“Julian is the one of the best teachers I have experienced. Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable about art history and art mediums but he is also incredibly encouraging and enabling. I started my course feeling blocked creatively but with his encouragement and ideas he moved me on to a new level. He is also great company.”
“I have been very fortunate to have attended 2 of Julian’s week-long Tuscan courses (the highlight of my trips to Europe) and have had several informative hours of his one on one zoom lessons. Julian’s genuine enthusiasm, teaching skills, subject knowledge, and his friendly disposition make learning from him a great pleasure. I highly recommend Julian to anyone considering attending his classes or enrolling in the online offerings. ”
“As an art instructor, Julian’s an extremely perceptive coach and draws on his own considerable talent and experience to guide you to find the truth of your own creative process. I really appreciated how he was able to hone in on the individual needs of each of us in the class to bring out the best from us all. Along with the drawing and painting lessons, he introduced me to the tools available on my camera and computer to help me to create some of the best images I’ve ever produced. It was truly a transformative experience for me. I am freshly inspired and have discovered a new way of ‘seeing’ my photography which has me so excited about further work.”
“Our clients were delighted, Julian has a keen, well-studied, knowledge of ‘Art History’ and delivers the information/stories with colour, passion and humour. The group’s confidence as artists developed as a result of Julian’s skilful facilitation. Even as proprietors of an established art school, my partner and I came home with new ideas, based on Julian’s presentation process. It was far more than we expected and we are happy to recommend.”
“Julian is very welcoming and the perfect host. He adjusts his teaching style to the individual’s level of knowledge and needs. He ensures that everyone works at the pace which suits them but at the same time gently steers everyone to try new methods and to develop their talents. I came away with a great deal more confidence and thoroughly enjoyed the stress-free environment”
“Choosing Easelandlens for my painting holiday was the best decision I made all year !
With a stunning, magical location, warm and friendly people, absolutely delicious food ( and wine !) and the humour-laced, gently encouraging, ever professional tuition from Julian, I was in heaven for seven days. I came home with renewed confidence in my painting and certainty that I would love to come back. Huge thanks to Julian and Amanda for a very special week.”
“As a single traveller and a total watercolour novice, I was not too sure about what I would find on this holiday. I need not have worried. Julian’s relaxed, easy manner made the classes fun and extremely interesting. His terrific sense of humour and encouragement ensured that everyone in the group, firstly enjoyed themselves and secondly really achieved something that I’m sure surprised each one of us. The accomodation was excellent and the food amazing. My only regret was that I could have stayed longer and I now see that some of the classes have been extended, which is a great idea. Certainly nobody in my group wanted to leave!!! I could not reccomend it highly enough as a wonderful holiday experience regardless of skill level, age etc. I would definitely like to do another course in the not too distant future.”
“Whatever artistic talent you have, Julian will find, refine and inspire. On top of all of that you get to experience friendship, laughter and true connection with the area.”
“I booked my place with Easel & Lens hoping it would be special. It certainly was. From the minute I was warmly greeted at the station to my sad goodbye 10 days later, I was blessed. I stayed in a lovely room in a picturesque location, painted in a charming, light and energetic studio, met fabulous people and was shown parts of Italy I would otherwise never have seen. Every day, I enjoyed delicious food, local wine and good company and learnt something new. Julian was not just a talented and generous teacher he also turned out to be a fabulous guide who enthusiastically showed us wonderful art and places of great interest. Thank you, thank you Julian and Amanda for an experience of a lifetime; one that I will always be grateful for. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
“I have travelled extensively in Italy with various guides, but the days with Julian have been among the best I’ve experienced. Each place or work of art we visit has come alive for us when Julian shares his extensive knowledge about whatever it is we are viewing. I am very grateful that my husband and I settled in this part of Italy and I can truly say that Julian’s wonderful teaching has greatly enriched my life. He is a true teacher, one whose passion for his subject is inspiring.”
“It’s just the combination that worked so well...relaxed atmosphere, personal teaching, fab food, guided tours, beautiful surroundings, great memories! Thank you! The hidden value of our lovely holiday was that the impact of all the lovely things we experienced carries on and on..... it’s hard to place a value on holidays that can give you so much in just a week!”
“Having done a few of Julian’s online group classes, I can recommend these as highly enjoyable, inspiring and productive sessions. Julian gives a brief but detailed background or history of each subject beforehand to put the lesson into perspective and augment interest. This, together with the energy during the class and the assessment at the end all result in a very satisfying creative experience.”
“I have been on many many courses over the years and can say with great enthusiasm that the course offered by Easel and Lens is one of the best I have ever experienced. The lovely farmhouse and studio is surrounded by magnificent landscapes just waiting to be painted. The opportunities are boundless ...majestic Cypress trees, parasol pines amongst fields of poppies and daisies, excursions to fascinating old Tuscan villages and the legendary gardens of La Foce ...and the wonderful town of Arezzo. Julian is a very hands on tutor for whom nothing is too much trouble... I had a wonderful and very fruitful time.”
“I first signed up to the Virtual Studio courses in the early days of Covid and have been an avid participant ever since. The format is brilliant - art history talk, group drawing/painting, critique and then a follow-up recording of the class. Julian is a terrific teacher, I’ve learnt a lot, met some lovely people and have had plenty of laughs - what’s not to like ? ”
“Julian is a passionate, engaging teacher, and intuitively fostered our individual skill levels and artistic goals. An enormous old wooden table dominates the artist’s studio, which overlooks rugged rolling hills that are every shade of green, and dotted with olive trees. An elegant line of Cypress punctuates the land, fading off into the distance. Colors and line perpetually shift, depending on the mood of that day and perspective. I never tired of attempting to render it’s beauty.
At sunset, we would clear away a flurry of papers and paints in the fading studio light. Candles would be lit, and we would toast the day. At the end of my stay, I left feeling relaxed, inspired and creatively centered. I would highly recommend these courses, and would love to return!”
“Online classes with Julian saved my life more than once—first throughout COVID and again through several personal trials. That weekly accountability, insightful instruction, and little bit of handholding have propelled my art life by leaps and bounds—even to entering my first show! ”
“There is no pressure to ‘conform’ to a schedule, and you are more than encouraged to pursue your own interests.
You build up a bond between the group, it’s easy to make great friends and I’m still in regular contact with those met on both courses I have attended.
I could probably go on for a day about how fabulous the courses are, just book one, I promise you, you will never return home from a place missing it as much.”