Watercolor painting Holiday in Dordogne

Course overview

From Saturday 23^th Sept 2024 to 30^th Sept 2023

It is not possible to book directly online on our website. So please contact us directly.

This course is designed for artists who have some experience of painting outdoors and wish to capture the beautiful scenery and changing light of this stunning area of South West France in April.

 

Our tutor, Christine Forbes has been teaching art for many years and has a wide experience of many different media. She is an extremely accomplished, talented and experienced artist and tutor. She also teaches regularly at West Dean College West Sussex.

 

This course welcomes those who want to paint in watercolour and get a good, solid grounding in observational drawing too.

You should bring all materials with you. There are many lightweight easels on the market that collapse in small packages and go easily into your luggage. There is also an Art Shop at nearby Sarlat-la-Canéda for emergency supplies.

Each working day will start with a “teach in” at the studio in the Manor house, focusing on a particular aspect of watercolour painting. For example, composition, colour, tone etc. This is designed to prepare the artists and help them when they start their work.

Please bring a camera, iPhone or iPad if you wish to record views or other visual information. We do expect to be outside for a period every day but we may well be working in the studio too (weather and course structure dependant). In addition to your art materials, please bring an idea/image that you would like to ‘translate’ into watercolour or generally explore (for example a cloudscape) with the tutor’s help.

At the end of each working day we will meet in the studio and there will be a roundup to look at each other’s work, and discuss the points of the day, followed by dinner at Les Charmes.

Our tutor Christine, will ensure that each artist will be encouraged to develop their own approach to the landscape through one to one support throughout the course.

 

Participants should be able to walk for short distances carrying their equipment. We will transport you to each painting location each day.

If you would like to find out more about our tutor Christine do please look at her web site Christine Forbes.

 

Maximum class size: 6
Days of Tuition: 5

Painting Holiday includes

Please note that holidays do not include flights or transport to and from the airport or train stations. Please see “contact us” for more details about finding us.

• 7 nights accommodation in a private en-suite double bedroom in our 5 star beautiful 18^th Century Manor House
• Prices are based on one artist travelling solo. If you are travelling with a partner not participating in the course, they can just pay for the meals they join. They are very welcome.
• Course starts with an arrival dinner on Saturday evening followed by tuition starting Sunday morning and finishes Friday evening
• 5 day watercolour painting course with Christine Forbes outstanding artist and extremely experienced, sort after tutor
• All meals served at Les Charmes de Carlucet. Apart from 2 dinners out at popular local restaurants on Tuesday & Friday evening. They are included in the price
• House wine included with meals. Additional drinks can be purchased at Les Charmes
• Wednesday free day with an optional guided visit to the World famous caves of Lascaux (not included in the price. Costs €20 per person)
• Transport to and from painting sites

Painting activities include:

• Sunday evening welcome drinks and dinner at Les Charmes. Meet your hosts Kerry and Tomas and your tutor Christine Forbes. Presentation by Christine of the weeks programme
• Breakfast is served in our beautiful sunny dining room overlooking the pool and gardens, followed by an introduction to the project of the day focusing on a different aspect of watercolour painting designed to help prepare each artist for the days work
• Then the group will be led into the field on practical and enjoyable outings around the glorious countryside, visiting gorges, cliffs or other natural views such as woodland, garden etc.of the famous Dordogne region.
• There will be a painting session each morning, followed by lunch back at Les Charmes. Then another painting session in the afternoon
• Each day will finish back at Les Charmes for an assessment of the day where Christine will continue to encourage each artist in the development of their own approach to watercolour painting

About our tutor

Christine Forbes works from the natural world, whether landscape or plant life. Her drawing and painting courses are based on a structured start working towards more free and intuitive painting techniques. She has been teaching at West Dean College (West Sussex) for 13 years and also for other art groups and organisations.

Christine receives extremely positive feedback from her courses which are often sold out, because she stretches her students a little and teaches them new approaches – getting them away from ‘literal’ painting methods towards more expressive brushwork skills. Her course would appeal to anyone wishing to explore ‘the possibilities’ of watercolour in a very personal way.

Course dates

• From Saturday 23^th Sept 2023 to 30^th Sept 2023

  Detailed itinerary