culTOURinaria
"Porcelain Art and Beyond" in Europe
The adventure of exploring the cradles of European porcelain
Small exclusive groups of passionate porcelain painters travel to the cradles of porcelain art in Europe: Meissen, Dresden, Thuringia, Bavaria, Berlin, Switzerland - with porcelain painting classes, sightseeing, excursions, delicious food and much fun together...
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"Porcelain Art Tour" Germany and Switzerland
GUARANTEED DEPARTURE - ONLY 3 SPOTS LEFT !!!
Travel date: May 31 - June 13, 2013
Ground tour price: $4,243 per person (double occupancy)
We created this very special itinerary as a new tour for porcelain painters who have traveled with us before - and who had such a great experience that they came back! So the participants who are already signed-up for this tour have all been at one of our Germany Porcelain Art Tours, some of them even twice!!! Join this wonderful group - We have a few spots left and therefore we are opening up this great tour to all porcelain painters who don't want to miss this trip.
This tour includes two 2.5-day porcelain painting classes in Germany and Switzerland:
Petra and Jorg Kugelmeier / Marlen Sohr studios in Lenggries, Bavaria
Ruth Buehler-Zweifel "Au Bijou de la Porcelaine" in Uster, Switzerland
Tour program overview: Erding / Munich - Trausnitz Castle Landshut - Lenggries - Neuschwanstein Castle - Fuessen - Bavarian Alps - Garmisch Partenkirchen - Lindau at Lake Constance - Uster - Swiss Alps - Zurich
Program overview for Download (PDF) - "Porcelain Art Tour" Germany and Switzerland
Contact us for further information and registration - First come, first served...
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"Porcelain Art Tours" in Germany
The unique “Porcelain Painting Art and Beyond” Tours in Germany include two 2.5-day classes with experienced professional instructors at the prestigious Dresden porcelain manufacturer and as the Sohr / Kugelmeier studios in Bavaria. We visit several porcelain manufacturers presenting their local designs as well as precious porcelain collections at historic places and royal palaces. For accompanying family / friends and for "non-painters" who do not want to participate in the painting classes we provide alternative programs during the porcelain painting classes - fun for everyone...
NEW *** NEW !!! flickr photoalbum of the 'Porcelain Art and Beyond" Tour to Germany Sep 2012
Travel dates 2013:
Friday, June 21 to Thursday, July 04, 2013
Friday, August 30 to Thursday, September 12, 2013
Friday, September 20 to Thursday, October 03, 2013 and ON REQUEST!
2013 - "Porcelain Art and Beyond" Tours - Trip program overview and information (PDF)
Every tour includes two 2.5-day painting classes:
Class 1 at the Dresden Porcelain Manufacurer, Saxony
Class 2 at the studios of Marlen Sohr and Petra / Joerg Kugelmeier in Lenggries, Bavaria
The porcelain painting artists Joerg and Petra Kugelmeier as well as Andreas Knobl and Marlen Sohr all live and work in Lenggries, Bavaria, Germany. They know each other well because they have all studied porcelain painting at the same master class in Meissen. Each one of them is a great artist - For the 2013 painting classes we work with the Kugelmeiers and with Marlen Sohr, who is not as well known internationally but her work clearly speaks for itself and she has proved herself being a wonderful teacher at our Porcelain Art Tour 2011:
Website Marlen Sohr's porcelain painting school, Germany - Gallery of her work
Exemplary testimonial by Kay Campbell, TX: "I really enjoyed painting with Marlen. Even though I was not acquainted with her work, I quickly saw that she is a really talented artist. She welcomed us and made us feel right at home. It was a wonderful experience painting with a Meissen trained artist and in such a beautiful setting in Bavaria."
Exemplary testimonial by Martha Van Winkle, TX: "The experience we had painting with Marlen Sohr in Lenggries in 2011 was wonderful! She was so generous in sharing her knowledge of the art and was able to give us plenty of one-on-one time in order to have a piece we were very proud of. I painted the iris and wish I could have had time to paint the scene she offered too. Her style of painting is very soft in color but very sharp and detailed. Her studio was nicely set up with all of the supplies we needed. She is one of the most talented painters I have ever painted with and I look forward to going back... She and her husband were wonderful hosts and made us feel right at home. The village of Lenggries is so quaint and picturesque - it is picture postcard perfect! I can't wait to get back there..."
1) Marlen Sohr 2) Kay Campbell 3) Martha Van Winkle
"Iris inspired by a painting by Redoute"
1) Marlen Sohr 2) Lydia Lumen
"Landscape - Harbor scene in purple"
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Impressions from the "Porcelain Art and Beyond" Tour 2012:
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Tour price starts at: $3,984 ground package, double occupancy, based on 1 EUR = 1.35 USD
including two 2.5-day painting classes
minimum of 4 travelers for group of 4-5 people
minimum of 8 travelers for group of 8-14 people (max. 10 painters)
The final tour price will be calculated based on the currency exchange rate when final payment is due.
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Testimonials from porcelain painters who have participated our Tours to Germany:
"This tour (2012) was absolutely spectacular! As I am not a china painter, I was able to visit a few other area sites while the painters were in class. There is so much to see and experience! I was able to go to Castle Weesenstein, Monastery of Benediktbeuern, the Freilichtmuseum (on outdoor museum of traditional homes and businesses of southern Bavaria), and to experience the beautiful countryside. Ute's translation and commentary at each place made the visit much more meaningful and I learned a lot of the history of the area. Two of us stayed on after the tour for an additional week. Ute arranged our rental car and accommodations at several guesthouses along our planned route. We loved all of the places we stayed and did miss Ute's insight at the historical sites we visited. It truly was the trip of a lifetime! Adri Cousins, Yerba Linda, CA
"I just returned from a magnificent vacation in Germany. What made it most special was that the first two weeks were with a culTOURinaria Porcelain Art Tour. ... Our visit to to the Dresden manufactory incuded two days of painting our own pieces under the study of "Christi" the master flower painter. ... We were all very pleased with the results. If that wasn't enough, we also had the opportunity to paint under the teachings of Jorg and Petra Kugelmeier, both accomplished artists from the Meissen manufactory...." Roberta Denny, Placentia, CA
"... Wanted to tell you how much I thoroughly enjoyed our trip. It is actually one of the best experiences I have ever had. And you were a big part of making it so wonderful. Thank you for such a terrific experience." Carolyn Kotner, San Francisco, CA
"The Porcelain Art Tour 2011 in Germany was a memorable experience! The well planned tour was full of great moments for porcelain artists. The museum and factory tours were informative hosted by gracious tour guides. Painting in Dresden and Lenggries was a wonderful experience. The teachers had decades of experience in Meissen and Dresden styles of painting. Because of our wonderful porcelain painting, we plan to return to Germany to have another memorable time." Lydia Lumen, Houston, TX
"For two years in a row a group of porcelain artists from Texas and California have traveled to Germany through Sullivan's Custom Tours with Ute Boese and Donna Sullivan as our tour directors. I can't tell you how much fun we had. They put together a wonderful itinerary showing us not only some of the most beautiful parts of the country, but arranged tours of porcelain manufactories (including KPM, Meissen, Dresden and other smaller ones) and museums with large collections of porcelain. We were privileged to paint at the Meissen factory for two days - they have since discontinued the school - and this year we painted for two days at the Dresden factory. We also painted with private professional painters, one of which was trained in Meissen. All of the teachers were very generous in sharing their knowledge and I think my painting has greatly improved from it. Our accommodations ranged from a large hotel in Berlin to smaller boutique hotels and all were very comfortable. The food was great and Ute and Donna introduced us to dishes we might not have known to order, but were delicious. There is not enough room here to describe all the wonderful experiences we had and new friends I have made - You'll just have to come along and see for yourself!!" Martha Van Winkle, Porcelain Art Club of Houston, TX
"I have thoroughly enjoyed the trip. You have added such personal touches that has made me feel like we have been one family for these 2 weeks. I look forward to coming back next year." Kay Campbell, TX
"I had a wonderful time. This trip has exceeded all my expectations." Jada Guinn, TX
"The September Porcelain Art Tour of Germany was beyond my expectations - The days were planned with a variety of activities to accommodate the wishes of the travelers as a group and individually. Ute provided a well planned trip with warmth and enthusiasm, knowledge of the areas visited, and great attention to all the details of travel. I would certainly recommend traveling with her anytime." Sibyl White, TX
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For more information, trip programs, prices, registration or your own tailor-made tour contact us:
culTOURinaria - Ute Boese:
Email: info@cultourinaria.com
Sullivan's Custom Tours - Donna Sullivan:
Email: donnabsullivan@aol.com
Phone: (1) 713.291.3492 (cell)
Special offers / incentives for travel group leaders and porcelain art club trips!
Germany is the birthplace of European porcelain. Until today the tradition of artfully handcrafted porcelain is very much alive at many local porcelain manufacturers.
Since the beginning of the 13th century, porcelain had been imported by European royalty from China at an enormous cost. In the early 18th century endeavors were made in Germany to unlock the secret of porcelain manufacturing. The orders were given by Augustus II "the Strong", the Electoral Prince of Saxony and the King of Poland. In 1710, white porcelain was manufactured for the first time in Europe under the leadership of Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus and - the imprisoned - Johann Friedrich Boettger.
The "Saxon Porcelain Manufacturer of Dresden" was founded in 1872 and is still keeping alive the long tradition of European porcelain art. Few skillful shapers and painters are manufacturing delicate porcelain items purely by hand. in 1708, the European porcelain was invented in Dresden being the baroque royal capital of Saxony. The famous "White Gold" started its triumphal march all over Europe from here - from Dresden.
The "Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufacturer of Munich" has been handcrafting finest porcelain services, figures and objects of the greatest quality and purity for 260 years. Its history is inseparably associated with the famous royal Wittelsbach family dynasty in Bavaria.
Located in Bavaria, the "Rosenthal Porcelain Manufacturery of Selb" was founded in 1879. The products of this multi-faceted company today stand for international lifestyle.
Germany's second oldest "Fuerstenberg Porcelain Manufacturer" has specialized in unique and exclusive porcelain manufacture since 1747. The craftsmen at this traditional company in Lower Saxony are expert at developing historic collections and creating contemporary product lines - with precision down to the smallest detail.
The “State Porcelain Manufacturer Meissen” was founded in 1710 and is Europe’s first porcelain manufacturer. Table services, figurines, accessories are still hand-crafted. The "Crossed Swords" are the oldest trademark in the world to have been used without interruption since their creation. Forms and decorations have changed throughout the history but the premium quality of Meissen porcelain has never been compromised.
Founded in 1751, the “Royal Prussian Porcelain Manufacturer KPM” stands for the very finest porcelain and one of the leading luxury brands in the world. The legendary King of Prussia, Frederick the Great, gave the company its name and trademark - the royal blue scepter - in 1763.
In 1757, Georg Heinrich Macheleid from Cursdorf in Thuringia independently developed a technique to make porcelain. Since then, many small manufacturers along the so called “Porcelain Roads in Thuringia and Bavaria” have made their way creating an exciting diversity of local porcelain designs: decors featuring native flowers, birds, herbs, landscapes, portraits, scenes of daily life...
QUALITY PORCELAIN RESOURCES - QPR
Exclusive Distributor of ARTFILIPE products for USA and Canada
Contact the owner Paula LaVergne - Email: QPR.Paula@att.net
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