This retreat will help us CONNECT, be INSPIRED, and learn.
So pack your paintbrushes, download that Italian language app, watch Under the Tuscan Sun one more time and save your spot in Lisa Mann’s creative journey retreat in Chianti, Italy! It's Lisa’s first international retreat of 2026 and there's room for just 10 lucky painters to join us.
See the world with your paintbrush
And find your inner artist with a group of like minded souls
This is your
INVITATION
To join us for the Abstracting the Tuscan Landscape painting retreat in Chianti, Italy with artist, Lisa Mann, May 23-20, 2026.
It will be an unforgettable week with Lisa where you’ll dive deep into oil and cold wax techniques, using bold color, expressive brushwork, unexpected materials and dynamic composition – all inspired by the rolling hills, olive groves, and vineyards of the Chianti countryside.
Save my spot!
We’ll be staying at a charming Italian farmhouse, complete with a spacious art studio where tall windows open onto flower gardens, overlooking rolling hills and stunning scenery.
This intimate workshop is designed for artists of all levels( beginner to advanced) who are ready to push their work into more expressive, abstract territory – all while soaking in the sights, flavors, and creative energy of Tuscany, of course.
There are only 10 spots available!
“Your retreat in Greece was absolutely life-changing. Not only the art, but your generosity of spirit and your connection with us all. I can’t wait to experience more retreats with you in the future."
Louise - Vancouver, Canada
A farmhouse with a view
CAPPUCINOS, CHIANTI & CREATIVITY.
Picture yourself sipping morning cappuccinos in a 200-year old Italian farmhouse in the hills of Chianti before an entire day of abstract painting workshops and endless artistic inspiration with artist, Lisa Mann...
Join us for this extraordinary painting retreat and allow the breathtaking Tuscan scenery to serve as your inspiration. You will spend your days in painting classes, your evenings sipping Chianti Classicos, and your in-between meals in creative discussions with delectable Italian fare.
Along with a warm, welcoming group of fellow artists, you will experience five full days of intensive abstract painting lessons with Lisa, three mornings of gentle and soothing yoga, a wine tasting with a gourmet lunch at a lovely castle, and a free day in the middle of the week to explore the breathtaking surrounding landscape.
If Lisa”s past Greek Island retreats are any indication, you will leave with more inspiration, artistic tools, connection and motivation than you can possibly imagine. And don't forget, there are only 10 spots available.
Oil and Cold Wax
abstract painting
With 5 full days of hands on instruction from Lisa , you’ll discover how to find inspiration and compose dynamic scenes drawn from the stunning Chianti landscape. You’ll work on developing your unique color palette, hone in on composition, and learn to incorporate textures. Lisa will guide you step by step to develop your own toolbox on how to use oil and cold wax medium. This unique and versatile medium is simply a game changer if you are interested in painting abstractly.
Lisa will guide you to use her signature 6 step creativity process to procure stunning abstract works, with a special focus on the landscape in front of you. By the end of the retreat you will have a small series of abstract works you are proud of, and an arsenal of tools to use moving forwards( and tons of inspiration and new friends).
You’ll refine your color mixing with fresh, intentional approaches, and learn how to organize value, composition, and color and texture effectively to create more compelling paintings.
By the end of the week, you’ll have the tools to know where to start this process when you return home, and also how to tell when your painting is truly finished - which is sometimes the hardest part!
Save my spot!
Why this
WORKSHOP IS SO UNIQUE
This workshop offers a way to learn that goes far beyond a typical studio class.
Here, you’ll be soaking up inspiration directly from the rolling hills, olive groves, and timeless villages of Tuscany.
Lisa’s signature style and ability to quickly access learners where they are at and challenge them to move forward, allows you to dive in right away and keep your process loose and free, bypassing the usual roadblocks of wondering what to paint or how to get started.
Her unique and streamlined approach opens up space to explore composition, value, and color harmony in inventive, intuitive ways – all while soaking up the golden light, rich textures, and captivating colors of Italy. She is trained as a teacher and has a masters in education, with over 20 years of teaching both in and out of the classroom…and this shows!!!
Class size is capped at just 10 painters, keeping things intimate and personal. And with five full days of instruction, you'll receive plenty of one-on-one feedback from Lisa in a supportive, inspiring setting that encourages growth, experimentation, and a deeper connection to both your art and this beautiful corner of the world.
And really – where better to loosen up your brushwork and ignite your creativity than in the hills of Chianti, Italy?
Ancora
DEL CHIANTI
We'll be staying at the wonderful Ancora del Chianti, a 200-year old stone farmhouse outside of Greve-in-Chianti.
In Italian, Ancora means “anchor,” and this beautiful corner of Tuscany truly lives up to its name!
For centuries, this region has been a place where artists, explorers, and dreamers have launched bold ideas, and returned home changed.
With a sprawling light-filled art studio, gorgeous gardens all around and warm Italian hospitality, Ancora del Chianti is the perfect anchor for your own creative growth, exploration and the perfect spot to let your painting flourish.
You can never have too much pasta in Italy
What would a week in Italy be without tasting its true local flavors? Each day, we’ll enjoy fresh breakfasts, lunches, and dinners prepared by our wonderful hosts, at our farmhouse, Ancora del Chianti.
You’ll also have one free day to explore and have lunch at a nearby restaurant of your choice – perfect for discovering a new favorite Tuscan pasta or treat yourself to that incredible Italian gelato!
And we have one gourmet group lunch planned at the Castello di Verrazzano as part of our wine tour and tasting experience.
What is the focus of this retreat?
Discover Lisa’s award-winning method for teaching abstract art with oil and cold wax — a process that combines freedom, play, and strong foundations.
Mornings are devoted to rich instruction: exploring principles of art, techniques for oil and cold wax, and creative exercises that push your boundaries. Afternoons are your time to dive in — developing your own artistic voice with Lisa’s hands-on guidance and support.
This retreat isn’t only about making art. We’ll also enjoy the beauty around us — exploring the local area, soaking in inspiration, and giving ourselves the chance to rest, recharge, and be pampered.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Will you offer the same abstract art intensive education at this workshop?
How many people will attend?
Will you be teaching us how to use oil and cold wax?
Can I bring a partner who wont be painting?
What if I am a total beginner?
Does the price include meals too?
Meet your instructor, Lisa Mann
Lisa combines the sensibilities and decades of classroom teaching experience with the bold, and riotous color sense that is musical, imaginative, and playful .
She is a lifelong learner of art, and truly enjoys the experience of painting as much as producing a gorgeous work of art. She is particularly skilled at teaching others how to find their own creative voice, and equips students with the tools and confidence to make huge strides at every level.
After a successful 30-year career in teaching both in the states and abroad, Lisa made the leap to painting full-time – In her studios in Portland Oregon and Naxos Greece, she now balances abstract scenes with emotional depth, blending a painter’s sensitivity to light, space, and mood, infused with a playfulness and a nod to all things that are beautifully imperfect.
Her pieces have been shown in galleries nationwide, and won multiple awards and are held in notable private collections and public spaces.
Teaching in Tuscany is a perfect venue for Lisa. The light, the color, the history—it all strikes a deep chord with her colorist sensibilities. A lifelong traveller, Lisa has had the opportunity to both live, work, and teach in four continents. Currently she resides on the Greek Island of Naxos. Being in Italy holds a special place in Lisa’s heart. She lived in Italy with her family and young children, working as a school counselor many moons ago, so it feels like ‘coming home” each time she is here.
What is included?
- This retreat is designed so that all you need to do is arrive with an open heart and a sense of curiousity. Everything else is taken care of for you.
- 5 full days of immersive painting with Lisa
- 3 mornings of gentle and relaxing yoga
- a wine tasting with a gourmet lunch at a beautiful castle
- There is a free day, midweek to explore the area
- All meals and accommodation for 7 nights, 6 days
You had me at Chianti!
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Wonderful! I can't wait to be in Chianti, Italy with you!
This intimate and immersive retreat is capped at just 10 artists, so book now to hold your spot.
PRICE:
The early bird retreat price is over $700 saving!!! Early bird cost is $3850 /person in a double occupancy room with ensuite bathroom. There is a single occupancy additional supplement of $1000. This limited time early bird pricing wont last( and neither will the limited spaces), so be sure to save your spot today.
INCLUSIONS:
The non-refundable retreat price includes 5 full days of painting workshops with Lisa, 7-nights of accommodations at our farmhouse, all meals/wine/soft drinks at the villa and one lunch at Castello di Verrazzano, wine tasting, three mornings of yoga (all props also provided).
RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY.
We can't wait to have you join us for our 2026 abstracting the Tuscan landscape oil and cold wax workshop with Lisa Mann.
My dream is that together we could become...
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A traveling community of artists
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A group of abstract artists afoot
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Connected to the shared journey in our creative expression
