2012 below

See the complete itinerary below

and baby bananas are born....

"As a teacher, it is my desire to share whatever I know about watercolor with my students - not to have them paint like me, but to enable them to express in their own individual ways. I love watercolor. I'll never completely master it - and that's the way I like it. For me, it is the joy of the process, of watching the paints move in the water and shape a painting." Jan Hart

Want to know what students say about Jan as a watercolor teacher?

Click here.

in the USA, 2011

Fall in the Southwest and California

"El Paragua Fall", watercolor, 2009

Scarlet Macaw Watercolor sketch, 2010

ink and watercolor

 

Española, New Mexico wait list only.

Back to my New Mexico home land for a 4-day workshop which will include some new exercises for as well as LOTS OF COLOR and some more tricks! Let's learn the Dancing Stroke, Finish Glazing, Guiding the eye with color, etc.!

Painting Life in Watercolor! We'll do it both ways - jumping in without planning to experience the thrill of the direct approach, adjusting as we go AND planning with drawings and value sketches. We'll paint LIFE - in the form of animals and/or people - and explore new ways to paint skin, feathers, fur, fins and scales!

Española, New Mexico October 3,4,5,6 2011 Waiting list only

• Española Valley Fiber Arts Center on Oñate Street, downtown Española
• Special Emhasis for this Workshop: We'll paint two ways! Jumping in without planning to exercise our instincts, going with the flow AND Planning with value / composition studies.
• $360 early registration fee. ($390 after July 1, 2011) Workshop limited to 12 on first come basis.
  • Contact Jan here for more information and to register. Deposit $130.00. Materials list mailed out after deposit.

Española, New Mexico October 10,11,12 2011, spaces available

• Española Valley Fiber Arts Center on Oñate Street, downtown Española
• Special Emhasis for this workshop. Loose and Free Travel Sketching in watercolor and ink
• $285 Workshop limited to 12 on first come basis.
  • Contact Jan here for more information and to register. Deposit $100.00. Materials list mailed out after deposit.

 

 

San Jose, California

San Jose, California October 17 - 21, 2011

• Sponsored by the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society
• Special Emhasis for this Workshop: The subject of this workshop is based on my book - color, color relationships and pigmnts - with a special emphasis on th Primatek pigments by Daniel Smith.
• Please contact Jeanne Rousseau for more information
• jdecdesigns@msn.com or workshops@scv ws.org

 

2012

in the USA, 2012

Cloudcroft, New Mexico - July 9 - 13

Seattle, Washington July 16,17,18,19

 

 

Details coming. Feel free to email Jan for questions here

 

7-day

Exceptional Colors in Costa Rica

a Watercolor Workshop in Jan's favorite places in southern Costa Rica!

@

Papâ de Pâramo just 5 minutes from Jan's house along a rural Costa Rican road beside a river

 

$1250/person, double occupancy. Single occupancy available at additional cost.

Session 1: February 12 - 19, 2012

Session 2: March 4 - 11, 2012

 

 

Saturday, February 11, 2012 (or Saturday, March 3) Arrive in Costa Rica and over Cerro Muerte through the Cloud Forest

• Arrival of all parties to Costa Rica. We will plan to arrive in San Jose (SJO) sometime on Saturday, Feb. 11. Jan can arrange for an overnight stay at an inexpensive local B&B named Melrost - just minuts from the airport. If you stay at Melrost, you will be picked up at the airport by Barnaby or Rolando and Jan will meet you there! You'll have your evening free to let Barnaby take you to a restaurant or explore on your own. Jan will meet you at the hotel.

Day 1 Sunday, February 12 (or Sunday, March 4) Over the Cerro del Muerte Mountains to San Isidro!

• After a restful night, the sun will be coming up at 5:30 a.m - and we’ll be up for our first Costa Rican breakfast at Melrost on the upstairs deck by 8!
• We'll be set to go by 9, with our driver, Francisco taking us into the cloud forests of the 'Mountain of Death' so named for early foot travelers that died while crossing the 10,000 + ft. elevations. We'll stop to eat on top of the mountain at one of Jan's favorite places and you can try Costa Rican food to your heart's content! (included in your fee). By mid afternoon we'll be at Papas de Paramo where you can check in to your room and relax a bit. Evening will find us up at Jan's place with Frank cooking for a welcoming light dinner and drinks (included in your fee)

Day 2. Monday, February 13(or Monday, March 5) Colors, Colors, Colors!

• We'll meet for breakfast around 8 and enjoy the hospitality of our host, Estevan and the rest of th staff at Papas.
• In the studio down by the pool, our day will focus on colors! We'll look around and find some Costa Rican nature to paint, with Jan providing a slide show and a demo.
• Lunch in the restaurant at Papas.
• Afternoon to paint and relax.

Day 3 Tuesday, February 14.(or Tuesday, March 6) Happy Valentine's Day! Morning and early afternoon at Papas. Color, Light, Shade, Shadows and Reflected Light!

• We'll begin our morning with a positive critique of anything we painted yesterday - and get the valuable feedback needed to continue.
• Subject for Today will continue with COLOR as well as Light, Shade, Shadow & Reflected Light
• We may do a walk about in the gardens to look further discuss color as well as light and shadow.
• Demo and Slide show with Jan - probably bright red for Valentine's Day!!!!
• Afternoon. We may visit Liliana's orchid gardens in Rivas where we can paint some of her beautiful orchids.
• Dinner wherever you would like to go. Taxis available. Or you can choose to stay and eat at Papas.

Day 4. Wednesday, February 15 (or Wednesday, March 7) Painting Water, Costa Rican plants and animals...

• Morning in the Studio with an early morning critique from yesterday's work!
• Subject for Today Painting Water. Jan will show a slide show on the subject and do a demo.
• Late Afternoon. We'll be off in Jan's Car and taxi to Rivas, a nearby village with a spectacular walking area next to the river or to Lilian's Orchid Garden - our choice. We may sketch some there for paintings in the studio.

Day 5. Thursday, February 16 (or Thursday, March 8)The Colorful Fruits and Vegetables of Costa Rica

• Morning in the Studio with an early morning critique from yesterday's work!
• After breakfast we'll be off to the Feria in downtown San Isidro where we'll shop for some fruits and/or vegetables and/or flowers to paint! The colors and shapes are unbelievable! We may decide to go out to Frank's organic farm to fill our senses with all growing things before we return to the studio!
• Afternoon - Painting still lifes in the studio - the colors of growing things!
• Dinner wherever you'd like to go.

Day 6. Friday, February 17 (or Friday, March 9) Beach Day - or some other delight AND dealing with Greens!

• Morning in the Studio with an early morning critique from yesterday's work!
• Jan will demonstrate ways to deal with GREEN and we'll do a 'Green Exercise'
• We'll plan to eat lunch at Lenora's - at the beach!
• Also at the beach we can practice some plein aire painting on site and play in the 85 degree water!
• Dinner at La Parcela (not included in your fee) with our sarongs wrapped around our bathing suits and a flower behind each ear. Prices vary from around $8 - $20. Excellent food specializing in seafood right from the adjacent Pacific.

Day 7. Saturday, February 18 or March 10. Return to San Jose

We'll have breakfast just before we pick up the van and head back to San Jose along the coast route, arriving around noon. Those who are leaving the next day can stay at Melrost or another hotel. Jan will help with bookings but you must reserve with Katia at Melrost.

Sunday, February 19 or March 11. Fly home or stay on for more adventuring in Costa Rica.

 

Some Things to Consider.....

• This workshop is open to all skill levels with the idea that we are all somewhere in our process and learn the most in community with others! And we have more fun this way.

• Your deposit of $450 guarantees your place. A second payment of $400 is due by October 1, 2011. Your final payment of $450 is due 30 days before the workshop - or January 10, 2012.

• This workshop is open to watercolor painters only so that we can better immerse ourselves into painting and personal growth in our media. While there are no availablilities for non-painting significant others, we recommend that significant others arrange to meet up in San Jose following the workshop for some exploration of other regions in Costa Rica. We can even suggest a driver and van and some incredible places to see

 

2 weeks in Tuscany

Painting under the Tuscan Sun

Watercolor Workshop with Jan Hart in Italy

September 29 – October 13, 2012.

Two full weeks in Tuscany, at our villa, Le Casacce with our 4-course dinners and wine on the terrace, prepared for us by our chef, Endrico Casini

$3150/person, double occupancy. Single occupancy available.

 

•

 

I left Rome in August, 1986 and vowed I would return. Now, almost 26 years later I am fulfilling that promise. The colors, the tastes, sounds and light is still fresh in my memory and I look forward to meeting you there!

Fall, 2012 at “Le Casacce” near Seggiano, Tuscany, Italy
 

September 29 – October 13, 2012.  Two full weeks under the Tuscan fall sun
$3150/person, double occupancy.  Single occupancy available.

Join Jan and our host, William Sperling for two full weeks in Tuscany – to paint, dine and absorb the colors, sounds and textures of Italian hill towns and landscapes. Each plein aire morning will send us off to a selected destination for a day of painting and exploring with lunch at a local restaurant. Some days we’ll elect to stay ‘in studio’ at our villa, Le Casacce http://www.lecasacce.net/

We may also include visits to Florence, Assisi and/or Siena. During the workshop, Jan will be providing lots of information, demos and hands on help with subjects such as color, pigments, dealing with light and shadows, using and understanding perspective, architectural and landscape subjects. Her positive teaching style is geared toward individual growth and accomplishment. And each evening we’ll enjoy wine and a four course meal prepared by our chef, Endrico Casini. We welcome participants of all levels of watercolor experience as well as non-painting participants who may enjoy some cooking experiences as well as sight seeing!  Please go to Jan’s website at janhart.com to see some of her work as well as what students say about her teaching.
 
Jan’s 2008 highly acclaimed book, The Watercolor Artist’s Guide to Exceptional Colors is available in bookstores everywhere.
 
For more information and/or to register, please contact William Sperling here   And check out his website at Magic Palette and Skillet Workshops, of click this link Magic Palette and Skillet Workshops
           
          
About Tuscany and Le Casacce
Nestled in the hills of Tuscany is the large complex of Le Casacce situated near the hill top town of Seggiano. Le Casacce ( www.lecasacce.net ) consists of several buildings that house separate apartments……each with a common area that has a fire place, couch, large dresser, a table with 4 chairs and a full kitchen with utensils.  The design is typical Italian…..with tile floors, ceiling wood beams and a look of antiquity and charm.  There are two bed rooms off of the common area along with a full bath for each bedroom.  There are some twin bedded rooms…..and some double bedded rooms.  As you look out your windows you are struck with the beauty of the rolling hills where small villages can be seen in the distance. Tuscany is celebrated for its natural beauty, magnificent towns, Renaissance buildings, cathedrals, superb cuisine and the friendliest of people.  The towns and cities are living postcards where ancient ramparts encircle colorful piazzas, elegant Etruscan fountains, stately palazzo and friendly cafes.

overlooking a hill town

5-day Private Painting/Adventure Time Share Program at Casa de Corazon, Jan's place in Costa Rica

each private workshop is planned according to YOUR interests and schedule

Jan Hart’s Intensive Painting/Adventure Time Share Program

I didn't know how it would or even could happen. I wanted to build 2 little cabinas and an open studio with a kitchn so that students could come here to paint but I didn't have the money. Two 2009 Osa Peninsula workshop participants, Liza Carter and Jane Hunt, came up with this very creative idea - and the first 15 people that signed up have built the cabinas! The next 7 built the studio with its wonderful outdoor kitchen.  We’re calling it a Painting/Adventure Intensive and it is open to the next 5 people who sign up with full payment! Their contributions will finish the House remodeling projects and build a simple outdoor bathroom!  Sign up and we'll figure out WHEN!
 
The Program
Jan is offering this program in order to secure funding to now finish her open air studio/rancho at her home in San Rafael Norte near San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica.  The cabinas have been completed. The beautiful outdoor kitchen and studio space has been completed! Next part is some remodeling projects for the house interior and an outdoor bathroom!

• Program Description  This is a private painting or adventure intensive with Jan Hart to be designed by you specifically to your painting needs and desires and is available for two or three people at a time. You can join Jan in her new Costa Rica studio and experience the sweet Tico lifestyle with tropical breezes, beautiful views and Pura Vida!  This opportunity is available to the next 5 people who sign up.
  
  • 5 days/6 nights of private painting instruction.  (There will be an extra night to accommodate the day of arrival.  For example, if you arrive on Sunday, paint Monday - Friday for full days, leave on Saturday morning, that is 5 days of painting, but 6 nights of accommodations at Jan's)  The 5 days are designed as you choose. You may decide you’d like to spend all your time painting – either plein aire or in the studio. Or you may decide you’d like a combination of painting and sightseeing. You may want to include a beach visit or go to the mountains to look for the elusive Resplendant Quetzal. Both the beach and the mountains are just an hour away. Extra charges for overnight adventures requiring accommodations. All meals for 5 days.  Breakfast and lunch at Jan’s house. Dinner out at various local restaurants.  Alcohol not included. Accommodations in Jan’s Cabinas, completely finished by September 1, 2009 - each with private shower and open access to th studio and outdoor kitchen, finished in arly 2011, queen bed and private balcony. Wifi also available now!
  • All transportation while you are in Costa Rica.  You arrange your flight to and from Costa Rica. Jan will either meet you at Melrost Inn (Jan's recommended arrival venue) Jan will meet you at Melrost Inn (Jan's recommendation) in San Jose and transport you to her home and provide all transportation in San Isidro. If we go out for a day trip it is expected that you will help with gas expenses. You will return to San Jose via bus or you can make other arrangements to suit.

Cost   $1095/person.  This amount is to be paid to Jan at the time you sign up and commit for a 5 day Intensive Painting/Adventure  in Costa Rica that is to occur sometime in the next 2 years. The specific dates for your Private Intensive will be arranged between you and Jan. Due to the nature of this offer, there is no refund if you are unable to come. Jan will, however continue to honor your participation at a future date. Ideally, two or three people are invited to participate in a single time slot.

This program, at $1095, saves you at least $1000. (Compare to Jan’s normal private teaching charge of $75/hour. Private sessions 5 hours/day would cost $1875 and would not include meals or accommodations!). You can't beat this price for an all inclusive 5 days in Costa Rica with the excellence of Jan's teaching skill focused on you.  

Arlene Moreno participated in November, 2009 and says....Artists who have a sense of adventure will love the opportunity provided by Jan Hart, artist, author, instructor, at her new location in Costa Rica.  The adventure began for me when I landed in San Jose and was lovingly cared for by Katia and Rolando of the Melroast B&B, recommended by Jan.  The next day Jan drove over the mountains with her friend Linda to pick me up.  The drive was misty and rainy but that did not stop Jan from including some adventure when we went to Cartago to see the Basilica and stopped at a miradora that over looked the Orosi Valley.  Wow, it was spectacular.  
 
When we arrived at Jan's home, I was pleased with her comfy "Tico" home and amazed by my Cabina.  Oh, there are not words to describe my delight in the beautiful Cabina that I was to stay in.  So charming and well thought out from the rustic paneling, corrugated roof, floor to ceiling aqua blue tiled bathroom, to the orchid in the corner and the monkey and toucan cups set out with a french press coffee maker.  The view from the Cabina through the tree tops and over the valley were wonderful.
 
Jan and I spent lots of time talking, planning, and executing our painting projects from photos and the Costa Rican atmosphere that was all around us.  All week long I woke to early sunrises, tasty fresh fruits and Gallo Pinto, with rich and delicious local coffee to slowly savor.  Our adventures throughout the area took us to visit friends, both ex-Pats and Ticos, the mercado, the beaches, the wonderful rainforest and restaurants to enjoy delicious local dishes.  As an artist, I can say that this was a perfect trip, with enough time to paint, to tour, to relax, and to enjoy the comradarie of Jan Hart, the only artist I know who is one-with-nature in a perfect balance with her Costa Rican life.  Thanks Jan.  Can't wait for my next visit!

Jeanne Rousseau participated in January, 2010 and said...

I don’t mind saying that I was apprehensive about this trip.  I’m not fond of traveling alone and quite frankly, didn’t know Jan that well prior to the trip.  It turned out to be a most delightful week.  Jan and I got to know each other better; she introduced me to many of her Tico neighbors and friends; we painted and did a little local touring.  We explored painting on Tyvek, a new experience for both of us.  Jan spent a couple days, at my request, teaching me her style of painting—you know--those beautiful washes that glow and that wonderful “dancing brush” technique she uses in her backgrounds.  The Cabinas are wonderfully rustic and quite comfortable.  Jan was a wonderful host.  I loved hearing Sage talk all day long and I especially enjoyed the beautiful Tanagers that came to the feeder and her garden.  Of course there was the excitement of seeing the Chachalacas (large Central/South American bird) as well.  All in all, I’d say the Time Share idea was a really great idea with 100% benefit for both the giver and the receiver. 

Carolyn Worstenberg participated in April, 2011 and said...

Either a person who is new to international travel or an experienced traveler  should feel very comfortable with the authentic experience that Jan Hart has created in Costa Rica.  From the time that I left the airport in San Jose and met  my English speaking driver Barnaby and throughout the week that I was in this Spanish speaking Central American country Jan made sure that the whole trip went smoothly.  Her experiences living in Costa Rica for the last couple of years  are evident in the decisiveness with which she is able to plan out the most interesting places to visit.

With her ability to give painting guidance in a constructive and gentle way Jan works easily with beginning as well as more advanced students.  During the week I was able to improve the way I paint backgrounds, and better understand how to make the center of interest advance and the background recede.   We painted both from photographs and on location near the beach along the Pacific Ocean.  I had taken a class from Jan last fall in Espanola, but for me watercolor painting seems to be a skill that takes repeated exposure to ideas thus allowing deeper understanding over time.  Some of the ideas that I was introduced to in Espanola weren’t solidly understood.  This five day intensive workshop gave me the time with Jan that I needed to paint, receive supportive instruction, and if I chose, to repaint pictures which incorporated the suggestions that she made. I think that I made great advances in my painting skills.

 

 

looking up at Arlne in front of Cabin Oeste

 

It all began just as soon as some money came in! I called Cesar, who came with his ready smile and eager heart - and we measured out the 25 ft x 25 ft. footprint and designed in our usual manner with one sheet of paper and two pens sitting at the plastic table on my porch. I'll try to keep up with the happenings, which are sandwiched in with workshops, etc. My two workshop attendees who stayed here at my place happened to both be architects - so they got to consult on the project as well!March saw the metal framework built and April finished up the roof, with the cupola! The studio is open air and contains a full kitchen! In September, 2010 the studio structure is done and paid for! The kitchen and office began in December with a new crew - Oscar and Mario! Take a look!

 

 

The beautiful structure began to grow. Metal with supports that mimicked the heliconia metalwork on my gate. I'm loving it!

And finally, at the end of 2010 - the finish of the studio and kitchen!

The completed studio, with kitchen, partial wall overlook and beautiful mosaic tile base by Tamara!

Intensive students Diane and Jane enjoying the overlook at breakfast