Anne Gaffey is an award-winning mixed media artist who paints and teaches workshops and retreats in her San Diego studio. “I draw inspiration,” Anne says, “from vivid dreams and cherished memories, an open heart, and visions of a gentler, peaceful world.”

For more than 30 years in Southern California and New England, she has taught art classes to beginner to experienced students. Within the group setting, Anne’s students receive individualized attention and instruction in mixed media and acrylic painting. As founder of a successful paint and sip company called PaintStix!, she encourages everyone in her workshops: “It’s only paint, and you’re the boss!”

Anne's work has been featured in galleries in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles and in San Diego’s Little Italy, Liberty Station, and La Jolla Artwalks. She received the 2021 Award of Excellence at the Balboa Island Artwalk from Huse Skelly Fine Art Gallery. Anne's paintings are displayed in private collections throughout the U.S., and Anne has donated proceeds from her art to World Central Kitchen, feeding refugees and victims of war in Ukraine and Gaza.

Janet McCarty brings a depth of Italian knowledge to our trip! Her life has been split between the U.S. and Italy over the last 35 years. She was the principal of 3 award winning architectural firms, and has been a university professor of architecture in Italy and the U.S.. She was the director of a U.S. study abroad Architecture in Italy program for a decade. Her areas of intensive expertise are the history of Italian architecture, Italian city planning, and the "Harmonics of Renaissance Architecture". She has been a guest professor for multiple colleges to lecture on these topics.

Janet is also a gifted artist, in painting and drawing. Her work is collected internationally, and she is represented by galleries in Los Angeles and Tuscany. Please join Janet in "plein air" sketching sessions in various places on our trip! She also speaks Italian, so will provide basic Italian instruction.