Joanna Coke, Art Instructor
Joanna is the art instructor for Che Bella Art Journaling Tours. She brings a strong background in figurative and landscape painting, and works in acrylics, pastels, watercolors and oils. She received her Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge and has studied art abroad in Paris, Venice, Rome and Florence. In 2009, Joanna participated in a joint artists’ exhibit of American and Russia artists along with teaching workshops in Novgorod, Russia. Joanna currently teaches at Art Center Manatee in Bradenton Florida and the Venice Art Center in Venice, Florida as well as participates in numerous group and individual shows and galleries.
Joanna is the art instructor for Che Bella Art Journaling Tours. She brings a strong background in figurative and landscape painting, and works in acrylics, pastels, watercolors and oils. She received her Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge and has studied art abroad in Paris, Venice, Rome and Florence. In 2009, Joanna participated in a joint artists’ exhibit of American and Russia artists along with teaching workshops in Novgorod, Russia. Joanna currently teaches at Art Center Manatee in Bradenton Florida and the Venice Art Center in Venice, Florida as well as participates in numerous group and individual shows and galleries.
Florence & Tuscany Art Journaling with Joanna Coke
Get your art or sketching group together and schedule an Art Journaling Tour with Joanna Coke. Here is an itinerary from previous trips, but you can create you own.
Get your art or sketching group together and schedule an Art Journaling Tour with Joanna Coke. Here is an itinerary from previous trips, but you can create you own.
Day 1. Your Adventure Begins
Bienvenuti a Firenze!
There are many trans Atlantic flights that depart in the evening from the U.S. and arrive in Italy the next morning. We will help you coordinate the best route to Florence. Or you can come in a day or two before the tour begins to have a little time in Rome. We can help you make your arrangements for any pre-tour accommodations and activities you might be interested in.
Depending upon what time you arrive in Florence, you’ll have some time to store your bags before your walking orientation with your Tour Director. We’ll then get together for our Sunset Welcome Toast looking over the city and open our art journals to begin our artistic journey of Tuscany.
Tonight: Included Welcome Dinner.
Day 2. A Day in Florence
Florence is one of the most preserved Renaissance cities in the world. Boasting over 40% of the world’s great masterpieces, the city is considered the art capital of Italy. The city is compact and walking is definitely the best way to see it. Our walking tour will take us to the small, but poignant Galleria dell’Accademia. There, we’ll learn about the Renaissance, highlighting Michelangelo’s life and masterpieces, including his David, “Unfinished” Slaves and Pieta. We’ll then move on to the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore and Piazza della Signoria, finishing on the Ponte Vecchio. We’ll have time to open our sketchbooks and do studies of these timeless masterpieces. We'll use this time do our own personal studies of the iconic works capturing their dramatic gestures. Michelangelo wrote: “Let this be plain to all: drawing constitutes the fountainhead and substance of painting and sculpture and architecture... He who has attained possession of drawing possesses a great treasure.”
Lunch and the afternoon are free for you to explore more of this fantastic city. You can shop, take in the Ufizzi gallery, go to the Pitti Palace and Boboli gardens or maybe just sit in a cafe and watch the world go by. For those of you who want to add work to your art journal, join Joanna at the Pitti Palace and stroll the Boboli Gardens to capture the natural colors and unusual textures of the Grotto Buontalenti.
The afternoon is free for our guests to explore Florence. I’d like to invite you to walk with me and spend all the time you need to browse the city’s couture stores and famous San Lorenzo market, where you’ll be able to pick up a great leather jacket, stock up on colorful scarves and purses, or wander through the Mercado Centrale for typical Tuscan delicacies. And don’t forget those shoes! Or you might want to use this time to dig into the vast art collections of the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, Pitti Palace or the Medici Chapel.
You also might want to spend the day at the Boboli Gardens, the Galileo Museum, Palazzo Vecchio or go on a gelato crawl ... then burn off those calories by climbing the Duomo or Giotto’s Campanile.
Dinner tonight is on your own.
Day 3. Florence to the Villa
Joanna will be holding a morning sketching session and then you'll have some time to explore a little more of Florence before we regroup at the hotel and head to our Tuscan villa. when we arrive, you’ll have a plenty of time to settle in to your room and maybe take a swim. As the sun begins to set, we’ll enjoy a wine tasting presented by the cellar master of the villa and do a little sketching before enjoying a Tuscan BBQ.
THE VILLA. Our villa is in the hills of Tuscany near San Gimignano. It’s a beautiful location with swimming pool, sauna and steam, and air-conditioned rooms. Breakfast is included in your price. We have a private area for our Tuscan BBQ and since it is a vineyard ... wine is plentiful!
Florence is one of the most preserved Renaissance cities in the world. Boasting over 40% of the world’s great masterpieces, the city is considered the art capital of Italy. The city is compact and walking is definitely the best way to see it. Our walking tour will take us to the small, but poignant Galleria dell’Accademia. There, we’ll learn about the Renaissance, highlighting Michelangelo’s life and masterpieces, including his David, “Unfinished” Slaves and Pieta. We’ll then move on to the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore and Piazza della Signoria, finishing on the Ponte Vecchio. We’ll have time to open our sketchbooks and do studies of these timeless masterpieces. We'll use this time do our own personal studies of the iconic works capturing their dramatic gestures. Michelangelo wrote: “Let this be plain to all: drawing constitutes the fountainhead and substance of painting and sculpture and architecture... He who has attained possession of drawing possesses a great treasure.”
Lunch and the afternoon are free for you to explore more of this fantastic city. You can shop, take in the Ufizzi gallery, go to the Pitti Palace and Boboli gardens or maybe just sit in a cafe and watch the world go by. For those of you who want to add work to your art journal, join Joanna at the Pitti Palace and stroll the Boboli Gardens to capture the natural colors and unusual textures of the Grotto Buontalenti.
The afternoon is free for our guests to explore Florence. I’d like to invite you to walk with me and spend all the time you need to browse the city’s couture stores and famous San Lorenzo market, where you’ll be able to pick up a great leather jacket, stock up on colorful scarves and purses, or wander through the Mercado Centrale for typical Tuscan delicacies. And don’t forget those shoes! Or you might want to use this time to dig into the vast art collections of the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, Pitti Palace or the Medici Chapel.
You also might want to spend the day at the Boboli Gardens, the Galileo Museum, Palazzo Vecchio or go on a gelato crawl ... then burn off those calories by climbing the Duomo or Giotto’s Campanile.
Dinner tonight is on your own.
Day 3. Florence to the Villa
Joanna will be holding a morning sketching session and then you'll have some time to explore a little more of Florence before we regroup at the hotel and head to our Tuscan villa. when we arrive, you’ll have a plenty of time to settle in to your room and maybe take a swim. As the sun begins to set, we’ll enjoy a wine tasting presented by the cellar master of the villa and do a little sketching before enjoying a Tuscan BBQ.
THE VILLA. Our villa is in the hills of Tuscany near San Gimignano. It’s a beautiful location with swimming pool, sauna and steam, and air-conditioned rooms. Breakfast is included in your price. We have a private area for our Tuscan BBQ and since it is a vineyard ... wine is plentiful!
Day 4. San Gimignano and Castello Wine Tasting with Lunch
Today we visit the Tuscan town of San Gimignano, where time seems to have stood still. As you stroll through the winding streets, you’ll see what Tuscan hill towns looked like in the Middle Ages. The morning is your own to linger at a cafe or shop for ceramics, linens, olive wood kitchenware and Tuscan delicacies. We’ll meet at the panoramic overlook to work on capturing the breathtaking vista in our journals.
We’re then on for an afternoon of wine tasting and included lunch. You’ll be treated like a queen at this small, family-run winery where you will visit the cellars, historic rooms and finish in their beautiful dining room. Their best red wines are served with a traditional lunch accompanied by their own olive oil and honey. We’ll do color studies of some of the winery’s bottles and labels as well as the castle itself and the beautiful vistas that surround it. We can also stop enroute to sketch the beautiful blooming poppies and sunflowers in vibrant splashes of reds, oranges and yellows so typical of the natural beauty of Tuscany.
Remember: art is everywhere. We'll bring your journals wherever we go; we’ll be doing quick-sketches and collecting memorabilia from everywhere to be collaged into your journal.
Today we visit the Tuscan town of San Gimignano, where time seems to have stood still. As you stroll through the winding streets, you’ll see what Tuscan hill towns looked like in the Middle Ages. The morning is your own to linger at a cafe or shop for ceramics, linens, olive wood kitchenware and Tuscan delicacies. We’ll meet at the panoramic overlook to work on capturing the breathtaking vista in our journals.
We’re then on for an afternoon of wine tasting and included lunch. You’ll be treated like a queen at this small, family-run winery where you will visit the cellars, historic rooms and finish in their beautiful dining room. Their best red wines are served with a traditional lunch accompanied by their own olive oil and honey. We’ll do color studies of some of the winery’s bottles and labels as well as the castle itself and the beautiful vistas that surround it. We can also stop enroute to sketch the beautiful blooming poppies and sunflowers in vibrant splashes of reds, oranges and yellows so typical of the natural beauty of Tuscany.
Remember: art is everywhere. We'll bring your journals wherever we go; we’ll be doing quick-sketches and collecting memorabilia from everywhere to be collaged into your journal.
Day 5. L’arte di non fare niente.
L’arte di non fare niente. This is a wonderful Italian expression which translates as “the fine art of doing nothing.” On this tour, the art of doing nothing - and doing it well - is what vacation is all about. Enjoy the day relaxing. Or join our yoga class and hike. Or go into town.
Joanna, of course, will be holding both a morning and an afternoon session at the villa.
Day 6. Siena
After a morning sketching session at the villa, we’ll depart for Siena. We'll grab some lunch on the Campo and then learn about the city’s rich history, including the passion of Siena’s famous Palio horse race. This afternoon we'll capture in our journals the many neighborhood or “contrada” banners. We’ll then create a study of the magnificent black and white architecture of the Siena Cathedral. You’ll have time on your own to stroll through the winding streets and absorb the city’s rich medieval history.
We’re then on to our included dinner in Siena, to enjoy the typical, robust country cuisine of Tuscany.
Day 7. At the villa.
Think about doing a little yoga this morning and maybe a hike through the vineyards. Joanna will be available as you put the final touches into your art journal. Snacks, lunch and beverages will be provided throughout the day.
Fatto in casa - made in the house. During this private, intimate hands-on cooking lesson, we’ll prepare our farewell dinner with fresh seasonal produce and quality local ingredients.
We’ll spend the evening celebrating our new friendships, viewing our journals and sharing our unique creative entries.
Day 8. Ciao, Belle!
Early morning group departure to the Florence airport. Optional transfer services are available to Rome or other destinations if you are continuing on with your travels.
Check out a video of a previous tour Password: che bella
Contact us for more information on scheduling an Art Journaling Tour for your group!
Che Bella Art Tours. Instruction and Inspiration.
Art is all about looking more closely. Touring other cultures enlivens the senses. Learning how to see and experience it through an artistic eye heightens senses. The relationship of culture and artistry go hand-in-hand. Capturing these nuances is part of a Che Bella Art Journaling Tour.
Why were certain artworks made at that time and place? What techniques did the artists use in their works? Our art journaling tours are designed to help you learn the history behind the visual creations that surround you.
How do you capture the expanse of a sunset from a hilltop overlooking Florence with pure color washes? When do you focus on a field of sunflowers blooming in spring and then capture their delicacy to express the overall feeling of that special place? How do you capture the movement and passion of the flamenco dancer? The lifelines in the face of an old fisherman? Or the swells of the sea in just a few short brushstrokes? You'll study the masterpieces and then learn to draw something meaningful from them. Then pause just a bit longer to really feel the memory as you create in your journal.
Get your art group together and create a custom art journaling experience:
Spain
The visually exciting juxtaposition of Catholic and Moorish cultures lends itself to a fascinating study in both colors and flavors.
The Light of Paris
Paris! The City of Light. We will include private tours of the Louvre, Orsay, Je Du Pomme and the art galleries. Spend a day painting at Monet’s Garden and Giverney and Auvers sur Oise, the village where Vincent van Gogh spent his last 100 days. Go up to Montmartre and learn about the artist’s bohemian life. Do an Art Nouveau tour as well as walk the walk of the Impressionists. Sketch on the left bank and Tuilleries Gardens. Sip coffee in the same cafes as Monet and Picasso.
Other ideas for your art group
Walking with Michelangelo: The sites of Florence, Tuscany and Rome are the backdrop for creating sketching and drawing experiences inspired by the life of Michelangelo. Visit the places he lived and see the masterpieces he left behind. Go on art history tours of museums that feature his work and visit the places he lived. Participate in drawing sessions inspired by his studies.
Painting in Provence: Basing in Avignon, we will capture on canvas the small towns with their cobblestone streets, 18th century houses, flowers and doors. We will walk in the life of Van Gogh at St. Remy and Arles and drink wine while capturing the vineyards of Chateau Neuf du Pape.
Please contact us for more information.
Art is all about looking more closely. Touring other cultures enlivens the senses. Learning how to see and experience it through an artistic eye heightens senses. The relationship of culture and artistry go hand-in-hand. Capturing these nuances is part of a Che Bella Art Journaling Tour.
Why were certain artworks made at that time and place? What techniques did the artists use in their works? Our art journaling tours are designed to help you learn the history behind the visual creations that surround you.
How do you capture the expanse of a sunset from a hilltop overlooking Florence with pure color washes? When do you focus on a field of sunflowers blooming in spring and then capture their delicacy to express the overall feeling of that special place? How do you capture the movement and passion of the flamenco dancer? The lifelines in the face of an old fisherman? Or the swells of the sea in just a few short brushstrokes? You'll study the masterpieces and then learn to draw something meaningful from them. Then pause just a bit longer to really feel the memory as you create in your journal.
Get your art group together and create a custom art journaling experience:
Spain
The visually exciting juxtaposition of Catholic and Moorish cultures lends itself to a fascinating study in both colors and flavors.
The Light of Paris
Paris! The City of Light. We will include private tours of the Louvre, Orsay, Je Du Pomme and the art galleries. Spend a day painting at Monet’s Garden and Giverney and Auvers sur Oise, the village where Vincent van Gogh spent his last 100 days. Go up to Montmartre and learn about the artist’s bohemian life. Do an Art Nouveau tour as well as walk the walk of the Impressionists. Sketch on the left bank and Tuilleries Gardens. Sip coffee in the same cafes as Monet and Picasso.
Other ideas for your art group
Walking with Michelangelo: The sites of Florence, Tuscany and Rome are the backdrop for creating sketching and drawing experiences inspired by the life of Michelangelo. Visit the places he lived and see the masterpieces he left behind. Go on art history tours of museums that feature his work and visit the places he lived. Participate in drawing sessions inspired by his studies.
Painting in Provence: Basing in Avignon, we will capture on canvas the small towns with their cobblestone streets, 18th century houses, flowers and doors. We will walk in the life of Van Gogh at St. Remy and Arles and drink wine while capturing the vineyards of Chateau Neuf du Pape.
Please contact us for more information.