Watercolour Making Course with Karen Bergman September 2025
Wednesday, 3rd September to Monday, 8th September 2025
About the Course
This painting and paint-making course will teach participants to make their own high-quality handmade watercolours against the rich sensory backdrop of the daily life of Castello di Potentino. Each participant will make their own watercolour paint set to take home with them, composed of pigments of their own choice bound with Potentino honey – including making vine charcoal black directly from the Castello’s vines. People of any level or artistic experience are welcome to come and learn about painting and materials. There will be ample time for guided painting in the landscape or relaxing. Come enjoy painting in Tuscany during beautiful September days surrounding the grape harvest.
KAREN BERGMAN
Karen is the Assistant Director of Interpretation and Access at the Solomon R. GuggenheimMuseum (New York, NY), where her work centers on facilitating dynamic educational museumprograms and aligning internal teams on the interpretation of all visitor-facing content.
She hasworked in education and visitor experience roles in the U.S. and Italy including at the WhitneyMuseum of American Art (New York, NY); the Gori Collection, Fattoria di Celle (Pistoia, Italy); thePhilip Johnson Glass House (New Canaan, CT); and the Biennale di Venezia (Venice, Italy).
Herlove for site-specific education grew during the years she worked for a study abroad studio artprogram in Orvieto, Italy. A trained painter, she’s passionate about the intersections of place,communication, and the senses. Her work in accessibility through description of art and architecturehas been featured in the NYT and NPR. In 2023, she was recognized with the Audio DescriptionAchievement Award and an Anthem Award.
Wednesday, September 3
- Afternoon Arrival
- Evening Wine tasting and introduction to the castle with Charlotte Horton, followed by dinner
Thursday, September 4
- Morning Guided experimental drawing, drawing techniques
- Afternoon Free time
- Evening Foraging and botanical tour of the valley, make charcoal from Potentino vines
Friday, September 5
- Morning Local pigment history, begin making watercolour set, basic painting techniques
- Afternoon Free time
- Evening Cheese making and tasting with local cheesemaker Luisa Gozzi
Saturday, September 6
- Morning Continue making watercolour set, make other historical paints with local ingredients (egg tempera, milk paint, whey paint/casein)
- Afternoon Free time
- Evening Dinner
Sunday, September 7
- Morning Guided painting in the vineyard
- Afternoon Pasta making, incorporating the ricotta we made on Friday
- Evening Homemade pasta dinner
Monday, September 8
- Morning Breakfast
- Departure
Please note: While the course is broadly outlined here, the program may change in order or detail during the week.
What’s included
- 4 full days and 5 nights
- Board and lodging at Castello di Potentino
- Meals
- All sessions and activities
What’s not included
- Flights
- Transfers to and from Potentino
Prices
Prices vary by room choice and number of guests sharing the room.
A single person is from €1,855
Two people sharing a room is from €1,530 per person.
Three people sharing a room is from €1,420 per person.
Please note (deposits and booking queries)
If you would like to pay a deposit
The payment system asks for payment in full. If you would rather pay a non-refundable 25% deposit at the time of booking, please enter the code DEPOSIT25 at checkout. The final payment will be due one month before the start of the course.
If you have any issues booking
Sometimes, it takes a few attempts to clear the cart if you need to make any changes to your room selection etc.
If you have any issues at all, please contact Heather Percival heather.percival@potentino.com
