You have probably thought long and hard about booking a painting holiday, that’s why I want to make sure  your painting holiday experience  meets your needs. You tell me what areas you want to work on and I will tailor make the tuition to suit.

Groups are small and friendly and there is always plenty of individual tuition and plenty of painting demonstrations, showing you different ways to get the results you want.

Some of the things covered are:

* How to look at your subject and gather as much information as possible creating preliminary sketches and notes.

* Perspective and composition

* Colours and colour mixing and values

………. and no matter what level you are at you will find my simple exercises inspiring and informative.

Watercolours have long been the medium chosen by the traveller and holiday maker, as a flexible and quick drying paint that is also easy to transport.

It is with watercolour paints that I will help you create your own souvenirs of your time spent in the stunning Languedoc region of the Herault. So what are you waiting for?

Before you arrive

I will send you a very brief questionnaire which, on completion will help me assess what your needs might be and start preparing for you before you even set foot in the country.

Typical painting holiday format

I always like to meet my new arrivals before we get started, to chat, have a glass of wine, maybe share dinner and discuss what your requirements may be. The schedule below is just an outline and will be modified to cover the subjects and techniques that you want.

It’s your holiday

Apart from getting the most from your painting tuition I hope you will also get a great ‘French‘ experience. Maybe it’s your first trip to France or to this region, so both I and the people you will be staying with will arrange for you to sample some of the local delights and scenery as much as possible.  Flexibility is the name of the game as far as I’m concerned, after all it’s your holiday. It’s also important to know that if you a bringing a non painting partner or family with you ,there is plenty for them to do in the nearby area.

The schedule and places named below are applicable to the venue at Bigno Garrigo,  Quarante.

On my holidays you get four FULL days tuition giving you at least 24 hours of tuition.

Day One – Sketching

I always start each subject with a demonstration. Basic sketching skills will be looked at including the effective use of your pencils, composition, perspective, and how to create a useful day book for gathering information. A simple still life will be included to get you warmed up and to assess your needs. Weather permitting we will then go out to a local Domaine where you will decide on an area with which to create a composition that you will later paint. This will include taking photographs, planning a composition and detail sketches and note taking. We will then relax with a wine tasting before returning to the studio to appraise the day.

Day Two – Painting

Today we will start with looking at what you did yesterday and how to put the information together to create your painting. Then we will take a look at water colour paints and the many ways in which they can be used. This will include a variety of painting techniques, colour mixing, colour values, paint washes and the effective use of your brushes After time to practice you will then continue to work on your painting.

Day Three – At leisure

Day Four- Visiting Roquebrun.

This is a favorite spot for our clients, so we will go there in the morning to collect information, and if the weather is kind enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to the studio to start your painting.

Day Five- Consolidation

This is your opportunity to go over anything you are not sure of, maybe continue working on one of your pieces or the chance for another outing to the nearby Canal du Midi, to study water and boats.
Don’t forget that this is your holiday and this proposed schedule can be adjusted to suit your needs. I find most of out clients like to get out and about and work ‘plien air’, but are also pleased to have plenty of studio time to concentrate with everything to hand.

Materials and Equipment: You will need to bring your own materials and equipment which you would normally use on a painting session. We will provide lightweight chairs for outdoor excursions, jam jars for water, kitchen roll and drawing boards.

If it’s your first time: You will need to bring a watercolor paint box along with two or three paintbrushes suitable for watercolour painting. Your supplier will advise you. Along with a mixing palette, at least a 2b pencil, sharpener and eraser. You will also need an inexpensive sketch pad at least A4 in size and a watercolour block. If possible this block should be glued and no less than 300gms in weight, rough or smooth and no less than A4 in size. If you can manage the larger A3 for both of these items than would be great, but baggage allowances may hinder this.

Contact me by telephone: 00 33 (0)4 99 57 16 63