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.

Rural France Painting by Pat Brothen

Provence Painting by Pat Brothen

Belgium Painting by Bonnie Crosse

Switzerland Painting by Sonja Hamilton

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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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.

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.

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.

Painting Credits: Jann Pollard

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.

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.

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…

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.

Dates

August 28-Sept 4, 2010: Teacher: Victoria Brooks

Rates

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.

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.

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.

Making lace by hand, in Bruges

© Photo Credit: Painting by Sonja Hamilton SWA

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

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.

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.

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

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

Rates

Painting in Switzerland: