Mixed Media Art Workshop in Sicily, Italy with Mary Beth Shaw
An eight-night mixed media journey through Sicily with Mary Beth Shaw.
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Overview
An eight-night mixed media journey through Sicily — three nights in vibrant Palermo, then five days settled into the baroque beauty of Ragusa Ibla. Mornings typically belong to the day’s outing — a market, a hilltop town, a countryside walk — on foot or by private mini-bus depending on the day. The group usually returns to the hotel by early afternoon for a mixed media session with Mary Beth, generally two to three hours. Evenings are looser: a welcome dinner, an aperitivo, an evening in a nearby village, or simply free time to explore or rest.
Sicily rewards a slower pace. Markets, hill towns, chocolate, olive oil, a countryside walk to an ancient necropolis — each day adds new material to draw from, and Mary Beth’s sessions turn that material into something on the page before the impressions fade. Art here is woven through the day rather than the day built around it.
The Creative Experience
This is a mixed media program, built around collage, paint, found materials, and whatever the day’s travels hand you. Sessions are held at the hotel, in a shared space with table room for the group, materials packed up after each sitting. Mary Beth’s sessions draw directly from that day’s outing — a market walk, a hilltop town, a countryside trail — translated into layered, personal pages. By the end of the week, your journal reflects both your own creative growth and the spirit of the island.
This Vacation Includes
- Art Workshop Program: Daily art class with Mary Beth Shaw
- Blue Walk Tour Program: Daily excursions to discover authentic Sicily
- Hotel Accommodations: Three nights at our 4-star, centrally located hotel in Palermo’s historic center
- Hotel Accomodations: Five nights at our 4-star property centrally located in Ragusa Ibla’s historic center
- Daily Breakfast: Full buffet breakfast daily
- Welcome Lunch
- Farewell Dinner
- Food Tour: Discover the culture and history of Sicily through its amazing food. Our local guide and chef will walk us through the historic markets and introduce the best tastes of Sicily.
- Villa Romana del Casale
- Modica Chocolate Tasting: When we visit this beautiful town of Modica, we will learn about the famous treat it is famous for.
- Olive Oil Tasting
- Guided Countryside Tour: Our local guide will take us through the verdent countryside to the fascinating pre-historic Necropolis of Pantalica site.
- Transfers: All transfers per the intinerary, Ragusa hotel to Catania airport
- Gelato!
- Taxes and fees: Hotel taxes and fees included
What's Not Included
- Airfare
- Porterage of luggage
- Tips and gratuities
- Meals not mentioned
- Airport transfer : Palermo to hotel
- Travel insurance
- Art Supplies
About YourArtist-Teacher
Mary Beth Shaw
Mary Beth spent eighteen years in the insurance industry before leaving in 2000 to reignite a childhood love of art. She started with collage paintings, and these days works primarily in her travel journal. She’s a full-time painter and author. Mary Beth is also the founder of StencilGirl Products. She’s written two books: Flavor for Mixed Media and Stencil Girl.
She’s an intensely sensory traveler, and her surroundings — a tree root, the sound of waves, light falling across a path — shape her work directly wherever she goes. “Doing an Art Walk is perfect for me,” she says, “because my surroundings tend to influence me quite a bit.” Her top priority as a teacher is helping guests find their own creative voice rather than imitating hers.
Day by DayYour Itinerary
Programs are subject to change. Actual daily schedule may differ.
Day 1 · Arrivals
Gather at the hotel in Palermo’s historic center for orientation, followed by a short neighborhood walk to get acquainted with the surrounding streets. An optional aperitivo caps off the evening.
Day 2 · Palermo Markets
A morning visit to Palermo’s historic flea market, a lively maze of antiques and everyday treasures. The first art class follows back at the hotel, and the day closes with a festive welcome dinner.
Day 3 · Monreale
A morning visit to the hilltop town of Monreale for its cathedral mosaics and cloisters, followed by a relaxed lunch back in Palermo. An afternoon class draws on the day’s impressions.
Day 4 · Villa Romana del Casale
Travel by private mini-bus to the ancient mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale, followed by a countryside lunch at a favorite agriturismo. The group continues on to Ragusa Ibla, checking into the hotel and settling in with a relaxed art class on property.
Day 5 · Modica and Scicli
A day trip to Modica, a Baroque town known for its centuries-old chocolate tradition, with time to explore and a chocolate tasting. Late afternoon brings a class inspired by the day, and the evening includes an outing to the village of Scicli.
Day 6 · Ragusa Superiore
A leisurely stroll from the hotel up to Ragusa Superiore, taking in cobbled stairways and sweeping views along the way. An afternoon class with Mary Beth draws on the textures and layered architecture of the town, with the rest of the day free to relax, explore, or continue working in your journal.
Day 7 · Sortino Countryside
A guided countryside walk to the Necropolis of Pantalica, a UNESCO-listed valley carved into limestone cliffs, followed by an olive oil tasting near Sortino. An afternoon class translates the day’sSo impressions into the journal.
Day 8 · Ragusa Ibla
A leisurely morning stroll through Ragusa Ibla, followed by a final art class with Mary Beth. A show-and-share aperitivo celebrates the week’s work, and a farewell dinner closes the trip.
Day 9 · Departures
Check out and board the private mini-bus for the group transfer to Catania Airport.
A Note on Pace
View MapWhere in the World?
The trip begins in Palermo and ends in Catania. We recommend an open-jaw itinerary, flying into Palermo (PMO) and out of Catania (CTA). Arrive in Palermo no later than mid-afternoon on Day 1, or the day before if possible. The group transfer arrives at Catania Airport by 10:00 AM on departure day; avoid booking outbound flights before 1:00 PM.
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Traveled, Created, Loved It
“We were so well taken care of: I felt properly spoilt! Well organised, excellent guides and inspiring teacher in lovely company.”
Carol Ann S