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Paint Wisdom ITALY

WEEK-LONG PAINTING INTENSIVE FOR WOMEN ARTISTS EAGER TO DEEPEN THEIR PRACTICE IN INSPIRING PUGLIA, ITALY!

May 25 - 31, 2025 | 3 SPACES LEFT!

a sanctuary for women artists

EMBARK ON A TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY WITH PAINT WISDOM ITALY, A SANCTUARY FOR WOMEN ARTISTS FIERCELY DEVOTED TO THEIR CREATIVE PRACTICE.

Immerse yourself in a week of creative exploration, where you'll stoke your artistic fire, nourish your body, and delve deep into your painting practice, held by the beauty of Puglia, Italy and the warm camaraderie of fellow creatives. Leave with a body of work that makes your cells sizzle, a deeper connection to your creative practice, a well nourished Artist Soul, and a yearning to keep painting!

While similar intensives are more like an “art vacation,” Paint Wisdom Italy welcome artists who are serious about their creative practice and have confidence to create a body of work independently.

WHY ATTEND PAINT WISDOM ITALY?

Paint Wisdom Italy offers a unique opportunity to transform your artistic practice and dive deeper into your creative journey. Here’s are some reasons why you should join us:

  • Strengthen Your Artistic Voice: Gain clarity and confidence in your unique visual language, style, and voice.
  • Explore New Perspectives: Discover fresh ideas and approaches by changing your location and integrate them vibrantly into your art.
  • Build a Body of Work: Focus intensely on creating a cohesive body of work that vibrates with meaning and depth.
  • Take Creative Risks: Step out of your comfort zone and embrace experimentation in a supportive environment.
  • Overcome Creative BlocksGet unstuck, back in the groove if you’ve lost it, and learn to embrace and navigate fear.
  • Transform Your Practice: Shed old creative skins and engage in the messy, blessed work of becoming the artist your soul is calling you to be.
  • Feel Seen & Understood: Build meaningful relationships and share experiences with other dedicated women artists who understand and inspire your creative journey.

At Paint Wisdom Italy you will receive an over-abundance of studio time, individualized mentorship, and an inspiring environment to create in. Through thoughtful feedback, soulful discussions with like-minded women, and guided meditations, you'll feel both supported and challenged creatively.

TESTIMONIES FROM ARTISTS LIKE YOU

I would recommend the Paint Wisdom Intensive — no hesitation. Absolutely. It’s a week of small group mentoring and holding open a clearer and more expansive connection to your artist’s soul. — Anne Gaffney., Wisconsin, USA

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Paint Wisdom is hard to put into words. "Wonderful, great, uplifting, and supportive" don’t quite capture it. Paint Wisdom is all those things and much more—something deep inside that's hard to express but full of joy. — Diana C., Texas, USA

Thank you Connie. I always feel I grow as an artist when I attend one of your intensives. I loved it! The connections you make with the other artists stay with you. And as always, the reflection opportunity on our final day was so insightful. Looking at the body of work I created during the retreat was invaluable. I saw themes and connections between pieces that I hadn't realized were there. — Maureen Kelly, Alaska USA

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LISTEN TO THE WHISPERS OF YOUR ARTIST SOUL

What You Will Receive At Paint Wisdom Italy

INDIVIDUALIZED MENTORING

Two Months Before Departure: Mentoring begins with a self-guided online mini-workshop to kickstart your creative process. This session will help you dream into your body of work, select materials, initiate any necessary research or sketching, and provide valuable guidance on packing and preparing for your Intensive.

During Paint Wisdom: You can anticipate individualized one-on-one and group mentoring designed to support and challenge you. These sessions aim to help you breathe life into your body of work, enhance your skills, and create art with deeper meaning.

As Your Mentor: My expertise lies in meeting each artist where they are and nurturing their growth and expansion into the artist they aspire to be. My goal is for you to depart with a body of work brimming with freshness, vitality, and uniquely your own.

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I warmly recommend Connie's intensives because they are pure magic! Every time I participate in one, I walk away feeling deeply nourished. Connie is an alchemist who will help you expand your relationship to your own visual language and show you how to extract it's treasures like never before! Every time I work with her, she blows my mind! She is the teacher you need to help you tap into your true, raw and genuine self expression. With her guidance and her mentoring, you will get connected to your artist soul in the most fulfilling way possible. — Mylène Piché., Quebec, Canada

An OVER-ABUNDANCE OF STUDIO TIME

At Paint Wisdom, your studio is conveniently located just outside your room with 24-hour access. Each day kicks off with a guided painting session before breakfast. Following breakfast, the morning is dedicated to workshops, painting, and mentoring.

After lunch, the afternoon will include open studio time and we'll be breaking up the energy with casual visits to the natural sites nearby such as the local beach where there are flamingos. During the afternoon I'll be spending some quality one-on-one time with you as well to discuss your work.

Each day concludes with opportunities to discuss and reflect on your body of work before heading to dinner, indulging in a massage, taking a leisurely stroll, or simply enjoying more studio time.

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COMMUNITY OF KINDREDS

At Paint Wisdom you will be immersed in a community of artists who share your dedication to their painting practice and are eager to delve deeper. Our inspiring discussions will center on art, creativity, expanding our body of work, and navigating the highs and lows of the artist's journey.

At Paint Wisdom I too will be working on my own body of work alongside you. So, expect plenty of late-night painting sessions and intimate glimpses into my own creative process as well.

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Painting alongside like-minded artists in community is a gift of time and creativity you give to yourself. With Connie's supportive wisdom and enthusiasm, you'll pursue your own work, which becomes interwoven by emotion, color, and design as your story, vision, and artistic voice unfold. Connie serves as a mentor, offering advice when needed and knowing just when to push you further along your journey. — Sharla Hicks, California, USA

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CHOICE OF SINGLE OR DOUBLE OCCUPANCY SUITES & YOUR OWN Studio Space

Each of the rooms at Masseria Specula are uniquely renovated and depending on the room you choose come with a single or double bed. Each room has WiFi, towels, toiletries, a hair drier, heating and air conditioning.

For Paint Wisdom Italy you have a choice between single or double occupancy based on availability and 24 hour access to the painting studio.

FOOD ITALY
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FRESH MADE VEGETARIAN MEALS & TWO NIGHTS ON THE TOWN!

At Masseria Specula, they’re lucky to have three Puglian women cook the authentic Italian recipes that their mothers taught them. To help minimize the impact on the environment, all meals are vegetarian.

We'll be dining in a beautiful hall with a view of the sea and each night enjoying a glass of regional wine.

Two of the nights we'll take a 30 minute drive into the nearby town and dine out in a few popular restaurants with the locals.

Start that body of work you've been yearning to create!

Paint Wisdom Schedule

 MONDAY, MARCH 17

Receive access to the online mini-workshop that will help you prepare for Paint Wisdom Italy.


  Sunday, May 25

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM  Dinner, Orientation & Studio Set-Up

MONDAY, May 26 - THURSDAY, May 29

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Guided Painting Practice
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM  Breakfast
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM Workshop / Mentoring / Painting
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Lunch & Break
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Open Studio and casual visits to natural sites
7:00 PM Dinner

FRIDAY, May 30

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Guided Painting Practice
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM  Breakfast
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Workshop / Mentoring / Painting
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Lunch & Break
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Visions & Closing
7:00 PM Dinner

SATURDAY, May 1

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Breakfast
10 AM
 Check-Out

Please note that the schedule above may shift slightly to support the innate flow of the group energy and to accommodate any unexpected things that may pop up.

NOURISH YOUR ARTIST SOUL

IS PAINT WISDOM RIGHT FOR YOU?

PAINT WISDOM IS PERFECT FOR...

  • Artists in search of mentorship that fosters authenticity, honesty, and vulnerability in their art. At Paint Wisdom, you'll receive INDIVIDUALIZED guidance and mentorship to develop a body of work that not only enhances your artistic practice but also nurtures a deeper relationship with yourself as an artist. Your creations will reflect, explore, and draw inspiration from themes that hold personal significance to you.
  • Artists  yearning for dedicated time to delve deeply into their creative process, and the space to allow their work to unfold naturally at its own cadence and rhythm.
  • Artists comfortable with independently crafting a body of work, familiar with generating their own ideas, setting creative goals, and selecting materials. However, they yearn for the magical experience of creating in community in a picturesque setting and dream of having support.
  • Artists who fiercely love painting and are committed to continuous growth and evolution in their artistic journey.
  • Artists who embrace experimentation, taking risks, and seek-out the awe and wonder found in their creative process.
  • Artists who find value in guided visualizations and contemplative journaling, using these tools to deepen their connection with their work and nurture their imaginative spirit.
  • Artists who believe there is more to making art than just creating pretty pictures —they prefer to linger in the deeper currents of their creativity.

PAINT WISDOM IS NOT WELL SUITED FOR...

  • Artists at the beginner level. Participants should have a minimum of 3 years of experience in art-making and feel adept at working independently.
  • Artists seeking an art vacation filled with site-seeing and numerous tourist activities. Paint Wisdom is a painting intensive held in an inspiring environment, where all our time and energy is focused on creating a body of work. We’re going to PAINT-EAT-SLEEP-REPEAT!
  • Artists seeking technical or step-by-step instruction or aiming to emulate Connie's artistic style.
  • Artists who solely turn to art as a means of coping with life's challenges or processing emotions. While Paint Wisdom is inherently healing, it is not intended as a therapeutic space for addressing trauma or deep emotional issues.
  • Artists who pursue art primarily as a hobby or leisure activity. Paint Wisdom delves deeply into the context and significance of our art within our creative journey. Those without an established creative practice may find the retreats overwhelming.
  • Artists who shy away from engaging in meaningful discussions on art or participating in guided visualizations.
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REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Puglia, Italy | May 25 - 31, 2025 | 3 SPACES LEFT! | $4850 USD

Paint Wisdom Italy SOLD-OUT in an amazing 48 hours to my waitlist and alumnas alone!   To my delight, the owners of a nearby villa located a super quick walk from Masseria Specula, opened up some AMAZING additional spaces to accommodate my painters!! 

EACH SPACE AT THE VILLA COMES WITH:

⭐️ YOUR OWN PRIVATE BEDROOM
⭐️ FULL SIZE BED
⭐️ SHARED BATHROOM (2 PEOPLE MAX)
⭐️ SHARED LIVING SPACE (2 PEOPLE MAX)
⭐️ SHARED SWIMMING POOL (2 PEOPLE MAX)

All meals, studio, and workshops are located at
Masseria Specula just a quick walk away!

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BELOW ARE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE VILLA YOU WILL BE STAYING AT

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$4850 | PRIVATE BEDROOM | SHARED BATHROOM | SWIMMING POOL

YOUR DEPOSIT IS NON-REFUNDABLE & NON-TRANSFERABLE.
YOUR FINAL BALANCE OF $2850 IS DUE ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 28TH.

PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE CAREFULLY BEFORE REGISTERING.
YOUR DEPOSIT ACTS AS AGREEMENT TO THE TERMS & POLICIES  LISTED BELOW.

ALL ROOMS AT MASSERIA SPECULA ARE SOLD OUT!

SOLD OUT SINGLE

3 SINGLE OCCUPANCY ROOMS
FULL-SIZE BED | PRIVATE BATHROOM
SOLD OUT!

SOLD OUT Semi Private

2 DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS

FULL-SIZE BED + TWIN-SIZE BED | SHARED BATHROOM
SOLD OUT!

SOLD OUT STANDARD

1 DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
STANDARD ROOM

2 FULL SIZE BEDS | SHARED BATHROOM
SOLD OUT!

PLEASE READ THE IMPORTANT INFO BELOW BEFORE REGISTERING

YOUR DEPOSIT ACTS AS AGREEMENT TO THE TERMS & POLICIES  LISTED BELOW.

WHY I CREATED PAINT WISDOM ITALY...

At the spry age of 24, I snagged a shockingly cheap $300 roundtrip ticket to Italy. Armed with nothing but a backpack, I embarked on a solo month-long adventure, determined to see in person all the art I had studied so diligently while earning my art degree.

I bunked in hostels, filled two journals with musings and sketches, feasted my eyes on every painting possible, and—after my funds finally fizzled—I reluctantly headed back home.

There are a million reasons why I fell in love with Italy, but in my heart she will always be where I birthed my Artist Soul.

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I remember with vivid clarity that morning atop Florence's Duomo, making a vow to forever heed the whispers of my sweet Artist Soul. I can still see that day in bright colors—the outfit I wore, the look of the sky. Even the transformation I felt as I spiraled down the ancient stairwell of that magnificent cathedral.

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From that moment on, my life and career as an artist have danced to the tune of my soul’s whispers and have been tethered tightly to my painting practice.

In May of 2025, I'm making my grand return to Italy, my first visit back since that transformative jaunt.

Furthermore, I am making it a sacred pilgrimage, as it will occur just months before I turn 50. It feels fitting to invite my beloved painters to join me for my first-ever Paint Wisdom Italy.

To be honest, this is something I've been dreaming of for years. I spoke with numerous venues, but none felt like a vessel strong enough to hold the sacredness of this Paint Wisdom journey... until, magically, Carlo from Masseria Specula in Puglia, Italy, approached me.

Masseria Specula is a renovated ancient farmhouse located on 20 hectares of private land in Puglia, right in the heel of Italy's boot! Carlo won my heart with his mission to create a venue that positively contributes to humanity and the environment. They grow their own food, use solar power, conserve the land as gently as possible, and recently added 20 bee hives.

Plus, what made me even more giddy is that they are building a beautiful art studio there following my recommendations — yes, can I get a HOT DAMN!

Hit play on the video below and take a peek at this incredible venue.

I can barely believe that this sanctuary is going to be all ours for one whole week — a true haven for us to sink deep into our creative process, quiet enough for us to hear our Artist Souls, and expansive enough to express the parts of ourselves that are ripe and ready to be seen — to be felt — to be fully alive.

Paint Wisdom Italy is NOT an "art vacation". We won’t be running from one tourist attraction to the next. Instead, this is an opportunity to sink into your creative process and receive individualized mentorship from yours truly, while being in the warm company of kindreds.

Plus, what makes this Paint Wisdom extra special is the opportunity to commune with this incredible landscape. Together we’ll connect with the earth beneath our feet—grounding into the land for support, feeling inspired by the breeze on our faces, sending our dreams into a sacred fire, and releasing our fears into the sea — all as we make our way through the cycles of a body of work.

If you are a woman artist yearning for a sacred pilgrimage to the depths of your Artist Soul, I invite you to join me at my first ever Paint Wisdom Italy.  It's going to be special in ways we aren't even aware of yet.