Painting Trips: 4 destinations
Discover the beauty of rural France, Provence,
Belgium or Switzerland while indulging in your passion of plein air painting.
All skill levels are welcome.
If you are interested in teaching on our tours,
please contact us.
On every Painting Tour (Belgium, France and Switzerland):
Because of the small size of the group, the teacher will be
able to give personal advice to everyone. Therefore, every skill
level is welcome (from beginner to professional).
During the day, the teacher will go back and forth among all
of you to help you with your painting (if you need advice).
If you are not a painter but you are coming with a friend or
spouse who paints, Jackie will take you on excursions while
the rest of the group is painting.
Back home, participate in the daily review run by the teacher
while savoring appetizers and sweet wine in the garden. Everything
is of course optional: you don't have to paint the same amount
of time as everyone else, you don't have to attend the critique,
...
It is your vacation, enjoy it the way you like it.
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Painting in Rural France
This trip is ideal if you like the untouched, non touristy
country side, (Foothills of the Alps).
Day 1: Welcome Champagne Reception
We will pick you up at the Lyon airport, early in the afternoon. Upon your arrival
at our fully restored 19th-century French country home, you will relax and enjoy
a champagne reception with authentic local finger foods and drinks. In the evening,
a traditional sumptuous buffet will be prepared especially for you. | |

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Day 2: Romantic Village of Chanaz and Walnut
Oil Tasting
We will drive east along the Rhone River, through beautiful
vineyards and picturesque villages to the lovely village of
Chanaz. Sitting accross the canal, in the middle of trees, you
will enjoy painting this quiet village.
After your painting session, we will attend a walnut oil making
demonstration in a 19th-century mill. This is a unique opportunity
since this mill is the only one left in France listed historical
monument.
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Painting Credits: Pat Brothen, painting workshop 2005 | |
Day 3: Magnificent Pre-Alps Cliffs
We will be heading towards the breathtaking mountainous region
of Vercors, bordered by 300 Km of cliffs on the very edge of
the Alps.This site is one of the painter's highlights.
Facing these incredible hanging houses, you will be breathtaken.
The 16th century medieval houses are actually suspended above
the river.
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Days 4 and 5: Annecy or 'The Little Venice of the Alps'
Annecy is the French show-piece of lakes-and-mountain beauty.
The Canal crossing Annecy brings Venice to mind as you stroll
along its banks.
Your choice for the painting site will be unlimited: medieval
narrow streets, renaissance houses along the canal, the famous
old prison (one of the most photographed monuments in France!)
or the Annecy lake surrounded by mountains.
On the second day, we will go We will go on market day so that
you can decide to shop or paint at the market.
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Day 6: 11th Century Virieu Castle and the Picturesque Chelieu
Village
On that day, we will take paint in our village (Chelieu). This
quaint village is a treasure for painters: doors, windows, flowers,
church, ...
You can also decide to paint the extraordinary
Virieu castle, built over eight centuries. | |  |
Day 7: Painting in the Garden or the Village
Enjoy your last day at the house. Take your
time to finish up some paintings or paint some beautiful flowers from the garden,
haystacks in the fields or whatever pleases you. | | 
Painting Credits: Kathleen Balamuth Painting
workshop 2006 |
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Painting Credits: Jennifer Tomasselli
Painting workshop 2006 |
Day 8: Departure
After our last breakfast together, we'll drive you to the Lyon
airport. |
Accommodations and Meals
You will be staying at our 19th-century
country house, located on the top of the hill, facing the Alps.
Breakfast and four-course French dinner will
be prepared every day by your French hostess, Valerie. She will
also prepare your bag lunch for you to take on your daily trips. Valerie
will take into account your special dietary needs and will introduce
you to the delicacies of French cuisine.
Dates
May 2-9, 2010: Teacher: Niki
Paras 1 spot left
May 20-27, 2010: Teacher: Niki
Paras Full
June 2-9, 2010: Teacher: Sonja
Hamilton, SWA
June 15-22, 2010: Teacher: Anne
Kullaf Full
Rate
$2,790 per person (land cost)
Includes
- Lyon airport pick-up at 4PM and drop-off at 11AM
- Accommodation in our 19th-century country house
- Transportation every day
- A champagne and hors-d'oeuvres reception
- All meals and drinks (including wine)
- All art classes
- All planned visits
- Entrance fees to all sites on the tour
- A free Paris planner for a self guided visit in Paris: suggestions
of hotels, restaurants and places to visit
Excludes
- Flights to and from France
- Optional activities
- Personal expenses and tipping
Painting in Provence
Discover why Provence has been an inspiration for thousands
of artists like Van Gogh, Cezanne,...
Day 1: Welcome Champagne Reception
We will pick you up at the Avignon train station. Upon your arrival
at our guesthouse, take time to settle in, explore the village.
In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome reception followed by
a gourmet dinner.
Day 2: Ochre village of Roussillon
Roussillon, one of France's Most Beautiful Villages, sits on top
of the world's biggest vein of ochre, the reddish pigment which
has been used by artists for centuries We will spend the entire
day painting red houses, ochre trails, cafes, what ever inspire
you. At the end of the day, you can take a walk inside the park,
on the Ochre Trail revealing many fantastic rock and cliff formations. |
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Day 3: Market and hilltop village of Gordes
Gordes, also listed one of France's most beautiful villages,
is the most spectacular village in Provence, perched on the
southern edge of the high Plateau de Vaucluse.
The view from the village is a southern panorama out across
fields, vineyards and forests, and small-perched villages to
the Montagne du Luberon. You can choose to paint the breathtaking
panorama, the village houses, or even the market.
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Day 4: "Palais des Papes" in Avignon
Today you have the choice of painting the whole day in Avignon
or visit this amazing city. The highlight of Avignon is the 14th
century Pope's Palace which is the size of four normal French
cathedrals.
In addition to the palace, you can paint in the old streets.
For the people who don't want to paint all day, you wll find
antic dealers and art galleries, luxury shops, pottery, or even
museums with paintings from Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, Degas,
Modigliani, and more.
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Day 5: Painting at the House or in the Village
Today will be a non driving day to allow even more time to
painting.
We will spend the day painting either at the house or in the
cute and non touristy village of Venasque: cobblestone streets,
18th century houses, flowers, doors.
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Painting Credits: Jann Pollard |
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Day 6: On Van Gogh's trail in St Remy de Provence
We will paint along the paths that Van Gogh used to walk the
last years of his life.
This tour is an emotional walking trip through the wonderful
landscapes, which inspired the great impressionist.
It displays 21 sign posts with reproductions of Van Gogh paintings,
chosen among 150 others, painted by the artist during his stay
in Saint Remy de Provence.
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At the end of the painting day, we will visit the beautiful
old monastery of St Paul Mausole with the bedroom where Van
Gogh stayed during his very troubled time in 1889-90.
This is now a nursing home that has a permanent exhibition
of paintings made by the patients.
You will also find beautiful reproduction of some of Vincent
van Gogh's paintings.
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Day 7: Non Touristy Village of Venasque
Venasque is a non touristy jewel. While strolling Venasque
streets you will come to appreciate the wonderful atmosphere
that will seduce you, as it has dozens of artists.
Some of them have opened the doors of their studios to the
public. You can paint the streets, the houses, the view, the
medieval rampart, etc
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Day 8: Departure
After our last breakfast together, we'll drive you to the Avignon train station.
Accommodation
We have chosen an elegantly restored farmhouse located in the
heart of Provence, in the Luberon.
In many ways this house speaks of Provence. The large salon
with its fireplace will seduce you with its charming and friendly
atmosphere.
Each room has a full private bathroom.
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Dates
August 28-Sept 4, 2010: Teacher: Victoria
Brooks
May 22-29, 2011: Teacher: Sandy
Delehanty
Rates
$3,190 per person (land cost) + $550 for single room
Includes
- Avignon train station pick up at 3PM and drop at 11AM
- A welcome reception
- All breakfasts
- All nights at our villa-hotel
- 4 dinners
- All art classes
- Entrance fees to all sites on the tour
- Transportation in a comfortable van with A/C
- A personal bilingual chauffeur/guide throughout the week
- Cold soft drinks, bottled water and snacks during day trips
- A free Paris planner for a self guided visit in Paris: suggestions
of hotels, restaurants and places to visit
Excludes
- Flights to and from France
- Train to Avignon
- Lunches and 3 dinners
- Drinks
- Optional activities
- Personal expenses and tipping
Painting in Belgium
You will be enchanted by the Capital of the Flemish painters,
Bruges or the Venice of the North and Belgium's specialties like chocolate,
lace making, beer, diamants and waffles.
Day 1: Arrival
We will pick you up at the Brussels airport and we will drive
you to your home close to Bruges.
We will take a walk in this charming town, listed one of the most
beautiful towns in Belgium. After a welcome reception and orientation
meeting, you will have your first Belgian dinner.
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Days 2, 3 and 4: Bruges, the Venice of the North
We will take a boat from our village to Bruges. That is a very scenic
drive along the canals and mills.

© Toerisme Brugge
This splendid medieval city is one of Belgium's crown jewels and
is largely considered one of the most beautiful towns in Europe. In
no other European city are the look and feel of medieval times so
present as here in this city close to the North Sea.
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The historic downtown of Bruges has been a UNESCO World Heritage
Site since 2000. In 2002, Bruges was designated the 'cultural
capital of Europe'.
We will take a walk from the quaint Beguinage quarters to the
impressive Grand Place so that you can decide what to paint.
For three days, you will paint this jewel town. Make sure to
visit the museum Groeninge or museum of Fine Arts: A splendid
and very valuable collection of Flemish masters from the 15th
to the 20th century. First of all, there are two works by Jan
Van Eyck, the first and most important 'Flemish Primitive'.
The museum's masterpiece is 'The Madonna with Canon Joris van
der Paele', which was painted by Van Eyck in 1436.
While the painters are busy, we will go with non-painters for
some visits like the lace workshops, the chocolate museum and
demonstration, the olderst Belgian brewery, etc...The visit
of Bruges will not be complete without a boat ride on the beautiful
canals.
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Making lace by hand, in Bruges |

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© Photo Credit: Painting by Sonja Hamilton SWA
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Day 5: Mills and canals in Damme
Damme is one of the most charming villages in Belgium. Located
in the Flanders, between the beaches and Bruges this village
will
enchante you with its mills, canals, barges, gothic church and
plaza. The vignettes to paint are endless.
You can rent a bike (very easy bike ride) or walk from the
guesthouse
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Day 6: Dune Beaches by the North Sea
Ten miles from our guesthouse, we will go to the coast by the North Sea.
You can paint (or shop) all along the sandy beaches or by the
boardwalk that is alive with outdoor cafes, shops, bikers, rollerbladers
and strange vehicles known as cuistax.
We will have dinner by the beach to see the sunset.
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Day 7: The Royal City of Brussels
Today will be a cultural day but you can decide to paint in
Brussels and not do the visits.
Morning: Guided
Walk in the Heart of Brussels
The bilingual capital of Belgium, is renowned for its architecture
(medieval, Gothic, Art Nouveau and Art Déco), the Grand Place,
the royal palace, its pubs and its expensive boutiques.
The Grand Place, (an old market square surrounded by buildings
from 16th - 18th centuries) with its Golden Gothic facades is
widely considered to be one of the most beautiful town squares
in Europe.
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Afternoon: Free Time for Shopping,
Museums or Painting
Since this is your last day, you will probably have some shopping to
do. You can find everything in Brussels, from cheap shops to luxurious
boutiques. If you are not a shopper, there are plenty of museums to
choose from. You can also buy some chocolates at the famous Newhaus
chocolate maker regarded as number one in Belgium.
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, we will drive you to Brussels airport.
For more pictures and stories about the trip,
visit
our blog.
Accommodation
A charming B&B in the Flanders
The guesthouse in Flanders is only 7 miles from Brugges. The quaint
guesthouse has a beautiful sun room where we will take our breakfasts
and a big living room with a grand piano. It has 11 rooms, each with
radio and TV, and full bathroom. You will be able to relax either
in the open air swimming pool or in the hot tub.
Dates
August 27-Sept 3, 2011 with teacher Myrna
Wacknov
Rates
$2,890 + $550 for single room
Includes
- Brussels airport pick-up at 1PM and drop-off at 11AM
- A welcome reception
- 7 nights at our guesthouse in Damme
- All breakfasts and lunches
- 5 dinners
- All art classes
- Transportation in a comfortable van
- A personal bilingual chauffeur/guide throughout the week
- Cold soft drinks, bottled water and snacks during day trips
- Entrance fees to all sites on the tour
Excludes
- Flights to and from Belgium
- 2 dinners
- drinks
- Optional activities
- Personal expenses and tipping
Painting in Switzerland:
Click here to see the details of
the plein air painting trip to Switzerland
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