.png)
“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an
artist once he grows up.” -Picasso
Colours of Tuscany
_edited_.png)
TUSCANY, ITALY
Paint & Play
with Kato Wake
October 5-11, 2025
Make Your Deposit
Before children write, they paint.
Art is the basis of human expression.
Indulge your senses, celebrate colour, and express the beauty of the Tuscan landscape in a style that feels right for you – abstractly or realistically.
Connect with your inner child – with painting exercises, allowing time to experiment, and explore playful visual possibilities.
Art fundamentals – line, shape, color, value, and texture – will be the cornerstones to guide your compositions.
We will use acrylic paint or watercolours along with mixed media. (More info about materials upon signing up.)
All skill levels are welcome.
Kato Wake
Kato is passionate about helping students discover their creative path and has inspired hundreds of adults to paint with joy and gusto. Besides being an award winning painter, Kato is a natural teacher and makes learning FUN. Her compassionate guidance, sense of humour, and positive attitude elevates everyone's confidence. As a former graphic designer, Kato understands composition and what makes a painting work, and paints in both realistic and abstract styles. She loves teaching colour and providing ideas to experiment and in 2021 launched an online painting course Get Creative with Kato!, based on play, personal expression and understanding art fundamentals. When not painting, she composes piano music and leads wine, food, and culture tours in Europe with her life partner Billy Munnelly. Kato moved from Canada to Tavira, Portugal in late 2021 and loves her life!
ABOUT THE RETREAT
The goals of this workshop
To encourage and inspire your creative path
To increase your confidence as an artist, regardless of your skill level
To provide constructive one-to-one feedback
To offer you a holiday to remember – full of sensual pleasures and joy!
What you will learn
For more established painters: bolder brush work, mark making tools, working in a series, limited palettes, colour mixing and colour theory, problem solving, and inspirational ideas
For those new to painting: art fundamentals and composition, how to start a painting, acrylic paint 101, using mixed media, mixing paint, and colour theory
Let's luxuriate!
TESTIMONIALS FROM KATO’S PREVIOUS ART HOLIDAYS
“An Amazing Week! Being inspired by you has been a life changing experience of which I’ll forever be grateful.”
“Your patience, advice and caring personality was above and beyond what I expected.”
“The best experience ever! A perfect combination of learning and playing!
TESTIMONIALS FROM KATO'S ONLINE COURSE
"You inspire creativity and remind me that there are no barriers. It doesn’t have to be difficult. You have encouraged me to get started and try out different things!"
"I am happy and grateful to reconnect with my playful spirit and joyfully remove my overthinking cap!"
