Jill Banks - Blog

Ten Days in Italy

9/11/2025 7:20:32 PM

Time to Return

Sunset at La Romita -- our Umbrian home away from home

It's been awhile since painting in Italy -- and I had been feeling the pull of its people, sunlight, culture and beauty.

The First International WSLP Retreat

At the beginning of the year, up popped the opportunity to join an artist retreat in Umbria for members of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters (WSLP) -- a wonderful group of outstanding artists of which I'm proud to be a member. The timing was rough -- making me miss out on many traditions -- both personal and professional. Yet, this was the first time the group was considering an overseas get together and I just didn't want to pass up a chance to get to know fellow members of this special group ... exploring great places together.

Trust My Gut? Or Take the Leap?

You know how people tell you to trust your gut? I'm leaning toward the opposite conclusion -- at least as far as doing something different goes.

The go/no go decision for Italy was so hard. Yet, it turned out to be one of my best trips. There are many other places I just wasn't sure about venturing to ... and they turned out to be wonderful. The unknown destination -- which we tend to approach with lower expectations (I had little info on where we would be exploring, who was coming, what our accommodations would be, etc.) -- often turn out the best. It opens up the chance for true discovery. That's what the Italy retreat offered ... big time!

WSLP in Italy

Because few folks lead busier lives than working professional artists who also have plenty of personal obligations, what started as a large group of wholehearted yeses and maybes -- dwindled considerably. In the end, five WSLP artists attended along with two neat spouses.

1. Trisha Adams

2. Trisha's husband, Sean Adams

3. Jill Banks (me)

4. Jill's husband, Randy Banks

5. John Eiseman

6. Vicki Blum

7. Chris Rapa

The Gang -- Chris Rapa, Sean Adams (back left), Gail (special La Romita guest), Trisha Adams (fourth from left), Vicki Blum (in blue, front), Randy Banks (hubby, behind Vicki), John Eiseman, Me (Jill Banks)

Off we headed -- flying to Rome to be picked up by the La Romita Art School bus taking us to Terni, Italy for our ten-day adventure.

La Romita

La Romita was originally a monastery. We'd be housed in something like a dormitory and share hall baths. Thus my trepidation? My pre-trip vision of that scenario was part of why my decision could have been a no go -- but reality was SO much better. Our rooms were basic but very nice with a great view out the window -- and the whole place, ancient as it was -- was spotless. The grounds were charming and beautiful. Rustic and scenic. And I absolutely loved the church turned studio with its garden beyond. Its interiors will eventually be subjects of my paintings. I ran out of time to capture them while there -- but their beauty wants my attention.

Our Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival

Settle in - lunch and dinner at La Romita

First painting in: Under the Umbrian Sun, 16 x 8 in., oil - click the image for more info. Available

Day 2: San Gemini

Painting in San Gemini in the morning, back to La Romita for lunch and the rest of the day

Toward the View - 16 x 12 in. oil -- San Gemini

I thought that my easel was positioned out of the way. I thought wrong. Spaces you don't think cars will pass through are regular thoroughfares. I did a lot of shuffling things around and hoping for the best that day.

My painting time for this and any other morning only excursions was squeezed way too tight -- generally 2 to 2-1/2 hours so it wasn't too long before the group would push for all day excursions and longer hours out there. Lunches -- great as they were -- were sure to lose out over more painting time. As Chris Rapa would explain ... "We're warriors." Painting warriors. Appropriate.

At most locations -- we would drift off on our own -- to find our kind of scene. I spent almost all my time painting while others explored more. Wish I could have done both.

Day 3: Narni

Viewed the ruins of the Ponte Augusto over the river Nera and then painted in the town of Narni.

Centro - 16x12 in, oil on linen panel

Painted on location in Narni. This is right where the bus dropped us in this extremely hilly hill town. We had about two hours before it would pick us back up -- so I picked my spot and went to work. John Eiseman was painting right nearby -- a great and unique version of the town -- minus the fountain.

Day 4: Assisi

All day -- great picturesque lunch together near the top - Bar Giardino San Lorenzo - my only non-painting day.

Day 5: Montefalco

Painting in morning. Rest of the day at La Romita. (Rest of the trip would include full-day excursions except for our last one.)

Montefalco was an incredibly charming town. I picked a spot down off the main square and literally, had three paintings I wanted to create right there. Excuse the high glare photo. There will be a better one going up under Works eventually. If I'd been left to my own transportation -- I might still be there.

Cobblestones and Blooms - 10 x 8 in., oil on linen panel

Day 6: Park of the Monsters & Lake Bolsena

We visited the Park of the Monsters at the village of Boninaco then headed to Lake Bolsena at the village of Marta for a picnic lunch and painting. (We agreed to photographing and enjoying the Park of the Monsters vs. painting there to maximize time at Lake Bolsena.)

Park of the Monsters -- a wild, vast garden of the fanciful and ominous? I took it easy on the walking around part -- saving my feet for those hours at the easel. We had some great explorers in the group.

Lake Bolsena (Gorgeous!)

My guess at what Lake Como looks like/feels like ... just lower key (like me)

Waiting at the Lake - 16 x 20 in., oil on linen panel - shown on location

Day 7: Cascata delle Marmore

from 10am to 1pm -- world's largest manmade waterfall dating back to 200 BC engineered by the Romans -- one of the most thrilling adventures of my life to be there painting it. Best day!!!! The waterfall is turned on for two hours a day only. We were there for set up an hour before and then, just, WOW!

The Waterfall "Before" Photo

See that craziness back there? I have more photos to add to give you a better "picture" of what made being there so special -- but in addition to how spectacular of a sight it is -- capturing it right there with Trisha Adams and Vicki Blum with the three of us oohing and aahing while painting just could not be beat!

Cascata delle Marmore, 16" x 8"

Day 8: Orvieto

All day -- I painted the Farmer's Market in the morning -- essentially melting in the sun. Then spent the rest of the day trying to recover while seeing a bit of this beautiful town.

Frutta e Verdura in progress in Orvieto, 12 x 16 in., oil on linen panel

Frutta e Verdura - click the image for more info on this piece

Day 9: Todi

All day -- I'd agree with other visitors to La Romita in saying that if I had to pick one of these spots to live, this town would be it. Close contest though with Lake Bolsena. We had an amazing lunch overlooking the countryside at Ristorante Pizzeria Cavour then I shopped for some gorgeous pottery right next door. My treasured finds were handpainted by an 87-year-old. Patient man. Randy also met in Todi a woman who had been in my booth at the Wickford Art Festival in Rhode Island. She and her husband had purchased and renovated an apartment there in Todi and were kind enough to give us a tour of their place. Small world!

Three easels in a row -- right off the funicular in Todi -- John Eiseman, Trisha Adams with her painting and mine in progress

Way Up High - 12x16 in., oil on linen panel

Chris Rapa (seated) and Vicki Blum at her easel in the main square in Todi

Lunch at Ristorante Pizzeria Cavour. What a view! (John Eiseman, Vicki Blum, Trisha Adams, Sean Adams)

Me trying to squeeze in one more painting before quitting time in Todi. I've got a start, anyway.

Day 10: Stroncone

Painting in the morning -- then studio and packing time. Aperitivos al fresco too.

My last painting of the trip -

The Window Gardener, 16 x 8 in., oil on linen panel

My wall of paintings on the left. Chris Rapa working on hers on the right.

The church as studio. Our paintings from the trip line the wall on the left. Remarkable in every respect.

Aperitivo al fresco -- last evening there

Messages we left with La Romita in the Memory book.

Day 11: Depart very early for the Rome airport. Ciao, Italy!

My paintings from the trip and more thoughts will continue to flow -- if I give them that chance. I'll finish them as I get the chance and then they'll be added to my collection here on the website. So much of what made this trip special can't be captured in photos. We had tons of great talks throughout the days and nights. Talked shop (equipment, colors, techniques, etc.) on bus rides and the in the studio. Talked art business stuff. Leaned on each other for solutions left and right. Talked life.

It was the easiest going, great at compromise, helpful, fun, bright, neat group to be with for ten days -- morning, afternoon and evening. We were lucky ducks to have taken the leap for this retreat!