La Dolce Vita Retreats

La Dolce Vita Retreats prides itself on creating women’s retreats with health and wellness programs that are unique and dynamic.  Although each location has a different array of activities, all are focused on the concept of total wellness – mind, body and spirit.  To accomplish that goal, we team with excellent facilitators to create exceptional workshops that encourage self-growth and exploration for each of our participants.

This spotlight is on Carla Cecere, painter and ceramics artist, who presents her creativity workshop at our Portofino, Italy retreat in April 2010.

Collectors throughout the world recognize Carla Cecere’s works of art for their uniqueness, beauty, and the emotional energy that they communicate.  Many of Carla’s customers treasure her pieces because they feel her message of joy, energy and love.

Touching people through her art is what matters most to Carla and inspires her to work.  “I want to create unique artwork that enhances beauty and joy in the world and that inspires and guides others through their own personal discovery of their deepest emotions and messages from above.” says Carla.  “Art can be a means to express love and joy, which can become a contributing factor to the enhancement of world peace.”

Carla’s artistry is a result of more than forty years of passion, studying, working and living in Asia, Europe and the USA. Most of her artistic creations came to life during the eight years living near the magical city of Venice, a place where every artist places research as a priority. Carla currently lives and works near colorful Portofino. From the time she was growing up in California, through her career as an international management consultant, she always knew that art and helping others discover their truth was her calling.

While Carla has always painted as well as made beautiful ceramic pieces, her notoriety comes from three Italian techniques: majolica, ingobbio and under glaze.  She has expanded on these techniques, and as a result, claimed a style that sets her apart from other ceramic artists. Just as important to Carla is what people feel from her pieces.

“Each color, shape and form of my work is selected to communicate a message,” says Carla. “The designs and colors are selected to provide people with positive energy while at the same time inspire them to reveal  their deepest inner thoughts and emotions.”

Carla takes pride that many of her works can be practical as well as decorative objects, and that arranging them in different ways will create new visions and interpretations.  “ 

Carla will be teaching  “ Explore your own Creativity”  with the use of watercolor.  Carla Cecere feels passionately about sharing her knowledge and helping others discover their own creativity and well-being.  She believes that art is a powerful key for spiritual and cultural connection.

As artist, Carla’s imaginative creations have received numerous awards and recognition from private collectors as well from organizations such as:  the Peggy Guggenheim Collection – Venice, Los Angeles County Museum – California, Ubaldo Grazia – Deruta, Bank of America – California, and the United Nations – Vienna.

Carla has also worked as an international management consultant and trainer. She lived in many countries and worked with leading organizations throughout Europe, Asia and the United States. Her experience included initiating numerous “start-up” projects in the area of cross cultural behavior with clients including: Harvard University, MIT, INSEAD, Università  Bocconi, IMEDE, the World Health Organization, J P Morgan, Hong Kong International Terminals. 

Carla’s Formal Training Includes:   Bachelors of Arts, Psychology, Fine Arts – Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, Rome);  Masters in Public Administration – University of Southern California;  Certificate in International Human Resource Development ;  3^rd Level Medical Qi Gong, Prof. Li Xiao Ming – University of Beijing. Carla is continuing her research and training in the arts and complementary medicine.

Janice Briggs, Founder and President of La Dolce Vita Retreats, LLC,  is pleased to announce one of the highlights of the April 2010 La Dolce Vita Retreat in Portofino, Italy.  One of the activities will be a creativity workshop using watercolor presented by internationally renown artist, Carla Cecere.

This workshop is a special time for self discovery through the use of watercolor. The heart and soul of this workshop is learning about watercolor while at the same time learning about yourself.  Using painting you will be guided to playfully and joyfully bring to life the subconscious and super conscious self as well as enhance your artistic skill.  Artistic activities are combined with brief theoretical presentations and opportunities for experiential sharing; a facilitated, rather than “instructional” approach is used in conducting this workshop to encourage the development of individual creativity and self-discovery – an effective and powerful means of learning and change.  The emphasis is on the painting process, not the finished art piece.  Those with or without artistic experience are welcomed.

Workshop Objectives

• Make contact with, and explore, the creative artist within you.  Uncover your talents.  Be inspired and find your unique individual expression.
•  Discover, for yourself, your own watercolor techniques. 
•  Watercolor is the ideal medium to help you access your “right brain.”  Experience what it is like to spontaneously trust your intuition and deepen your creativity.
•  Learn how to value and use expressive art as a creative process to guide you to your inner truth, harmony and therefore, well-being.

 Workshop Outcome

 By the end of this workshop, in addition to what you have learned, you will have had the opportunity to create at least 2 paintings per session.

About Carla Cecere

Carla Cecere feels passionately about sharing her knowledge and helping others discover their own creativity and well-being. She believes that art is a powerful key for spiritual and cultural connection. Her own work with herself, and her rich cultural and professional background have contributed towards her success as an artist and sought out consultant.

 As artist, Carla’s imaginative creations have received numerous awards and recognition from private collectors as well from organizations such as:  the Peggy Guggenheim Collection – Venice, Los Angeles County Museum – California, Ubaldo Grazia – Deruta, Bank of America – California, and the United Nations – Vienna.

 Carla has also worked as an international management consultant and trainer. She lived in many countries and worked with leading organizations throughout Europe, Asia and the United States. Her experience included initiating numerous “start-up” projects in the area of cross cultural behavior with clients including: Harvard University, MIT, INSEAD, Università Bocconi, IMEDE, the World Health Organization, J P Morgan, Hong Kong International Terminals.

 Carla’s Formal Training Includes:   Bachelors of Arts, Psychology, Fine Arts – Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, Rome);  Masters in Public Administration – University of Southern California;  Certificate in International Human Resource Development ;  3^rd Level Medical Qi Gong, Prof. Li Xiao Ming – University of Beijing. Carla is continuing her research and training in the arts and complementary medicine.

I’ll be giving sneak previews of other activities in a “Burma Shave” fashion so keep checking back for updates!