Join Jacqueline for an unforgettable watercolor workshop in the heart of Umbria—where art, travel, and Italian charm come together in the medieval town of Gubbio. Bring your journal, a handful of favorite painting supplies, and a spirit of curiosity. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be surrounded by inspiration: sun‑washed stone buildings, winding cobblestoned streets, terracotta rooftops, and sweeping views of vineyards and olive groves.
Our studio sessions and excursions to charming villages will flow together like a beautiful tango—learning to create rich, glowing color combinations, painting bright sunshine and expressive shadows, and preparing journal pages that invite creativity, setting the stage for your on-location sketches.
What You’ll Learn
Throughout the workshop, you’ll build a toolkit of techniques that will serve you long after the trip ends:
• Sketching essentials for capturing architecture, landscapes, and everyday moments
• Watercolor techniques for luminous washes, mingling colors, and atmospheric effects
• Color mixing strategies to create vibrant, harmonious palettes inspired by Umbria
• Pen and ink perspective to bring structure and character to your drawings
• Travel journaling approaches that blend art, writing, and personal storytelling
These skills will come alive as we step outdoors together, painting in quiet piazzas, along medieval walkways, and in lively café settings where the rhythm of Italian life becomes part of your artwork.
Inspiration Everywhere
Italy offers endless scenes to fill your journal:
• Windows overflowing with colorful flowers and trailing vines
• Weathered stone walls textured by centuries of sun and rain
• Charming doorways with ornate ironwork
• Bustling cafés where locals gather for espresso and conversation
• Rolling hills patterned with vineyards, cypress trees, and golden fields
Each day brings new opportunities to observe, sketch, and paint—capturing not just what you see, but how it feels to be there.
A Shared Creative Experience
This workshop is as much about community as it is about art. We’ll learn together, explore together, and celebrate the joy of creating in a place where history, beauty, and inspiration meet at every turn. Whether you’re new to watercolor or a seasoned journal keeper, you’ll return home with a sketchbook full of memories, techniques, and stories that will continue to inspire your art.
Suggested Watercolor Supply List for Jacqueline Newbold Gubbio, Italy Workshop
Top quality watercolor paints (not student grade!) I suggest you start with at least 6 colors, a warm and a cool of yellow, red, and blue. I would recommend top-quality brands such as Daniel Smith, Windsor Newton, Holbein, or Sennelier.
Suggested colors:
COOL YELLOW: Lemon Yellow, Azo Yellow, or Hansa Yellow Light
WARM YELLOW: New Gamboge or Quinacridone Gold
COOL RED: Permanent Rose or Quinacridone Rose
WARM RED: Permanent Red or Windsor Red
COOL BLUE: Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, or Manganese Blue
WARM BLUE: French Ultramarine Blue
Fun Optional colors include Manganese Blue, Quinacridone Purple, French Vermilion, Quinacridone Burnt Orange, Bordeaux, Permanent Orange, Manganese Violet (by MaimeriBlu), Sodalite, Cobalt Teal Blue, Buff Titanium, Hematite Burnt Scarlet, Aussie Red Gold, Leaf Green, and Rich Green Gold.
Check out my blog post for ideas of a well-rounded watercolor palette: http://djnewbold.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-well-rounded-watercolor-palette.html
A small watercolor travel palette. These are the two that I like because it is easy to change out different watercolor paint colors:
MEEDEN Empty Watercolor Tins Palette Box Paint Case, 12 wells (you can actually get about 20 ½ pans in the small one by adding ½ pans in the middle.
Art Tool palettes, I have 2 of the pocket palette size with about 12 colors in each.
Watercolor brushes in a variety of sizes such as Princeton Brush & Co. Series 4050: round #3, round #8, round #12, ½ inch flat, and a liner brush size #2 or #4.
Optional - A scrubby brush such as Cheap Joe’s Fritch Scrubber brush, size 6 or 8
Fabriano Watercolor Journal from Hartem.
Pencil and kneaded eraser
Small cotton cloth or washcloth
Mini Spray Mister
Faber Castell Water Cup
Your favorite pens for pen-and-ink sketches
Glue stick or double-sided tape
Small mini spray bottle
Small cotton cloth
SINGLE: $4599
DOUBLE: $4299
Partners are welcome to join us for group meals and activities: $3799