Sun, Sep 26
|Marsala, Sicily
Ellen Eagle: Luminous Presence —Pastel Portrait Painting from Life
A rare opportunity to study pastel portrait painting from life with Ellen Eagle, one of America’s most acclaimed pastel portrait artists. Learn how to see more deeply, work more sensitively, and bring the living presence of the sitter to the page with luminous color and masterful technique.
Time & Location
Sep 26, 2027, 1:00 PM – Oct 02, 2027, 9:00 AM
Marsala, Sicily, 91025 Marsala, Free municipal consortium of Trapani, Italy
About the event
Workshop Overview
Ellen Eagle is one of America’s most respected pastel portrait artists, known for her quiet, luminous portraits drawn from life with extraordinary sensitivity. A Pastel Society of America Master Pastelist and 2024 Hall of Fame Honoree, she brings to her teaching the depth of a lifelong studio practice and the refined understanding of pastel reflected in her acclaimed book, Pastel Painting Atelier: Essential Lessons in Techniques, Practices, and Materials. In this workshop, students will explore pastel portrait painting not only as a technical discipline — with attention to surface, material, color, proportion, and mark — but as a sustained act of perception, in which the living sitter gradually reveals mood, character, and presence.
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About Ellen's Workshop in Sicily
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About Ellen Eagle
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Partners are welcome for an additional retreat fee.
What's Ellen's approach to pastel painting?
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How is the the Studio in Sicily Artist Retreats?
Participants will work in Sicily Artist Retreats’ ample, fully furnished sculpting studio, with space for focused hand-building, discussion, demonstration, and individual development. The studio is designed so artists can settle into the rhythm of serious work without the distractions of ordinary travel.
Studio lunches will be prepared by a private cook, giving participants time to rest, refuel, and return to their work without leaving the creative environment.
What Can I Expect From a Week in Sicily Artist Retreats?
Arrival day airport transfers, orientation, aperitif, and welcome dinner
Daily studio sessions with Kirsten Stingle
Guided sculpture instruction, demonstrations, and individual feedback
Private, chef- prepared studio lunches
Excursions to Stagnone Lagoon, Mozia Island, Marsala Historic Center, Erice mountain, and Segesta Greek Temple and Archeological Park,
Boutique hotel accommodations at Baglio Custera Resort with private rooms and en-suite bathrooms
Most meals and all ground transportation included
Time for rest, conversation, poolside relaxation, cultural immersion, and unhurried exchange with Kirsten and fellow artists.
Final preparation of works for later firing
Accommodations
Participants will stay at Hotel Baglio Custera, a boutique resort in the Marsala countryside nestled among olive groves, with sweeping views, luxurious atmosphere, and private rooms with en-suite bathrooms.
Cuisine
In Sicily, food is part of the experience. Guests will enjoy fresh, seasonal, garden-to-table meals rooted in the flavors of western Sicily, with menus designed to be vegetarian or pescatarian. Studio lunches will be prepared by a private cook, allowing artists to relax, gather, and return easily to their work. Dinners will include meals at award winning Baglio Custera restaurant, local eateries, a seaside pizzeria, and a special evening with folkloric dancers.
Traveling with an Accompanying Guest
Accompanying guests are warmly welcome for an additional retreat fee. While studio instruction is reserved for registered workshop participants, guests may enjoy the beauty and comfort of the retreat experience, including shared accommodations at Baglio Custera, scheduled excursions, airport transfers, and time to relax by the pool or explore the surrounding area.
This is a wonderful option for a spouse, partner, or friend who would like to experience Sicily alongside you while you take part in the workshop. Guests will be included in group dinners, cultural outings, and excursions to sites such as Mozia, Marsala, Erice, Segesta, and Donna Franca Winery.
Payment Options
Retreats are paid in full at the time of booking. For guests who prefer to spread payments over time, flexible payment options such as Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm “book now, pay later” services are offered at checkout.
These payment options are provided through third-party payment platforms and are subject to their approval, terms, and availability. All bookings remain subject to Sicily Artist Retreats’ cancellation and refund policies.
WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP
Harsh Agrawal
Plein Air Painting in Sicily
WHEN
September 20-26, 2026
WHERE
Marsala, Sicily.
TYPE
Hosted Artist Retreat
About the workshop
This September in western Sicily, Harsh Agrawal leads a plein air painting retreat for artists ready to work outdoors with more clarity, speed, and confidence, reading the light, simplifying the scene, and capturing the atmosphere before the moment is gone.
This field-based art workshop is set in one of the most stunning landscapes in the Mediterranean. You will discover Sicily's lagoon and salt flats, windmills, ancient temples, stone streets, harbors, vineyards, and sea light, with Harsh teaching you how to simplify, compose, and paint the moment in front of you.
Harsh is best known for watercolor, but this workshop welcomes watercolor, gouache, oil, acrylic, pastel, and drawing media. The teaching is built around plein air process, not a single medium: how to see clearly, edit boldly, organize values, and respond to changing light.