Testimonial

TUSCANY

        

         I participated in Tjasa's Tuscany workshop October 
        2007. It was the MOST enjoyable experience on so many levels. Sometimes 
        I feel like I am a professional student. I have taken art classes for 
        the last 17 years at the university level, community college, local art 
        community centers and have participated in other plein air workshops. 
        (I have sold and continue to sell many of my paintings.) Tjasa's workshop 
        is one of the best. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give her about a 12. 
        No kidding. 

        Painting 4 hours a day, going to museums, touring the countryside, going 
        for fabulous, interesting, beautiful hikes, eating local cuisine (and 
        sometimes at local restaurants where tourists don't go - so fabulous) 
        and the slides in the evening were the right balance for one of the best 
        weeks of your life. And wait did I say - the place where we stayed, San 
        Donato, was perfect. (I thought I had died and gone to heaven). Sounds 
        like I am gushing or going overboard with enthusiasm here, but actually 
        I am holding back. There we six of us in the group - and we all felt the 
        same.

        Also I would like to add what a kind, warm, intelligent person Tjasa Iris 
        is. Her knowledge of art, culture, and languages easily and effortlessly 
        flow from her to you. 

        I feel very fortunate that I chanced upon this workshop (while looking 
        on the internet..) and can't wait for the spring and Tjasa's next workshop!

        Mary Pat Fuchs mpfuchs123@aol.com

 
PROVENCE & TUSCANY

I have attended both the Tuscany and Provence workshops with Tjasa and would highly recommend them to aspiring artists! She was very professional and organized throughout our tours. Tjasa provided us with our supplies, a well-rounded tour with sidetrips to nearby places of interest, delicious local food (all with 3-5 courses!), and a chance to improve our painting skills. The afternoon slideshows provided chances to see master painters' work, and to discuss the elements of art, which ultimately improved our own work. I have made a life-long friend or two from the trips, and cherish them, as well as have great memories of my summer trips with Tjasa. I am hoping to go to the Slovenia tour next year! Janet Dunn
Escondido, California, USA

 
Tjasa got a new last name IRIS in 2006. At origin her last name was Demsar.

PROVENCE
 
"Tjasa's evening slide lectures would leave me with so much to think 
about it was hard to sleep."
 
"This workshop has an excellent focus on color. Tjasa's lectures on 
color covered artists from 100 years ago, through today. Her unique 
presentation could have only been created by an artist who both loves 
and understands color."
 
"My mother and I took the course together. What a wonderful time we 
had. Tjasa would lecture in the evening, filling our artistic souls 
with new ideas. Then each morning she would take us to an ideal 
location to paint. It was a great combination of new ideas in the 
evening, followed by time to paint the next day to work through the 
information in our own way. Any did I mention the dinners? Tjasa 
treated us to a lovely meal each night in local restaurants... I can 
still taste the panna cota!
 
My best, Lisa
 
Lisa Lala
1216 West 73rd St
Kansas City Mo 64114
USA
816-333-8181
 

photo of Susan Lala painting at the garden of Van Gogh’s hospital at Arles

PROVENCE

My daughter and I spent 2 weeks in France on a painting holiday.

This included a delightful week studying with Tjasa Demsar.

My daughter Lisa Lala is a career artist in the United States and I also

sell my painting in several locations through out the country of Belize

where my husband I have made our home for many years.

Lisa paints in oil and I in watercolor but we each explored using acrylics

during Tjasa's workshop.

Tjasa's painting locations and hotels were well thought out. And we

enjoyed the evening dinners with good food in interesting restaurants.

We found the evening classes, especially the slides carefully chosen to

illustrate each subject, extremely valuable. Tjasa's strong art

educational background has has given her a strong background her

for teaching. Her organizational skills were also important to this plein

air workshop that flowed smoothly.

I would definitely enjoy taking another workshop with Tjasa.

Susan Lala

Belize and Kansas City

 
 
TUSCANY
 Tjasa, thank you for a most wonderful painting holiday in Tuscany!  I
have never been so inspired to paint before in my life.  On this trip, I did
over a dozen paintings that were worthy of framing.  My textured version of
the "Church at San Donato" is one of my best works.
    You are a delightful person, a true lover of art, and I absolutely
enjoyed being in your workshop.  You make the plein air painting experience a
true delight and I look forward to being in another of your workshops as soon
as I can!  See you in Provence!
 
See you soon,
Joseph Fronsee
Matheus, NC
 

TUSCANY

Dear Tjasa,

I loved your workshop in Tuscany. I really benefitted from your program. I

enjoyed applying ideas that we saw in the nightly slides. While I felt free

to experiment, I did not feel that you were imposing a "technique" of

painting on me. All of the workshop participants had totally different

styles.

I have been to many workshops. I always enjoy them, but this is the first

time that I chosen to take a second course from an instructor. I am excited

to be enrolled in your Provence workshop. I'll see you in May!

Thank you,

Maggie Waller, Tulsa, NC

TUSCANY

I enjoyed my painting classes in Tuscany with Ms.Demsar. The classes were
very helpful, the walks she organized  on the landscape were very beautiful.
It was very comfortable and relaxing, her lunches included viewing slides and
learning from her about so many famous artists and their techniques it was
very inspiring and informative.
 I learned a lot and at the same time relaxed and enjoyed the food at the
farm where we stayed, the nearby towns and trips to Sienna and Chianti region
were enjoyable and very well planned.
I would like to join Ms. Demsar on her week in Provance and hopefully at
other locations later on. I plan to keep in touch with her and travel, learn
and enjoy all the destinations she has chosen. 
 
Alex Castro, San Diego, CA

VENICE

The Venice workshop was a wonderful mix of painting, visits to galleries and museums, and discussions with slides. Tjasa knows all the best of Venice and loves to share it.

Kay Etheridge, Gettysburg, PA

VENICE

This trip was first lovely - fun - food - shop and paint!

Babs Farries, Baton Rouge, LA

SLOVENIA

We enjoyed our Slovenian Workshop with Tjasa Demsar and would recommend it to anyone. It
was like a workshop/retreat all in one.
John and Maureen McLeod, Canada – Florida - Barcelona

PROVENCE

I was privileged last May to partiCpate in a very enjoyable workshop in Aix-En-Provence with Tjasa Demsar.  It was my friend Donna's and my first trip to France, for that matter, to Europe.  Tjasa arranged for a comfortable hotel for us in Aix.  She took us to various sites to paint and experience the area and culture.  After showing us slides of various artists in the evening, Tjasa arranged for the class to go to a different restaurant each evening, to enjoy the French cuisine and atmosphere.  We even had time to take pictures, shop, and explore on our own.

Kathy Worcester, Somers, CT

VENICE

I enjoyed Tjasa workshop immensely. She gladly shared her experience and
knowledge, and took us on great locations. Visits to museums were an added
bonus. A week well spent.

Freda Czubat, FL

TUSCANY

I had a wonderful time in Tuscany with Tjasa.  We had beautiful places to paint and wonderful people in the class.  A great time was had by all.  The "added" value was the way Tjasa arranged activities such as going to a real Italian family (150 people) party, hikes to the deserted city, and a glass (or two) of wine with the evening lectures. 

Jerry Thurman, Santa Monica, CA

SLOVENIA

Our Slovenian painting workshop experience with Tjasa Demsar at Makek farm was one of the most delightful painting and travel experiences of our lives!  Tjasa's relaxed and professional teaching style combined with the extraordinary hospitality of the Skuber family, in an awesome mountain setting, created a distinctive Slovenian encounter.

    Our excursions to Ljubljana and Bled with Tjasa enriched our experience by exposing us to the art, culture, and  history of this fascinating country.

    The opportunities for casual strolling around the farm and in the charming nearby town or serious hiking on the mountain were a welcome daily necessity after enjoying Irena's delicious home cooking.

    We heartily recommend this workshop experience!

                                                       John and Mirjam Ahladas

Ashland, Virginia

SLOVENIA

I have joined Tjasa's work shop in the Slovenian Alps in August 2002 in order to get a hands on experience in painting landscapes in the open air. 
This course has been highly beneficial to me in many ways, as I have gained lots of very useful training on how to approach different techniques and colours. 
Tjasa is a well organized and knowledgable tutor whom I really enjoyed spending time with. My stay on the holiday farm has also triggert a profound friendship 
with all members of the wonderful family Skuber and I can only highly recommend their warmth and humor.
Annett Bank -
studying for a Degree BA (Hons) in fine Art painting at Northbrook 
College 
West Sussex in England.

www.annettbank.com

PUGLIA

The warm hospitality, excellent food and wine, as well as the beautiful scenery made the painting workshop in Southern Italy a truly incredible experience. The knowlege I gained about art, culture and history of Southern Italy has been a true asset to my career as an art teacher. I would recommend this program to anyone with a wonderful sense of adventure and a desire to explore a beautiful part of the world.

David Hart, Minneapolis, U. S. A.

TUSCANY

Dear Tjasa,

I loved the time I spent at your painting workshop in Tuscany! The village in which we stayed will remain one of my most favorite places in the world. The workshop was a perfect combination of amazing food, great wine, education, incredible views, and lots and lots of painting! I think your instruction was a nice balance of  information, encouragement, and guidance while still allowing me the freedom to pursue my own direction. Relearning some of the fundamentals of painting was a great way for me to improve my skills and I returned home with a newfound appreciation for the landscape and a renewed energy for the artists life.

Thank you!
Pam BergLundh
Seattle, Washington USA

Elizabeth Kreumpelmann listed my Landscape – Painting Workshops and my web site artw.org in her

GLOBAL CITIZEN BOOK: A Guide to Creating an International Life and Career

Ten Speed Press, July 2002

Some of the articles published on my workshops in Tuscany:

Travel magazine from U.K.

http://www.travelmag.co.uk/features/feat29.htm

Mad dogs breakfast travel magazine from Australia

http://www.maddogsbreakfast.com.au/mdb/txt/art/art63.shtml

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