Join us in Costa Brava for this unforgettable 8-day travel painting vacation taught by renowned artist Michelle Held. Imagine yourself along the sun-drenched coves of the Costa Brava, where the salty breeze of the Mediterranean mingles with the scent of pine and grilled seafood, and the rhythmic lull of the waves harmonizes with the distant laughter of seaside cafés. Relish the camaraderie of like-minded artists as you savor gourmet tapas and sip sangria. With hands-on painting instruction in gouache and oil, stunning scenery, and a supportive, joyful atmosphere, you’ll leave with not just new skills but cherished memories and a heart full of creative energy.
 
Location: Costa Brava, Spain
Instructor: Michelle Held
Cost: starts at US $3,990
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-584-6919

Join our luxurious painting and cultural tour onboard Celebrity Equinox, sailing from Barcelona to the enchanting coasts of Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Experience the perfect blend of art, culture, and relaxation, with painting sessions led by award-winning watercolorist Vladislav Yeliseyev and private guided tours offering rich cultural insight. The private tours ensure a personalized and intimate experience, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the local culture and scenery, make new friends and creating lasting memories and stunning artworks. This tour is designed for everyone - whether you wish to learn from Vlad, paint independently, or simply enjoy the journey as a non-painter. Visit: Barcelona, Cadiz, Lisbon (overnight), Porto, and Tangier.
 
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev
Cost: $5234
Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art - BonArt Voyage
Website, email, 941-330-6865

A unique 11-night art workshop/art tour open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). 7 days of plein-air painting, art history/theory lectures, and gastronomy in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence followed by 4 days visiting Barcelona’s top art sites and enjoying Catalan cuisine. The price of CAD 4890 per person (around US$ 3570) includes instruction, 11-night double accommodation, 11 breakfasts, 6 healthy lunches, 6 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from the Manosque train station to our lodge, transportation to all painting sites, TGV train ticket Avignon-Barcelona, transportation and entrance fees to all sites on schedule (Cézanne’s studio, La Sagrada Familia, Picasso Museum, Miró Museum, etc.). Limited single rooms for a supplement of CAD 885 (around US$ 650).
 
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$3570
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

Join me for an unforgettable week on the Costa Brava, surrounded by breathtaking views. This workshop focuses on painting quickly, on location, capturing light and atmosphere rather than detail. Participants will work in sketchbooks or on small sheets. The goal is not to finish images, but to train the eye to decide fast and paint with clarity. A proven and efficient process will be shared: drawing first, strong values, limited palette, and confident brushwork. Speed is not an effect — it is a tool to stay connected to what is essential. The Costa Brava, with its light, sea, and simple forms, is an ideal place for this approach. Each session will alternate between short demonstrations, practice, and individual guidance.
 
Location: Calella de Palafrugell, Spain
Instructor: Jean-François Arnaud
Cost: starts at US $4,290
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-584-6919

Join me for an unforgettable week on the Costa Brava, surrounded by breathtaking views! I cannot imagine a more dynamic sun-filled opportunity than the landscape of Costa Brava, Spain. The goal of this watercolor workshop is to identify and capture sunlight within a plein air painting. Utilizing my patented plein air viewfinder, we will capture our images and transform them into plein air paintings. Daily demonstrations and instruction will accompany my presentations. You will be amazed at my “Before and After” approach that allows you to see into the future of your own painting. This workshop is geared towards independent personal painting development and is open to all levels of artists, regardless of their artistic ability.
 
Location: Calella de Palafrugell, Spain
Instructor: Russell Jewell
Cost: starts at US $4,290
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-584-6919

Join me on the Costa Brava, where we will spend our week sketching and capturing all our experiences in our sketchbook to create a rich and immersive experience. We will sometimes sketch quick vignettes on the go, and at other times, we will paint more immersive panoramas where we slow down to capture the essence of place in a single piece. Our sketches will include landscapes, architecture, life on the streets and in cafes, as well as the unique fauna, flora and natural formations around us. Lessons will cover topics like color, people sketching, painting water and foliage, texture and mark-making, and composing vignettes. Our travels will take us to beautiful beaches, botanical gardens, medieval villages and a tour into Dali’s world.
 
Location: Calella de Palafrugell, Spain
Instructor: Suhita Shirodkar
Cost: starts at US $4,290
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-584-6919

Join Kirah Van Sickle for a week-long painting adventure in Spain, immersing yourself in the sun-dappled beauty of the Costa Brava. Our art adventure taps into Kirah’s extensive command of color theory and painting fundamentals, to build dynamic compositions and capture the amazing coastal light! Through sketching and small landscape studies, we will pull from the Impressionist and post-Impressionist playbook to build color-mixing confidence, and capture the dynamics of atmospheric perspective in innovative ways. Kirah encourages a daily sketchbook practice and loves combining bold color studies with dynamic landscape compositions. Having daily sketch prompts, fun “quick study” painting techniques, and a variety of compositional templates, builds color-mixing and brush-handling confidence. Seasoned beginners to advanced artists are welcome.
 
Location: Calella de Palafrugell, Spain
Instructor: Kirah Van Sickle
Cost: starts at US $4,290
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-584-6919

A unique 11-night art workshop/art tour open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors). Seven days of plein-air painting, art history/theory lectures, and gastronomy in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence followed by four days visiting Barcelona’s top art sites and enjoying Catalan cuisine. The price of CAD 4990 per person (around US$ 3660) includes instruction, 11-night double accommodation, 11 breakfasts, 6 healthy lunches, 6 gourmet dinners, transportation from the Manosque train station to our house, transportation to all painting sites, TGV train ticket from Avignon to Barcelona, transportation and entrance fees to all sites on schedule (Cézanne’s studio, La Sagrada Familia, Picasso Museum, Miró Museum, etc.). Limited single rooms for a supplement of CAD 885 (around US$ 650).
 
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$ 3660
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789