Arrival
Arrive at the local Auberge for a relaxing evening with a beautiful three course French meal. Explore your beautiful surroundings, decompress and meet the other members of the group.
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Discover the South West of France where the Pyrénées meets the sea. Learn to paint in a relaxing environment with an experienced and talented tutor.
The portrait painting holiday is a step out of our busy lives and a chance to reset. Kate will show you how she develops ideas and creates her paintings.
Learn how to work from both photographic sources and a life model. We will go through the stages of oil painting and learn a variety of oil painting techniques. Kate created her painting holidays, so our community of participants can discover or reconnect with art in a beautiful and serene atmosphere. Physical and mentalwellbeing are of utmost importance for creating artistic endeavours and, through our painting courses, she hopes not only will you engage with your own painting but find that much needed space to relax. Learning new skills and techniques and being able to be part of a collective of artists will give you artistic energy and a shared experience. Creating lasting memories in the majestic scenery of South-West France.
The painting holiday comes with full accommodation in a beautiful local auberge, delicious French meals, painting equipment and three full days of tuition learning how to paint from a qualified art teacher and professional artist. Each room has an ensuite. The restaurant is renowned in the area for it’s traditional French cuisine. Enjoy a three course evening meal.
Accommodation:
Located in the heart of the village of Laàs, between the city of Navarrenx and the medieval city of Sauveterre-de-Béarn, the Auberge de la Fontaine is the very expression of hospitality and rural friendliness. All rooms have an ensuite.
Painting:
During your stay you will learn the following skills:
2024 DATES:
26th May – 1st June 2024
Learn oil painting techniques from a skilled tutor to create your own stunning portrait in oils
Relax in the majestic scenery of South West France
Enjoy authentic French cuisine and experience French culture
I am a professional artist who has exhibited in both London and Hong Kong. I have my own art studio and gallery in South West France. I am a fully trained art teacher with a BA in illustration and a PGCE in art teaching. I am so happy to share my love of art with others and show you techniques for developing your own oil and acrylic paintings.
Arrive at the local Auberge for a relaxing evening with a beautiful three course French meal. Explore your beautiful surroundings, decompress and meet the other members of the group.
8.45am -9.45 am
A continental breakfast awaits you. Transfer to the studio in Laás to start the day.
10 am- 12.30 pm
We will start with a drawing lesson exploring proportions and planes of the human head. Exploring how to build up tone using one colour.
12.30pm-1.45pm
Lunch at or local French restaurant
1.45pm-4.45 pm
Working from photographic reference we will work on a small painting to understand the principals of oil painting.
We will prepare the canvas and continue to develop the underpainting.
Looking at how to see tonal ranges in a portrait we explore how to set up a work space and oil palette developing colour mixing and creating flesh tones.
Students will learn to mix solutions for painting and how to use them. Getting ready for our next day of painting.
5pm- 5:30pm Drinks
7:39 pm- A three course meal for dinner.
Followed by your own relaxation time.
8.45am-9.45 am
A continental breakfast awaits you.
9.45am -10am
Transfer to the studio
10am -4.45pm
Day of painting in the studio in Laás.
Kate will teach you the next steps to successfully create a portrait using layers to build up your piece. This will give you the confidence before we work with a life model.
Lunch 12.30-1.45pm Picnic by the river and opportunity to swim
1:30 – 5:30 pm- Continue painting
7.30pm- Dinner at the hotel
Followed by your own relaxation time.
8.45-9.45 am
A continental breakfast awaits you.
10am- 12.30pm
Working from a live model. Developing colour studies of the subject, we will explore the narrative in portraiture.
12.30pm-1.30 pm Buffet style light lunch
1.30-3.30pm
Students continue to develop colour studies from the model.
3.30pm-4.30pm
You will take a photo of the model and develop your own concept.
5pm Free time- River swim or a lovely walk around the village.
7:30pm Dinner at our house
9pm Drinks and an artist talk. Local artists will come and discuss their work with you.
8.15am-9am
An early breakfast
9.30-11am
Visit to the morning market in Salies de Béarn.
Taking a break from painting we will explore the thermal town and it’s traditional French market.
11.30am-12.30 pm
Return to the studio.
Prepare your canvas for our final painting.
12.30pm-1.45pm -Lunch in a local restaurant
1.45pm-5:30pm
Sketching out you’re painting and underpainting.
5:45- 7pm Visit a walled village and local art galleries
8pm Dinner at the restaurant
8.45am-9.45am
Breakfast at the hotel
9.45 am Transfer to the studio
10am-12.30pm
Continuing to work on our final painting we will begin to build up layers adding glazes.
Students will develop their own art piece exploring the narrative in portraiture.
12.30pm-1.45pm Lunch at a local restaurant.
1.45pm-4.45pm
We will discuss glazing and how to explore further techniques in your painting.
5pm transfer back to hotel
7pm Beautiful three course meal to celebrate the end of the course and your fabulous creations.
Enjoy your last breakfast and say your goodbyes!
You will be staying in a beautiful and idyllic rural french village, Laas. It is situated in the valley of the gave d’Oloron, to the southeast of Sauveterre-de-Béarn and north-west of Navarrenx, in an area called the Béarn des Gaves.
Getting there:
We can arrange airport pickups for you and an additional cost.
The nearest airports Biarritz or Pau are one hour away.
The nearest train station is Orthez.
We are situated in a rural area with limited public transport and so there is also the option of car hire if you wish.
Transfers can be arranged from Biarritz or Pau airports at an extra charge – please let us know at the time of booking if you would like us to arrange them.
The cost for a return shared taxi will be approx. 50 euros per person
