ECUADOR is the size of Colorado with twice as many birds as all of Europe and so volcanically lush that orchids grow like weeds and rows of fence posts take root and sprout leaves. You’ll be stepping back in time so bring your camera, your llama, your easel, your sketch pad and above all bring an open mind.
Workshop Dates: August 29, 2012 through September 8, 2012 - 10 days 11 nights
Artists $3100 Non-Artists $2150
THE ADVENTURE begins in Ecuador’s capital of Quito, the 2nd highest capital city in South America founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city at an altitude of 9300 feet. This historic colonial city has the best-preserved, least altered historic centre in Latin America. Quito’s weather is described as eternal spring - thanks to its equatorial mountain valley location and it is situated on the northern end of "the Avenue of the Volcanoes" amid unparalleled mountain views that serves as our gateway to our Andean plein air painting adventure. Our artists will be met at Quito’s airport and will overnight at a quaint colonial hotel created from a stately historic residence. Then next day, the group will set off for a morning tour of historic Quito, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, a late lunch then a short journey will bring us to our mountainside hacienda home that is approximately one hour from Quito.
THIS UNIQUE PLEIN AIR ADVENTURE CONTINUES at our family-run organic hacienda situated near the village of Aloag on the lower slopes of Volcan Corazon, the heart of Ecuador's "Avenue of the Volcanoes", a spectacular valley dividing the eastern and western ranges of the Andes. Inspiring sunsets and clear star-lit mountain nights are the norm in this equatorial Shangri-La. Surrounded by lush vegetation with hundreds of varieties of flora, wild and domestic roses, as well as horses, cows, alpacas and Chagras (horseman of the andes) we will settle in for 8 exciting days of ranch living and painting. The well appointed rooms with private baths and beautiful views, authentic local recipes served 'ranch style' and a service oriented staff will keep us comfortable and in the right frame of mind to paint.
FROM THE HACIENDA we will venture out to selected sites to paint awesome mountain views with volcanoes in all directions. Extraordinary local flora and countless rose plantations and gardens dot the countryside in this valley some of which produce Ecuador’s national flower, the rose. Rural villages, indigenous markets and sites with a mixture of ancient Incan ruins and colonial architecture will present endless compositions and a taste of traditional highland life. A horseback journey is planned to a remote setting for those painters ready for a little extra adventure. There will be a lifetime of painting opportunities all around.
JOE ANNA ARNETT is a master artist on “Passport & Palette” the art instruction and travel series airing on PBS stations across the country. She not only appears on the show, but also produces and writes for the program.
In 1997, she became a Master Artist of the Artists of America Show at the Denver Historical Society Museum. She has also exhibited at the Albuquerque Museum of Fine Arts, The Tucson Museum of Fine Arts, The National Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth, The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the Cincinnati Museum Center, and Art Asia in Hong Kong. She is a 14-year veteran of the Prix de West Invitational show at The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. In 2006 she was honored by the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma as one of their featured artists in the Rendezvous exhibition.
Arnett has written articles for The Artist’s Magazine, American Arts Quarterly, and ART Ideas. Australian Artists Magazine and has been featured in The International Herald Tribune, Southwest Art, Western Art Digest, and the North Light books, Painting with Passion, The Best of Flower Painting, and The Best of Flower Painting II.
She authored the North Light Book“ Painting Sumptuous Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers in Oil “, which was first published in 1998 and went into a second edition as well as a Chinese language edition in 1999.
A passionate traveler, Joe Anna enjoys painting wherever she goes, often combining the experience with teaching plein air workshops. England, Ireland, France, Canada, Italy and Spain have been workshop destinations.
Joe Anna’s love of flower painting and her dedication to painting en plein air make her the perfect choice to lead Plein Air South America’s journey to paint “Volcanoes and Roses” of Ecuador.
This all inclusive painting excursion workshop is limited to 12 participants and a limited number of non painting companions: Included is all in-country transportation, accommodations, meals (unless you decide to go out on your own,) fees for group scheduled activities, and solvent.
Fees, payments and conditions: a deposit of $1000 and signed registration form will hold your place. Deposits are refundable until 6 months prior to commencement date. After this date, fees will be frfunded to the participant ONLY if his or her place in the workshop can be filled. Every effort will be made to fill the vacancy. Refunds will be less a $100 administration fee.
A second payment of $1000 will be due February 29, 2012.
The balance due for the workshop is $1100 and will be due June 29, 2012.
Participants are responsible for booking their own travel arrangements to Quito, but we will be happy to steer you to the great airfares and mileage deals we are aware of. We will individually meet you at the Quito airport and take over from there.
It is strongly advised that the participant purchase travel insurance.
In the event of cancellation of the workshop by Plein Aire South America, full refunds will be given. Class must have a minimum of 10 participants 6 months prior to class commencement in order to proceed as scheduled. In the unlikely event of cancellatoin by named teacher, he or she will be replaced with the most qualified substitute available and participant will be notified of the thange. Plein Aire South America reserves the right to change any herein stated arrangements as may be necessary to best serve the participants of this workshop.
