast for the senses.

## Details

- **Dates:** September 18 - 25, 2026
- **Location:** Vaggio, Tuscany, Italy
- **Starting Price:** $4,850
- **Category:** Painting

## Program

### Historic Towns Travel Sketchbook Retreat
Step into a world of timeless beauty and artistic discovery with Rod Moore in the heart of Tuscany. This weeklong retreat will take your sketching to new heights, guide you past creative blocks, and breathe new energy into your artistic process. Rod’s method gives beginners a confident foundation and offers experienced painters fresh ways to broaden their skills. By the end of the retreat, you will have created a travel sketchbook alive with images of Tuscany’s historic architecture, winding streets, sunlit piazzas, and the serene rhythm of the countryside.Benefit from daily classes, one-to-one tuition, and art trips shaped around your instructor’s acclaimed Moore Method of Painting. You will learn to design sketchbook pages with depth and atmosphere, capture reference photos that inspire, and translate the intricate details of historic buildings into expressive studies. The art trips form the heart of the experience. In Arezzo, Gothic churches and Renaissance facades rise over lively squares. San Gimignano’s soaring towers dominate the skyline and offer striking lessons in perspective. A traditional olive oil mill invites you to sketch centuries-old stone walls and rustic tools steeped in Tuscan heritage. Each destination immerses you in history and architecture, filling your sketchbook with a sense of place that is both inspiring and unforgettable.The topics covered during your lessons will include:Sketchbook basicsDesign and layoutSimplifying complex scenes for spontaneous sketchingFinding the magic in the subjectSketchbook materials: inks, pens, brushes, watercolor, and gouacheUsing tone to create depth and atmosphere in your sketchesAdding movement and life to your sketchesTaking amazing reference photos when out and aboutDeveloping quick on-location sketches into larger studio sketchesSketching from reference photos...and much more!Experience Italy's lively culture through chef-made food every day, delicious wine served with dinner (plus a wine tasting), a historic venue dating back to medieval times, and the lovely company of 15 other like-minded artists.

### Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR), at 4:00 PM and be transferred to the venue, reaching it by 5:00 PM. After settling into your spacious, thoughtfully designed room, explore the cozy apartments, well-equipped writing spaces, peaceful pool, and expansive gardens, all surrounded by serene vineyards and olive groves. Get introduced to your guide for this art adventure, Rod Moore, and chat about the upcoming week over a delightful welcome dinner.

### Day 2: Art at the venue
Wake to breakfast and coffee, then meet Rod for a relaxed check-in before heading into the studio.During the morning class, Rod will demonstrate the basics of sketching in ink. Begin with a few easy warm-ups designed to loosen your style. Then move into the study of tone and values as you practice using contrast to bring depth and character to your sketches. The session includes a hands-on still life exercise, along with practice using reference photos chosen to highlight details of Tuscan scenery and architecture.After a light lunch, the afternoon session takes you outside for a plein-air class focused on capturing the surrounding buildings and landscapes.Rod will guide you through sketching subjects that draw the eye, from rustic stone walls to traditional Tuscan rooftops framed by olive trees. As you prepare for the upcoming art trip to Arezzo, you will learn what to look for when sketching historic architecture and how to identify features that make a drawing feel authentic. Rod will share practical tips on organizing and packing your materials for an outing while also offering personalized feedback throughout the session.In the evening, gather for a wine tasting on the property. Walk the vineyard paths, hear the story behind each bottle, and settle in for a shared dinner under the Tuscan sky.

### Day 3: Art trip to Arezzo
After a satisfying breakfast, gather your sketchbooks and supplies and board the shuttle for a scenic one-hour drive through the Tuscan countryside to the historic town of Arezzo. Known for its rich artistic heritage and centuries-old streets, Arezzo offers a perfect blend of history, atmosphere, and inspiration for your sketchbook.On arrival, stroll through the winding medieval streets with a local guide who will share stories of the town’s architecture and past. As you explore, Rod will demonstrate his approach to taking reference photos, showing you how to experiment with angles, perspectives, and changing light. Pause to note the most inspiring vistas and consider how you might later translate them into sketches and paintings.Take a mid-morning coffee break at a café in the central square, where you can soak in the rhythms of daily life before continuing your exploration. For lunch, enjoy a traditional Tuscan meal in a trattoria, sampling regional dishes in a relaxed setting.Rejoin Rod for a plein-air sketching session. Choose between focusing on the intricate details of Arezzo’s historic facades or capturing broader views of the town and surrounding countryside. Rod will host a group demonstration to guide you in building a cityscape sketch, followed by time for you to work independently with tailored feedback.In the evening, return to the venue for a three-course dinner, delightfully paired with a glass of local wine.

### Day 4: Art at the venue
The next day starts with a delicious breakfast, followed by a check-in over coffee with Rod and the first workshop of the day.The morning class introduces sketching in watercolor, beginning with a vibrant demonstration of Rod’s techniques. As you explore the balance of water and pigment, Rod will guide you in shaping your sketchbook layout. You will learn how to decide what to include on each page so your sketchbook becomes more than a series of drawings, transforming into a visual story of your artistic journey. The session is designed to strengthen your composition skills and give your sketchbook pages a deeper sense of purpose and meaning.After a well-deserved lunch, the afternoon session focuses on sketching from reference using your photos taken during the art trip to Arezzo.You will practice translating the character of these cityscapes into watercolor sketches, drawing on your impressions from walking their streets and squares. Rod will share his insights on portraying architecture, showing you how to capture the atmosphere of piazzas, the shifting play of light and shadow on stone facades, and the distinctive details that give each town its unique identity. This class emphasizes observation and storytelling, helping you turn your memories of Tuscany’s historic towns into expressive watercolor sketches that preserve the essence of what you experienced.As light moves through the windows and the painting nears its final stage, take a breath and step back. Later, come together with fellow artists for dinner, share what surprised you, and enjoy the calm sense of arrival that follows a full day of work.

### Day 5: Art trip to San Gimignano
Begin your day with a hearty breakfast, then prepare for an art trip to the historic hill town of San Gimignano. After a scenic 1.5-hour drive through the Tuscan countryside, you’ll arrive in one of Italy’s most picturesque towns, celebrated for its medieval towers and UNESCO World Heritage status.Immerse yourself in the historic atmosphere of the town during a guided morning tour led by an English-speaking local guide. Rod will lead a class on location, beginning with a watercolor demonstration in one of the main piazzas. You’ll learn techniques for capturing the rhythm and scale of the town’s dramatic skyline, often called the “Medieval Manhattan.” Next, you may join Rod for an architectural sketching session centered on the towers themselves or take time to explore on your own. Each winding street and stone archway offers an opportunity to study perspective, texture, and the way Tuscan light defines historic walls and rooftops.Enjoy lunch at a traditional trattoria, sampling Tuscan specialties and local wines, before continuing your artistic exploration in the afternoon.Sketch the lively Piazza della Cisterna with its triangular layout, or find quieter subjects among churches and hidden courtyards that preserve centuries of history. The carved details of doorways, weathered brickwork, and narrow alleyways reveal layers of craftsmanship that make San Gimignano such a rewarding subject for artists. Take breaks in local cafés to observe daily life, gather reference photos, and add spontaneous studies to your sketchbook.Return to the venue in the evening. Spend your free time by the pool or chatting with your fellow artists, then get ready to enjoy a well-deserved dinner paired with a glass of wine.

### Day 6: Trip to a traditional oil mill
Enjoy a warm breakfast as light filters through the windows, then head out for a short drive to Frantoio Pasquini, a family-owned olive oil mill tucked among the hills and groves of Reggello, just ten minutes away.Your visit begins with a walk through the olive groves, where you’ll see the twisted trunks and silvery leaves that have shaped Tuscan landscapes for centuries. From there, enjoy a guided tour of the mill itself, exploring the production spaces and learning how olives are transformed from fruit on the tree to liquid gold on the table. Along the way, Rod will point out architectural and atmospheric details worth capturing in your sketchbook, from rustic stone walls to the play of light in the groves.After the tour, gather for a tasting in the eno-oleoteca, sampling freshly pressed olive oil along with local specialties like olive pastes. Stay on-site for a relaxed lunch before returning in the early afternoon.The later session focuses on translating the morning’s impressions into watercolor sketches. Using your on-site drawings and photos as reference, Rod will guide you in planning page layouts, experimenting with wet-on-wet washes, and layering color to capture the texture and atmosphere of the mill and groves. He will provide individual feedback throughout, helping you refine your work and bring out the unique character of what you observed.Conclude the day with dinner and a glass of wine, sharing stories and sketchbook pages with your fellow artists.

### Day 7: Art at the venue
On your final day, start with a hearty breakfast and a coffee check-in.Dive right into the morning class, featuring an engaging demonstration from Rod, showcasing the versatility and richness of gouache as a medium. Spend the rest of the class painting from your own reference photos in gouache. Throughout the session, Rod will provide individual feedback, offering personalized advice to enhance your technique and artistic expression.Lunch provides a moment of relaxation before the afternoon class. This session is special: a mini-exhibition of the pieces created during the retreat. Share your work with fellow artists and receive valuable feedback. It's a celebration of your growth and a chance to appreciate the diverse talents of your peers.As the day draws to a close, come together for a special farewell dinner, celebrating the connections made and the artistic journey shared. Toast to your progress and to your unforgettable experiences in Tuscany!

### Day 8: Departure
Enjoy breakfast with your group, exchange any last contact details, and get ready for your transfer to Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR). Check-out is at 10:00 AM, and you'll arrive at the airport at around 11:00 AM.

## Instructors

- **Rod Moore** - Impressionist artist and teacher

## Accommodation

### Tuscan Vineyard Estate

### Shared ensuite room

### Single standard room - adjacent bathroom

### Single superior ensuite room

### Single deluxe apartment

## Book This Retreat

Visit [https://uptrek.com/retreat/historic-towns-travel-sketchbook-artist-rod-moore-italy](https://uptrek.com/retreat/historic-towns-travel-sketchbook-artist-rod-moore-italy) to make a reservation.

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