Join me for an unforgettable painting holiday in Alsace, a stunningly beautiful part of France famous for its charming scenery and clear light which has captivated artists through the centuries. We’ll have plenty of time to capture once-in-a-lifetime experiences on the pages of our watercolor journals as we explore all the charming villages of Alsace. In this week-long workshop, I’ll offer daily demonstrations of techniques for painting the subject matter you’ll encounter each day. And you’ll be painting right along with me, since we learn more by doing than by simply observing. The workshop is suitable for all levels, but some experience with drawing and watercolor would be helpful.
 
Location: Alsace, France
Instructor: Leslie Fehling
Cost: $3,840 before 1/30/25
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-584-6919

Join Laura Silburn at Atelier Clos Mirabel for a 5-day botanical art workshop in the French Pyrenees ~ South West France. Enjoy wonderful surroundings, accommodation and delicious meals. Explore the botanical delights of this flora-rich part of the world. Laura will help you examine a chosen plant or vegetable through careful observation and sketchbook work. You will then compose an image that reflects its natural character whilst observing botanical truth. You will be guided on how to take your drawings through to a completed botanical watercolour and shown techniques for dry-brush finishing. Laura has work at Kew Gardens, The Hunt Institute, the Florilegium of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, and the Eden Project Cornwall.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Laura Silburn
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Róisín Curé for a fun week exploring the joys of sketching. Create your own original artwork and discover a beautiful area of France. As an artist, confidence is key. The path to confidence comes down to two things: volume of work produced, and being guided correctly. In this immersive, week-long course I will demonstrate and teach the key elements that will raise your game as an on-location sketcher: composition, accurate drawing technique, mechanics of watercolour for beauty and control, using a limited colour palette, and rendering correct values. Each day we’ll be out and about (or in studio in the case of bad weather), choosing small scenes in which you can capture a beautiful vignette of the area.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Róisín Curé
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + 500 Euros tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Rita Sabler for a week of travel sketching in South West France. Document your journey in a sketchbook using ink and watercolour. Let images and words work together in harmony to tell the story of place. Have you ever arrived in a new place and been immediately overwhelmed by its unique character and beauty? Our natural instinct is to capture this beauty, to cherish and remember it. Taking photos provides a quick and easy solution, but doesn’t allow you to really look and absorb the place with all of your senses to truly make it yours. Join us in this magical place with majestic mountains and hidden villages, creating a travel sketchbook that truly captures the place and honors its beauty.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Rita Sabler
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join printmaking and drawing specialist Sam Marshall in South West France for a week of experimentation with linocut and drypoint, creating beautiful artworks inspired by your surroundings. During this week, you will discover the joys of keeping an observational sketchbook, using the contents as inspiration to create linocut and drypoint prints. You will spend the first part of the workshop sketching outside, finding which elements of the landscape interest you most. You will experiment with different types of drawing materials — coloured pencils, brush pens, wax crayons — finding your own unique style of drawing and mark-making. You will then return to the studio and begin the process of transforming these drawings into ideas for your linocut and drypoint print creations.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Sam Marshall
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + 500 euros for tuition
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

If you’re inspired by Impressionism and the romantic beauty of the French countryside, join award-winning artist Aimee Erickson for a plein air workshop in the heart of Normandy. North of Paris, our château estate is nestled among fairytale forests and villages. This luminous region has long inspired artists with its shifting light and soft atmosphere. Aimee is celebrated for her expressive work and insightful teaching. Her workshops are immersive, inspiring, and perfect for artists ready to grow technically and creatively. Paint for nine unforgettable days in one of France’s most storied regions. Limited spots available for this extraordinary experience in 2026. All inclusive, excluding airfare.
 
Location: Normandy, France
Instructor: Aimee Erickson
Cost: $5,950 USD (All inclusive minus airfare)
Sponsor: Workshops in France
Website, email, 818-533-2363

Join four leading artists—Juliette Aristides, J Louis, Nicolas Martin, and Vanessa Rothe—for a unique, all-inclusive (minus airfare) workshop and retreat in France. Hosted by Workshops in France, this event celebrates the 10th anniversary of Americans in Paris. Enjoy painting at a château in Normandy, guided museum tours, and plein air sessions in Paris. Learn classical realism, alla prima techniques, bold color use, and lighting from our acclaimed instructors. Rothe will also lecture on the evolution of painting—from Bouguereau’s realism to Impressionism to the decorative shapes of Bonnard and the Nabis. Whether you're a painter or art lover, this unforgettable experience offers fine art, history, and inspiration in one of the most beautiful regions of France.
 
Location: Normandy, France
Instructor: Vanessa Rothe, Nicolas Martin & more
Cost: $6,300 USD (All inclusive minus airfare)
Sponsor: Workshops in France
Website, email, 818-533-2363

Join Giacomina Ferrillo for a week-long botanical art workshop in the French Pyrenees of South West France. Enjoy wonderful surroundings, delightful accommodation and delicious meals. This workshop is designed not only to provide basic technical notions and the main tools of botanical art, but also to teach you how to approach various botanical subjects. We will learn to use the ink pen with specific exercises, shadows, colour and how to compose sketchbook pages. We will tackle botanical watercolour techniques by mixing colours, organizing the palette and studying the control of the brushstroke. Thus, over the course of the week, we will create a composition with various botanical subjects different in species, shape and colour, respecting their character and scientific data.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Giacomina Ferrillo
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

If you’re a beginner or looking to strengthen your fundamentals, this all-inclusive (minus airfare) bootcamp-style retreat in Provence is for you. Learn traditional techniques, build confidence, and discover the joy of painting in a supportive, immersive environment. Created by founder Julie Snyder, this workshop includes painting drills, demos, one-on-one sessions, and expert feedback—all designed to help you grow. Work alongside experienced instructors at a historic 13th-century château overlooking the Luberon Valley. Enjoy plein air sessions on the estate and excursions to nearby villages, vineyards, and markets. Whether you’re new to art or transitioning to plein air, this unforgettable experience will elevate your skills while letting you soak up the beauty, culture, and charm of southern France.
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: Julie Snyder, Shirley Hambrick & more
Cost: $5,250 USD (All inclusive minus airfare)
Sponsor: Workshops in France
Website, email, 818-533-2363

Discover the fascinating world of Botanical Art, starting with a walk around the magnificent Clos Mirabel property to choose your subject. A variety of plants will be in bloom including Roses, Hydrangeas, Iris, Lupin, Lilies and numerous fruits and vegetables growing in the Jardin Potager. Catherine will introduce her 10 stages to successfully illustrate a subject. You will carefully observe, measure and draw your subject focusing on form, light and texture. After composing your illustration, we will discuss the properties of watercolours and transparent colour mixing. You will apply several layers from the base tea wash to the dry brush finishing touches, using proper lighting to make your subject come to life. If you prefer, you can use coloured pencils.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Catherine Watters
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + $525 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join artist and tutor Chloe Briggs with life model Ioi Choi, alongside like-minded passionate makers for a week of creative experimentation in mixed-media. Overlooking the Pyrénées mountains, this incredible setting will provide endless inspiration. Combined with focused expert instruction, Chloe’s workshop aims to inspire long lasting joy - motivating you to take on new works with confidence and ambition. She aims to remove the judgement which so often can hold us back from true creativity.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Chloe Briggs
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + 450€ for tuition
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

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: Provence, France
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$3570
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

We’ve chartered the entire ship! So, excluding the friendly crew and staff, just about every passenger will be a fellow sketcher! Your three master workshop instructors are: Brenda Swenson, Shari Blaukopf and Suhita Shirodkhar! This once-in-a-lifetime creative journey includes: 8 days and 7 nights of luxury travel on the historic River Rhine, from Amsterdam through Nijmegen-Arnheim (Holland), to Cologne and Mainz (Germany), through Strasbourg and Ribeauvillé (France), finally docking in Basel (Switzerland). Enjoy on-board sketching sessions, where you’ll learn how to quickly capture natural scenes, skies and townscapes as we sail to our next destination. You will have time to wander, shop and absorb local culture at every stop — or simply sit and continue sketching to your heart’s content.
 
Location: Strasbourg & Ribeauvillé, France
Instructor: Brenda, Shari and Suhita
Cost: starts at € 4,990
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-584-6919

Imagine a place where every village looks hand-painted, every vineyard rolls like a brushstroke across the hills, and every street corner whispers tales from centuries past. Welcome to Alsace - a jewel of eastern France where French charm and German soul mingle in perfect harmony, creating a cultural tapestry as rich and nuanced as a watercolor wash. Medieval towns, with their flower-laden balconies and timber-framed homes, feel like they've stepped out of a fairytale and onto your sketchpad. Relish the camaraderie of like-minded artists as you savor gourmet meals and sip velvety local wines. With hands-on instruction, 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: Alsace, France
Instructor: Shari Blaukopf
Cost: starts at US $4,190
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-584-6919

Join botanical artist and experienced tutor, Mary Dillon, for an immersive botanical art retreat where you’ll explore the beauty of summer blooms and refine your artistic skills in a serene, stunning setting. Connect with fellow artists, discover new watercolour painting techniques, and let the vibrant surroundings inspire you. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to create, relax, and grow — all while surrounded by the enchanting landscapes of south west France. Everything about being in Clos Mirabel is special. From the warmth of your welcome by the family and team at Clos Mirabel to your first view of the Pyrenees, your beautifully appointed accommodation and the most delicious variety of locally sourced foods, you know that this will be a week for you!
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Mary Dillon
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + 600€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Nina Johansson for a fun week exploring the joys of sketching. Create your own totally original artwork and discover a beautiful area of South West France. Sketching from observation is a great way to experience a place! In this course we will bring our sketching tools outside to explore Clos Mirabel and its surroundings, capturing them on paper. We will be using lines and colours – pencils, pens and brushes – to capture the look and feel of everything around us. The subjects will cover whatever we encounter during the course, landscapes, architecture, villages, people, botanicals, food – everything becomes interesting to investigate when you sketch. We will start out on location and use the atelier for continued work and explorations.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Nina Johansson
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + 350€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Samantha Dion Baker for a fun week exploring the joys of sketching and watercolour. Create your own original artwork and discover a beautiful area of South West France. This workshop at Atelier Clos Maribel explores the art of seeing and storytelling through drawing, no matter your experience level. From abstract sketches to detailed renderings, there’s no right way to capture your world. Through hands-on exercises, you will get familiar with tools and materials, practice blind contour and continuous line drawing, as well as experimenting with colour, line, and composition. You will learn to organise your thoughts by creating meaningful visual narratives and challenge yourself to draw in new ways – all while capturing your adventures with confidence and creativity.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Samantha Dion Baker
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + $579 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

A painting vacation like no other! Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring grandeur of the French Alps on this unforgettable 8-day painting retreat taught by renowned artist Judy Salleh. Capture the golden glow of alpine meadows, the crisp reflections of snow-capped peaks in crystal-clear lakes, and the charming villages nestled in the valley, where the mountain pine fills the air. Relish the camaraderie of like-minded artists as you savor cheese fondue and local wines. With hands-on instruction, 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: Haute-Savoie, France
Instructor: Judy Salleh
Cost: starts at US $3,840
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-584-6919

Award-winning watercolorist Marc Folly leads an immersive 9-day workshop in the scenic Languedoc region of Southwestern France. With his masterful control of light, color, and unconventional subjects—from sunlit interiors to industrial settings—Marc offers a poetic and bold approach to watercolor painting. The workshop is all-inclusive (minus airfare) and includes château-style accommodation at a historic olive-mill estate, meals and ground transportation. Expect daily demos, guided exercises, group critiques, and personalized one-on-one feedback under Marc’s expert instruction. Enjoy excursions to hilltop villages, markets, vineyards, and private vineyards as painting inspiration. Whether you're experienced or simply seeking creative expansion, this retreat promises artistic growth, camaraderie, and deep immersion in one of France’s most captivating regions.
 
Location: Moulin in Languedoc, France
Instructor: Marc Folly
Cost: $5,600 USD (All inclusive minus airfare)
Sponsor: Workshops in France
Website, email, 818 533 2363

Join master watercolorists Joseph Zbukvic and Lisa Wang for an immersive, all-inclusive (minus airfare) nine-day artistic retreat near the Côte d'Azur. Set on a picturesque vineyard estate minutes from the Mediterranean, the workshop begins with a two-day indoor masterclass led by Lisa, teaching how to create emotive, spontaneous images from photo references. This transitions into four plein air painting days under Joseph’s expert instruction among hilltop villages, estate grounds, and coastal vistas. Expect daily demos, group painting sessions, individual critiques, and supportive coaching all included—plus estate accommodation, meals and ground transportation. Non-painting partners welcome. Whether you’re advancing your watercolor practice or seeking fresh inspiration, this retreat offers transformative learning in stunning southern France.
 
Location: Côte d'Azur, France
Instructor: Joseph Zbukvic & Lisa Wang
Cost: $6,100 USD (All inclusive minus airfare)
Sponsor: Workshops in France
Website, email, 818 533 2363

Join acclaimed plein air artists Josh Clare & Bryan Mark Taylor for an immersive, all-inclusive (minus airfare) painting retreat in Provence, near the Côte d’Azur. Set at a charming historic moulin nestled in the stunning countryside, the workshop blends the emotional resonance of Clare’s expressive light-filled scenes with Taylor’s dynamic cityscape and landscape expertise. Over eight inspiring days, expect guided plein air sessions, daily demos, group critiques, and individualized instruction designed to deepen your understanding of light, atmosphere, composition, and narrative. Included are accommodation, meals, ground transportation and excursions across villages and vineyards. Non-painting partners are welcome too! Whether you’re expanding your technical skills or seeking creative revitalization, this French experience promises artistic growth and memorable immersion in beauty.
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: Josh Clare & Bryan Mark Taylor
Cost: $6,150 USD (All inclusive minus airfare)
Sponsor: Workshops in France
Website, email, 818 533 2363