A Week in Croatia: The Villa Gloria and the Flowers!

'Summer Meadows are Fleeting'         8x10        pastel         ©Karen Margulis
available $150

Painting is hard work. So there is nothing better than being pampered and having all of your needs met so you can concentrate on the important things....painting and sharing with friends. The workshop was based at Villa Gloria in Kukci Croatia...a small village near Porec on the Istrian Peninsula. The hotel has 16 newly renovated rooms with all modern conveniences. We were treated to three meals a day (more on this to come!) The owner Manda went out of her way to make sure we were happy. She and her staff worked hard delivering excellent service always with a hug and a smile. We felt like family.

There is something very special about having a workshop hosted at a wonderful place like Villa Gloria where all of the artists can share meals and free time with one another. We all arrived as strangers but soon bonded and left having made lifetime friendships. We all got along so well that Manda actually thought we came together as a group of friends!

a mystery underpainting from an old painting...probably an alcohol wash

I was very taken by the wildflower meadow in the back. It's funny how we gravitate to the subject that speaks to us no matter where in the world we find ourselves. The meadow was like finding an old friend in Croatia!  I decided to paint the meadow today. I pulled out an old repurposed piece of paper which most likely was some kind of alcohol wash. The reddish brown tone would be a good base for my red Istrian soil.

The little meadow behind the studio

Enjoy some photos of our home base Villa Gloria. I took hundreds so here are just a few!

Villa Gloria at sundown

The breakfast room although we always took out breakfast out on the patio

The view of the Adriatic Sea

The pool was so refreshing after a day of painting or touring

Tennis anyone?