2 DAY WORKSHOPS & RESIDENCIES & 8 DAY PAINTING HOLIDAY ON GOZO 

'Come and discover new ways of creative expression and innovative techniques in water-based media at a wonderful 300 year old farmhouse in the hilltop village of Zebbug Gozo.'

 

The courses are held in the beautiful surroundings of a 300 year old farmhouse located in the hilltop village of Zebbug, Gozo.

 

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS

These short but intensive weekends are ideal for all art lovers who would like to have fun with art and explore colour and different art media.At the same time the courses have been structured around the concept of gradually introducing various art materials, and methods which also help to develop semi abstract pictures that can be used as samplers for future reference. Concurrently these finished artworks serve as beautiful works of art in their own right.The workshops are held over the course of 2 days and include half board accommodation. 

 

ABOUT THE RESIDENCIES

For residencies our guests are expected to be artists with some experience and who like to work on their own initiative. As a option on some days visits to other local artist's studios and places of artistic interest can be arranged. Residencies start from 7 days to 14 days and materials can be supplied at an extra cost. Also while using the property there will either be on going courses or the artist in residence on the property to help you out with getting round the island. .

 

ABOUT THE PAINTING HOLIDAYS @ TA XMUN FARMHOUSE

Your daily lessons will commence at around 10.00 am upon arriving and setting up on the day's chosen location.

The day will be broken up for a quick packed lunch at around 12.30 pm while the painting session will then carry on until around 3.30 pm. You will be then taken for a little sightseeing and somewhere to have a tea or coffee to unwind before your return to your accommodation where you will have a chance to relax and enjoy the quiet surroundings of Ta Xmun Farmhouse and Zebbug itself. Dinner will either be at the property or at a local restaurant.

Your painting holiday has also allowed for one free afternoon on Saturday to explore Gozo on your own before your departure the following day.

 

YOUR DAILY PROGRAMME for the painting holiday - an overview

​A typical day will start with breakfast at 8.30 - 9.30am

Then painting according to weather - indoors or outdoors.

12.30/1.00 pm Light Lunch/Packed Lunch

1.30 pm - 3.30 pm more work and then reviewing the days work.

5.00 pm Free Time until supper time.

8.00 pm Suppertime.

 

INDIVIDUAL PAINTING HOLIDAYS 

We are now happy to offer individually tailored painting holidays for any number of days that you request.

We offer these holidays on a B and B basis and include a painting course designed to suit your requirements during your stay at Ta Xmun Farmhouse. Please feel free to enquire for more information on - gozopaintingholidays.com@outlook.com

 

A LINE ABOUT THE ARTIST

I have worked as a professional teacher of art, and also a professional artist for the last 30 years and have participated in over 50 exhibitions both locally and overseas. My work can also be viewed on www.wix.com/doralden/doranne-alden and you can read more about me in 'About the artist'.

 

Note -
All materials and the use of an easel can be provided for the duration of your stay on request, for a small extra fee.

 

Professional artists are also welcome - enquiries to organise their own groups are also considered but artists durning residencies are also free to use the house as a pied a terre while enjoying the half board arrangements offered for spouses or partners who do not paint. Groups are limited to max 8 persons, sharing 3 bedrooms, but couples are also welcome and accommodation will be arranged accordlingly.

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COSTS

Evening meals can also be prepared at the property but as visitors are spoilt for choice it would be a shame not to try one of the several restaurants in the nearby fishing villages of Marsalforn or Xlendi where one can choose from a variety of wonderful fish and meat dishes, or pasta and pizza too.

 

There are also a few local agri-tourism outlets, with wine tasting and sampling of the local food plus tours of their vineyards that can be included on the agenda. This can be organised on request at an extra cost.

 

For the 2 day workshops/painting holidays, the full package includes the 2 day drawing and painting workshop and 1 night accommodation at Ta Xmun Farmhouse - which also includes breakfast.

Costs for workshops - Price for the 2 day workshop - €200 (non painting partners welcome @ €95 for the weekend or any two days that the workshop is held on).

 

Residencies start from 7 nights, 10 nights and 14 nights. 

Costs for residencies - Prices start from €850 per person for 7 nights including breakfast.

- Spouses or partners (non painting) pay a fee of €550 for 7 nights - breakfast is an extra 5euros per day. 

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(Transfers from and to the airport, ferry charges etc can be arranged but at an extra cost.)

During residencies visits to local exhibitions and artists' studios can also be organised. And rebooking would be advisable to arrange the visits with the artist's studio.

Also the owner/resident artist will be living in during your stay. 

 

 

GOZO 7 DAY PAINTING HOLIDAY  

September/October/November 2022

 

Cost for 6 day course with 7 nights accommodation @ Ta Xmun Farmhouse - with transfers to and from airport, breakfast, packed lunches and dinner. Transport to locations and back, mini excursions to prime sightseeing spots and tutoring for 6 days.  €1250 per person for 7 nights - there is a supplement of €400 for a single room subject to the demand for the holiday.

 

Please feel free to enquire for further information gozopaintingholidays.com@outlook.com

 

REVIEWS

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS

“From the moment my daughters and me stepped into Ta'Xmun Farmhouse in Gozo we were overwhelmed with excitement knowing we surrounded by other artists. A sense of peacefulness and tranquillity flowed through my mind and body as I felt the urge of creativeness wanting to paint a landscape scenery on a piece of watercolour paper in bright colours! We had a wonderful, fulfilled long weekend and shall definitely come again and again. It was so much more than ‘only’ an art weekend!” - previous attendee

 

“We really enjoyed our weekend painting with Doranne in her beautiful old farmhouse. The beds were comfortable the atmosphere relaxed and friendly. It was fun to experiment and try new techniques, and to learn from Doranne’s experience and creativity” – previous attendee

 

'An Unforgettable Painting Holiday in Gozo and Malta

By Lisa Takahashi · On January 27, 2014

Doranne Alden Caruana is a Maltese born artist with over 30 years’ experience in creating and teaching art. She has a reputation for being a dedicated teacher who loves sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm while encouraging her students, by using positive criticism as her main method of teaching art – “My own work is vibrant and bold and I like to think that it is a reflection of my personality and philosophy on life. I firmly believe that, as Matisse once said, ‘There are always flowers for those who want to see them,’” she says.'

 

18/05/2014 - Residency with the artist - 

Recently, my husband and I spent a short time visiting the island of Gozo. Unfortunately we were obliged to return home early but were fortunate enough to snatch a week exploring what was for us a new part of the world. Thanks to our hostess, Doranne Alden and her family, we enjoyed many of the cultural, historic and physical beauties of this very ancient part of the world. Living in a beautiful old home, surrounded by the vibrancy of Doranne's paintings and sharing with her and her family the history of Gozo became a cultural feast for two old retired Australian visual art educators. The peace of Zebbug, the wild coastline, The imprint of the past, the mellow light of evening that softened the harsh landscape of day and the brilliant colour and warmth of welcome behind the blue door are etched in our memories. It was a sketching holiday well worthwhile.  Thankyou Doranne, Simon, Fiona and Alex 

 

Julie and Bill Hawthorn

 

About the Painting Holiday on Gozo - 11/04/14

Dear  Dora 

Thank  you  so  much  for  all  the  lovely  holiday  photos . What  happy  memories  they  bring  back !  

Once  again  very  many  thanks  for  giving  me  such  a  wonderful  holiday . I certainly  hope  to  repeat  the Malta  experience  next  year !

Hoping  you  and  Simon  have  a  very  happy  Easter 

Love

Anne 



 

A LITTLE ABOUT GOZO 



​Gozo is especially beautiful during the winter months. The weather changes around October onwards offering more comfortable temperatures suitable for outdoor painting and photography. Sometimes also still inviting enough to have a dip in the sea. Full winter weather, that is rainy dull days are usually expected from end December up to end of February. For this reason the season for Painting Holiday Season in the Maltese Islands is longer than those offered by other Mediterranean countries. The milder winter weather from March onwards offers guests more opportunities for outdoor painting and photography. 



The Maltese and Gozitan countryside is at its best right up to end of May or beginning June - Ideally March and April offer the most stunning landscape and colours, as the vast variety of wild flowers fill the countryside at the time, including so many flowering trees. Also from October onwards, right up to end of December you could also plan a painting trip during this time, as the new grass and first flowering plants begin to appear.



In Victoria, Gozo, the capital of the island, there is a daily market which is open daily up to midday - even on Sundays. There are also several shops, and cafes, not to mention the quaint winding allies and the fortified town of Citadel which is as old as Mdina. This is where one can view a 360` panoramic vista of the island of Gozo and a glimpse of Malta in the distance.