Painting Workshops

I truly appreciated Jerry’s untiring and helpful instructions. His passion about teaching and painting is contagious, and I believe that every one of the participants clearly understands his desire for us to totally enjoy the process and not worry about or be concerned with the end product. That is very liberating. He is a master teacher who deserves praise for his patience, skill and tolerance. Added to this is his brilliance as an artist. It was an excellent experience which I shall never forget. Thank you, dear friends, for a perfect week.

Both my husband and I are in total agreement: never before have two weeks been better spent than those on the shores of Lake Como this year. We have met incredibly interesting people, eaten the most fabulous food (especially Conchitina’s!) and experienced beauty in extraordinary abundance. The hospitality of all concerned was touching. Thank you, Jerry, for the gift of seeing – in such a totally different way.

I wish I could offer some insight but I found everything perfect. Jerry, you were hard on us, but you needed to be. You also offered me a lot of encouragement which I am grateful for. I am planning to purchase art supplies tomorrow, that’s how encouraged I am…Conchitina, you are a fabulous cook and entertainer, and the perfect hostess.

Firstly let me thank you Conchitina for welcoming us so profusely into your home. You entertained us wonderfully and your cooking and hospitality are legendary! We were in a great group and felt relaxed and welcome from the first moment of the course…As for the course, I felt it was life changing…Jerry has a huge amount to give and is a really good teacher…I could not have hoped for a better and clearer instruction – the method is well conceived and easy to understand if not so easy to execute but I guess practice make perfect. We both feel inspired to continue both with the method and the medium so I guess you have 2 converted students! 

For me the workshop exceeded every category: instruction, accommodations, food, hospitality, the works, which begs the question, “how do you improve on perfection?” About the only thing I would request would be an extension of my lifetime.

Thank you very much for wonderful time in your workshop. Everything was fine. Jerry’s teaching was excellent, your hospitality and dinner were magnificent.

WOW!! What an awesome experience!! Words can not even begin to describe how much we enjoyed and learned from you two! Everything was so well thought out and planned so that we would get the most from every moment we were there. It was magical and fulfilled my dreams of being there in your beautiful home and studio in a beautiful location on Lake Como. I am looking at everything so differently now. The world seems to have come alive….It’s almost like feeling like a child again. Thanks, Jerry, for removing the film from my eyes and opening up the beautiful world. It has changed me….Jerry, your instruction was excellent…I so very much appreciate the individual time you could devote to each of us. And I appreciate the support and encouragement you gave because I was excited, yet frightened to begin something that I had waited so many years to do.

You have such a beautiful home! May you have many, many years of good health, happiness and fulfillment in that spectacular location!

This experience was so fabulous. Everything you did was perfect. I felt so pampered. I’m not the type to like spa pampering. This was the perfect type of pampering for me. I have been talking up the experience to everyone I know who might be interested. I can’t wait to plan to come back.

As you know, I was “knocked out” the first morning watching Jerry do the demo and delighted with my early attempts using the method…I had a ball and look forward to coming back.

We had a wonderful week …enjoyed just being there…Jerry’s classes an eye opener!!!

First of all, thank you…hospitality and cooperation. These courses have been very fruitful and helpful and added a lot to my experience.

The lessons are invaluable and the teacher was awesome.

My expectation for a week of painting was that I would have a week of painting (and glorious freedom from mothering). It was as if I’d gone for a dip in the lake, and instead taken diving lessons! Jerry, I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges you offered and was inspired by your encouragement, insights and expertise.

Tell Jerry I’ve since reviewed some of his videos on the method & school and on them he sounds like a pale shadow of his real self. Which is good, it was a great class and I hope to come back. It’s a rare gift to be taught by someone who is passionate about what they are teaching.

Thank you for the most divine visual and delicious experience of Lago di Como and of course, Jerry, your wisdom and most enjoyable intellectual painting method.

We had the most wonderful experience with you. We so appreciated your thoughtfulness, as well as both your expertise and experiences that you shared so generously with us. It was truly not only an experience not to be missed, but also one that needs to be repeated.

We had such a fabulous time and much of it was because of the great experience with you two…. In addition, we met so many nice people in class those two weeks….I would recommend it to everyone and I will return. Thanks to you, Conchitina, for being such a lovely host. All your advice and assistance was much appreciated by everyone. You have great attention to detail, a trait I really admire.

I am so grateful to be able to say you taught / are teaching me to paint!! Many taught me to draw. Jerry Fresia taught me to paint. Wow!

This was definitely the best workshop I have ever had. Jerry is an excellent artist and a wonderful teacher. I have been inspired a lot by him. Everything was perfect except that a one-week workshop is not long enough for me to learn so many concepts and methods. Indeed, I am thinking to come back and register another workshop in the near future.

Thanks for everything! We had such a great time!….painting with you was invaluable…It is fantastic!!

Thank you for an excellent week. Not only did I learn a freeing and (at times) satisfying painting style but I had the companionship of fellow artists and stimulating conversation. It is fascinating and great for opening one’s mind to talk openly with people from other walks of life. How incredibly varied is the human experience.

The Fresia workshop is a really life changing process. I now look at the world differently. It was my dream trip to attend your workshop in beautiful Lago di Como.

I really enjoyed the course…and I am sure I will try and implement the ideas into my paintings.

Many thanx to both of you for your hospitality and patience. Conchitina, you made us all feel welcome… and your cooking was wonderful. Jerry, I’ve begun buying oils in your color palette… The bad thing is that now I see much differently than I did before and will probably not be able to find another instructor as talented as you.

It was a wonderful experience from start to finish and we really loved the painting instruction, the method is fantastic. I am sooo fired up I have been out en plein air painting twice ……..Thank you both for your hospitality in allowing us to share your beautiful home, and your delicious food Conchitina, an experience we will remember for a very long time…..All that remains now Jerry & Conchitina is to say a very sincere renewed thanks for “the best” painting holiday ever.

We had such a fantastic time with both of you. We truly felt welcomed coming into your home. I have described our week with you as being magical for that is exactly what it was. Conchitina, you are such an incredible person. Your warm and happy personality gives everyone around you a wonderful feeling. Of course, the fact that you are such a fantastic cook is amazing. You are a generous and thoughtful person and you took great care of not just me, but all your guests. Once again, we just loved being there with you. It was more than just perfect. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Thank you for an amazing two weeks of learning and growing! I feel as though a door was opened to me – revealing a path that will allow me to experience the joy of painting and perhaps the confidence that I can do it on my own! I also found Jerry’s way of looking at the painting process thought-provoking and very nurturing for my soul. The icing on the cake was your hospitality, Conchitina’s great cooking and of course the fantastic view. It definitely exceeded my expectations in every way – including Jerry’s humor 🙂

I breathe to say how excellent your workshop was. Everything was delightful and stimulating and elegant and fun. We so appreciated your input and guidance and now find ourselves looking at art so differently.

Wow what a fantastic week at the end of my 4 week trip to Italy. Your philosophy and guidance Jerry – can’t explain it – glad to have met you….Thank you Conchitina for being the absolute perfect hostess – Paddy and I will always have very fond memories of this trip.

This trip has made me feel renewed, invigorated and full of new light (no medium or dark value)!

We had a great time, a most fulfilling one, and we are trying to share what Jerry taught us here in the studio. The Como experience is unforgettable… Heartfelt thanks to Jerry for enhancing our painting skills. He is truly a great artist.

We love the class!! Jerry is a wonderful and dedicated teacher. I was very impressed with his teaching method. And I was especially impressed with how much personal attention he gave each of us.

Just wanted to say thanks for an amazing experience. You went above and beyond offering a learning experience. You were fantastic hosts and made us feel very welcome….But it’s the gift of knowledge that means the most to me. The five days I spent working with you will bring me a lifetime of enjoyment and a greater ability to fill the need I’ve always had for artistic expression. I came away with a deeper appreciation of the importance of expressing myself through art, and a spark of excitement to spend more time doing so. Thank you for that.

The instruction was great. Jerry is an excellent teacher.

I am a local amateur artist and joined Mr. Fresia’s workshop searching for more looseness in style, trying to get over the concept of shape – lots of my expectations were fulfilled during my week’s stay…

I enjoyed the class very much. The food was wonderful and the company exceptional.

Thanks to you we are seeing and experiencing the world in different ways now. And for me, that was the most significant gift I received during our precious week with you.

That intensive week of instruction was definitely worth my time and money. And mainly that is because you, Jerry, genuinely care about imparting this method, and patiently repeat and repeat again what we need to know. That sincerity and caring sets you apart from other teachers.