Join Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling in Giverny and have a creative life experience. You’ll enjoy inspiring locations such as Monet’s garden, daily painting demonstrations, personalized instruction, and encouraging support from Cindy and Theresa. We show you how to simplify and design your subject, draw confidently, jazz up your colors, paint with serendipity and experiment with new techniques. Create colorful paintings en Plein Air with an emphasis on celebrating your own unique point of view.
 
Location: Giverny, France
Instructor: Cindy Briggs & Theresa Goesling
Cost: $3,990
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling in Giverny and have a creative life experience. You’ll enjoy inspiring locations such as Monet’s garden, daily painting demonstrations, personalized instruction, and encouraging support from Cindy and Theresa. We show you how to simplify and design your subject, draw confidently, jazz up your colors, paint with serendipity and experiment with new techniques. Create colorful paintings en Plein Air with an emphasis on celebrating your own unique point of view.
 
Location: Watercolor Painting Workshop, France
Instructor: Cindy Briggs & Theresa Goesling
Cost: $3,990
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

This unique one-day art workshop in the Ottawa region (Gatineau Hills) is more than an introduction to plein air painting as you will learn to interpret and depict the landscape in a personal way. The reflection about the intertwining of two realities, nature’s and yours as the viewer, will lead to a synthesis of both on canvas. The cost of CAD 440, plus applicable taxes, includes entrance ticket and one-hour art history lecture at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) in Ottawa, transportation to our workshop site in the Gatineau Hills, 3 to 4 hour plein air painting coaching in the medium of your choice, a 5-course gourmet dinner including pairing wines and transportation back to Ottawa.
 
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: CAD$ 440
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

All your art materials and easel are supplied free at the painting locations as part of the price so you can relax and have fun as you learn and tour. We are celebrating 26 years of total success, positive testimonials and 100 percent customer satisfaction. If you are thinking of traveling all the way from USA to Europe for an art workshop holiday, you will definitely want to be with the magically talented and experienced Hugh O'Neill. Enjoy daily Individualized instruction with informative painting demonstrations You will visit and experience castles, beaches by the Irish Sea, St Patrick's first church, art theory lectures, touring beautiful coastal areas of County Down in Ireland.
 
Location: County Down, Ireland
Instructor: Hugh O'Neill
Cost: $1600
Website, email, 561-718-1294

The wonderful views and landscapes of the French Alps seem to be just made for watercolor. All the incredible villages, lakes and mountains are just begging to be caught on the tip of your brush. Moving from place to place, we will find the best locations to create vibrant and sunny watercolors. Every day will be a discovery for you—and a new opportunity for painting in watercolor. In addition to traditional watercolor techniques, I will introduce you to my personal methods and secrets. Join us for relaxation and enjoyment of the French Alps with a very rich and informative workshop in the open air.
 
Location: Haute-Savoie, France
Instructor: Michael Solovyev
Cost: $3,990
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join Alison for a week of joyful exploration of Place, in the beautiful city of Cortona. Sitting in ancient squares, by fountains, or in cafes, I’ll show you some simple ways to capture buildings. In markets we’ll talk about how to include figures in your sketches. Overlooking vistas of vineyards and far off hills, we’ll explore how to simplify the scene to focus on important elements and create depth. Drawing and painting on loose pages rather than in a watercolour journal, allows us to loosen up and have fun with experimental techniques and a variety of media. We’ll work with watercolour, pen, ink, marker, on different papers, to create images, which we will curate into a concertina book.
 
Location: Cortona, Italy
Instructor: Alison Watt
Cost: From $3,790.00 per person all-inclusive
Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops
Website, email, 978-407-7127

While learning the importance of oil painting techniques and principles (values, edges, composition, etc.), enjoy the joy of actually painting Spain en plein air! The enthusiasm for painting the beaches, cliffs and boats will be contagious! Kathie will walk through her process of narrowing down the choices of subject matter and then demo before it’s time for you to get your brushes wet too… and she will be right alongside cheering you on with personal instruction and encouragement! There is a reason why you want to paint. Kathie will work to help you tap that desire by throwing herself into the entire experience and beauty of the Costa Brava!
 
Location: Costa Brava/Barcelona, Spain
Instructor: Kathie Odom
Cost: $3,990
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Painting in Belgium – a dream come true! From quaint little buildings, to beaches, mossy canals and windmills. We get the chance to paint them all! You will be learning some of the most valuable skills in watercolor, such as working wet-on-wet, learning to recognize the moisture content of the paper and why the thickness of your paint mixture is so important. Watercolor is so much easier once you learn these little fundamentals. Our days are relaxed and informative (with lots of good food and laughter in the mix). If you are a first-time plein air painter (and afraid), you’ll find it painless! We will also be working in the studio with lots of demos, handouts and personal attention.
 
Location: Bruges, Belgium
Instructor: Kathie George
Cost: $3,890
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Just imagine….200 year old olive trees, charming hilltop villages, bustling outdoor cafés and window boxes overflowing with colorful flowers. Now, put yourself in the picture, sitting at a little café with your sketchbook and paints, sketching a window across the way, with its lace curtains, blue shutters, and red geraniums. Can you see it? Can you feel it? Well, why not experience it? Join me for an unforgettable painting holiday in Provence, a region famous for its stunning scenery and clear light which has captivated artists through the centuries. In this week-long workshop, we’ll relax and enjoy long autumn days sketching in this stunningly beautiful part of France. Capture once-in-a-lifetime experiences on the pages of your watercolor journals!
 
Location: Fontaine de Vaucluse, France
Instructor: Leslie Fehling
Cost: $3,990
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Mariette Egreteau Martelli was born in France but now lives in Arezzo, where she has been a teacher for more than thirty years. She has a scientific background and has always been interested in the link between science and art, with her curiosity fully satisfied in the spectacle offered by nature. Light playing on ordinary objects, and the transparency of sky and water are her favourite subjects. She mostly uses watercolour to express herself, for its immediacy and union between water and light. She is bilingual in French and Italian and fluent in English.
 
Location: Assisi, Italy
Instructor: Mariette Egreteau Martelli
Cost: 2600 €
Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis
Website, email

Sicily – It's on everyone's bucket list, with colorful sunsets, olive groves, vineyards, and picturesque villages with narrow streets, a never ending range of restaurants and cafés, blue skies and beautiful nature, it’s a painters paradise… And it will be our home for 7 days. The workshop is hosted by the retreat center Salinara. Our daily watercolor routine will include daily demonstrations by Gary, along with time for individual instruction. Afternoons will vary between painting time, exploring the region on your own, or possible one of the many activities offered through Salinara – on designated days Gary will conduct group critique over cocktails before the evening meal.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Gary Tucker
Cost: From 2300 $
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email

This pastel workshop is designed for the beginning and intermediate pastelist and will cover materials, basic design, color, and application. Some materials will be supplied. We will be painting from life and photographs taken on-site or in the surrounding areas of Umbria, the Green Heart of Italy. This is a great opportunity to learn the fundamentals of pastel painting as well as providing a challenge to those who already have a basic understanding of pastel technique. Expect plenty of encouragement and actionable advice. Enjoy a beautiful location with magnificent views and a special atmosphere that only Umbria can offer.
 
Location: Assisi, Italy
Instructor: Neva Rossi Smoll
Cost: 2600 €
Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis
Website, email

We will be a lovely small group where I can work with you individually to ensure that every aspect of the experience meets your expectations. There will be plenty of opportunity to have your questions answered and have fun along the way. I will show you how to make fast improvements by sharing my most successful tips for watercolour sketching. You will receive plenty of demonstrations and examples to support you along the way. Learn how to sketch confidently, understand paint consistency and application and mix wonderful glowing colours! The subjects covered will be truly inspirational – including beautiful beaches, cliffs, boats, botanical garden, local scenes and sketching the everyday such as your lunch.
 
Location: Costa Brava/Barcelona, Spain
Instructor: Judy Salleh
Cost: $3,790
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Keiko Tanabe is a Japanese contemporary artist who has won multiple awards. We are so proud that she’s coming to SALINARA for the fourth time. Come to enjoy a masterful tuition by Keiko Tanabe. Subject matters will be landscape, Mediterranean seascape, old historic city scape, and indoor locations in the authentic 18th century farmhouse where the participants will stay. Sicily is like a dream, colorful sunset, olive groves, lined vineyards, picturesque villages with narrow streets, churches, a never ending range of restaurants and cafés, blue skies and beautiful nature, jovial, kind and friendly people, traditional foods and great local wine. Art, mixture of history and culture, nature create a unique atmosphere and stimulate your creativity. Limited single rooms for a supplement.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Keiko Tanabe
Cost: From € 2050
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email

A Sketchbook Journaling Workshop with Karen Ramsay. Come join us and capture Mallorca in watercolor! As we fill our art travel journals with sketching and watercolors, Karen will give us tips and tricks for improving this special skill. Sketching on location, while traveling, is an art form that you can take with you on every future trip. The daily sketches that you create will become a treasured visual diary of your travel. During this week in Mallorca, we will explore the island, its many scenic areas - from the gorgeous views over the Mediterranean Sea to the small towns in the Tramuntana mountain range: the artist town of Deia, the scenic towns of Fornalutx and Valldemossa and the capital Palma.
 
Location: Valldemossa, Mallorca, Spain
Instructor: Karen Ramsay
Cost: $3,890
Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours
Website, email, 970-846-9000

This pastel workshop is designed for the beginning and intermediate pastelist and will cover materials, basic design, color, and application. Some materials will be supplied. We will be painting from life and photographs taken on-site or in the surrounding areas of Umbria, the Green Heart of Italy. This is a great opportunity to learn the fundamentals of pastel painting as well as providing a challenge to those who already have a basic understanding of pastel technique. Expect plenty of encouragement and actionable advice. Enjoy a beautiful location with magnificent views and a special atmosphere that only Umbria can offer.
 
Location: Assisi, Italy
Instructor: Neva Rossi Smoll
Cost: 2600 €
Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis
Website, email

A thought-provoking and inspirational art workshop open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors). Nine full days of plein air painting, art history/theory lectures, touring, and gastronomy in the most beautiful area of Tuscany. Our teaching approach and groups limited to eight participants allow us to offer personalized instruction and a stimulating learning environment. Cost of CAD 3975 (around US$ 3000) includes instruction, 9-night accommodation in single and double rooms (limited single rooms available at no extra cost), all breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from and to the Arezzo train station, transportation to all painting sites (Montepulciano, Cortona, Pienza, etc.), train ticket to Florence, and a tour to the Uffizi Museum.
 
Location: Lucignano, Tuscany, Italy
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$ 3000
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

5-star Painting and Cultural Cruise - Italian Riviera and France! 9 nights: from Barcelona to Rome. All Mediums | All Levels | Non-Painters | Independent Painters. Welcome to our exciting painting cruise across three countries! Embark on an extraordinary 5-star Mediterranean cruise, an artistic journey that unfolds from Barcelona to Rome. This luxurious voyage includes enchanting stops along the picturesque Italian Riviera and captivating destinations in France. As you sail through azure waters and experience the opulence of a 5-star cruise, immerse yourself in unique painting adventures at each port of call. Ports of Call: Barcelona, Marseille (Provence), Nice, Santa Margherita (Portofino), La Spezia (Cinque Terre, Florence, Pisa), Naples and Rome.
 
Location: Mediterranean Cruise, Italy
Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev
Cost: see website
Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art
Website, email, 941-330-6865

5-star Painting and Cultural Cruise - Italian Riviera and France! 9 nights: from Barcelona to Rome. All Mediums | All Levels | Non-Painters | Independent Painters. Welcome to our exciting painting cruise across three countries! Embark on an extraordinary 5-star Mediterranean cruise, an artistic journey that unfolds from Barcelona to Rome. This luxurious voyage includes enchanting stops along the picturesque Italian Riviera and captivating destinations in France. As you sail through azure waters and experience the opulence of a 5-star cruise, immerse yourself in unique painting adventures at each port of call. Ports of Call: Barcelona, Marseille (Provence), Nice, Santa Margherita (Portofino), La Spezia (Cinque Terre, Florence, Pisa), Naples and Rome.
 
Location: Mediterranean Cruise, France
Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev
Cost: see website
Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art
Website, email, 941-330-6865

5-star Painting and Cultural Cruise - Italian Riviera and France! 9 nights: from Barcelona to Rome. All Mediums | All Levels | Non-Painters | Independent Painters. Welcome to our exciting painting cruise across three countries! Embark on an extraordinary 5-star Mediterranean cruise, an artistic journey that unfolds from Barcelona to Rome. This luxurious voyage includes enchanting stops along the picturesque Italian Riviera and captivating destinations in France. As you sail through azure waters and experience the opulence of a 5-star cruise, immerse yourself in unique painting adventures at each port of call. Ports of Call: Barcelona, Marseille (Provence), Nice, Santa Margherita (Portofino), La Spezia (Cinque Terre, Florence, Pisa), Naples and Rome.
 
Location: Mediterranean Cruise, Spain
Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev
Cost: see website
Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art
Website, email, 941-330-6865

Mariette Egreteau Martelli was born in France but now lives in Arezzo, where she has been a teacher for more than thirty years. She has a scientific background and has always been interested in the link between science and art, with her curiosity fully satisfied in the spectacle offered by nature. Light playing on ordinary objects, and the transparency of sky and water are her favourite subjects. She mostly uses watercolour to express herself, for its immediacy and union between water and light. She is bilingual in French and Italian and fluent in English.
 
Location: Assisi, Italy
Instructor: Mariette Egreteau Martelli
Cost: 2600 €
Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis
Website, email

Urban sketching is a skill anybody can learn! It will change the way you perceive the world. Whether you are a novice or a sketcher who feels they can do better, this workshop is for you. The focus is on black and white. It is the foundation of all sketching styles. Build confidence and practice urban sketching to capture the essence of the place by learning: What to look for, How to start the sketch, How to simplify the busy surroundings. Your Facilitator: Cristiana Mar is an experienced artist, architect, and educator, teaching adults, leading workshops in US and Mexico since 1989. Our location is Guanajuato, World Heritage city, the capital of Guanajuato state.
 
Location: Guanajuato, Mexico
Instructor: Cristiana Mar
Cost: $500.00
Sponsor: Cristi Fer Art
Website, email, 322-153-1906

Join us for a plein air watercolour painting retreat in delightful and peaceful West-Sicily with Polish watercolorist Michal Jasiewicz. We are so proud that he’s coming to SALINARA for the second time. Michal will be your tutor during your stay at the stunning Salinara Art Farm, in the Trapani region. Daily painting excursions to surrounding salt pans, local markets, vineyards, villages such as the medieval town Erice, and Archeological Park of Selinunte, one of the most flourishing classical civilizations of the Mediterranean area. The workshop will take you through selecting a dramatic composition and simplifying it, tone, light, color theory, effects and how to build up a watercolour painting in a structured, demonstration-led setting. Limited single rooms for a supplement.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Michal Jasiewicz
Cost: From € 1750
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email

Join the 2024 Venice Biennale and Istanbul Biennial Art Tour, a unique 9-night art history trip in Italy and Turkey open to everyone, from artists and art lovers to students and lifelong learners. The cost of CAD $ 4 570 (around US$ 3420) includes 9-night double accommodation in well-rated and centrally located hotels in Venice and Istanbul; daily breakfast, group transportation to the sites on schedule (vaporetto, taxi, bus, ferry), flight from Venice to Istanbul, daily discovery walks in Venice and Istanbul, two-day entrance to the Venice Biennale and the Istanbul Biennial, entrances to the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque, and the constant service of an art historian guide and a logistics responsible.
 
Location: Venice, Italy
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$ 3420
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

Join the 2024 Venice Biennale and Istanbul Biennial Art Tour, a unique 9-night art history trip in Italy and Turkey open to everyone, from artists and art lovers to students and lifelong learners. The cost of CAD $ 4 570 (around US$ 3420) includes 9-night double accommodation in well-rated and centrally located hotels in Venice and Istanbul; daily breakfast, group transportation to the sites on schedule (vaporetto, taxi, bus, ferry), flight from Venice to Istanbul, daily discovery walks in Venice and Istanbul, two-day entrance to the Venice Biennale and the Istanbul Biennial, entrances to the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque, and the constant service of an art historian guide and a logistics responsible.
 
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$ 3420
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

Introducing history of art in Umbria – journey among the wonder. Day 1 Assisi – before and after Giotto: Cimabue and Pietro Cavallini. Investigation around art changings through the XIII century. Day 2 Spoleto – Alberto Sotio: unique XII century school of art in remote Umbria, how byzantine influences have produced masterpieces. Day 3 Montefalco – Benozzo Gozzoli: a piece of Florence in Umbria. Spello – Pinturicchio: artist of the most reach XVth century courts of Italian Renaissance. Day 4 Orvieto – From ‘300 to ‘500: three centuries in a single masterpiece, the Duomo of Orvieto and the ‘Fabrica’. Day 5 Perugia – briefing up: Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria, eight centuries of History of Art in Umbria in one place.
 
Location: Assisi, Italy
Instructor: Irene Maturi
Cost: € 2600
Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis
Website, email

Join us for an unforgettable painting tour in the enchanting city of Venice, designed for those who appreciate the finer things in life. Our tour offers luxurious accommodations, daily painting sessions, exquisite cuisine, and cultural experiences, all within a small, intimate group setting that feels like family. Each day includes demonstrations and personalized one-on-one instructions led by the renowned artist Vlad Yeliseyev, allowing you to enhance your skills while capturing the breathtaking scenes of this iconic city.
 
Location: Venice, Italy
Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev
Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art
Website, email, 941-330-6865

Granada in the south of Spain is one of the most exciting, different, and welcoming cities I know. So much is going on there in the culture historically and present. We will work mostly in our sketchbooks and Journals during our week in Granada. Moving around with only a backpack and light stools will be easier. We’ll be sketching alleys and mountains, the old casbah, and the famous Alhambra from inside and its surroundings—Flamenco performances in local bars, also gardens, and urban views. We will stay in beautiful accommodation in the heart of the old city, and from there we will have access to our sketching adventure.
 
Location: Granada, Spain
Instructor: Tali Farchi
Cost: €2900
Sponsor: Artist Table
Website, email, +31 6 24903316

Experience a hands-on, deep dive into the authentic traditions of Day of the Dead. Start with a visit to a local mercado for altar decorations & offerings. Then spend your days painting imagery & symbolic representations of loved ones in watercolor to honor their memories, assemble a beautiful group altar, construct & decorate a traditional sand tapestry. Visit two cemeteries where Oaxaqueños lovingly adorn the graves of their ancestors & bring offerings to share with their spirits. Participate in a comparsa - the traditional Muertos parade. Field trips include artisan studio visits: tapetes (woven wool rugs), alebrijes (carved wooden objects), and women's red clay collective (who will invite us to see their own gorgeous Muertos altar).
 
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
Instructor: Pedro Cruz Pacheco + Corrie McCluskey
Cost: $2200 (lodging included)
Sponsor: Oaxaca Dreams / Talismán Oaxaca
Website, email, 707-327-2747

We invite you to join us in this relaxed, beautiful, historic place. Give yourself this time and space to joyfully become a better painter! The setting of Salinara, with its rustic beauty, farm fresh meals, and interesting excursions provides the perfect environment for our “Spirit,Mind,Body” experience. Your artistic SPIRIT will be recognized, encouraged, and celebrated as you work with other creative participants. Your MIND will be engaged by discussions of Art within the group, and your problem solving skills will be challenged as you are improving your painting ability. Your BODY will be nourished with fresh food, walks, biking, and yoga sessions. The emphasis on this workshop is to help promote skill-building with your painting, regardless of your level.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Qiang Huang and Suzanne Enriquez Dougher
Cost: From 2000 $
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email

Join our unique art workshop in South America and experience the stunning Caribbean coast from Puerto Colombia (Barranquilla) to Cartagena. Learn perspective drawing and the fundamentals of watercolors and taste the best of Colombian Caribbean food and culture. After an art class, try a "mojarra con arroz con coco" with a cold Colombian beer. Sketch on the beach, attend cooking demonstrations by local chefs, join a street food tour, and more. The price of CAD 3050 per person (around US$2250) includes eight-night double accommodation in well rated hotels, all ground transportation, all breakfasts, one lunch, two suppers, one street food tour, art instruction, cooking presentations, art supplies, and more. Single rooms available for CAD 810 (around US$ 600).
 
Location: Cartagena, Colombia
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$2250
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

Need to feed your creative soul? Fill it to the brim with creative transformation and fresh inspiration. We'll mix art class - watercolor, natural pigments, mixed media/collage - with carefully curated field trips in magical Oaxaca: a traditional Carnaval celebration featuring La Danza de Los Diabilitos (Dance of the Devils) the Tuesday before Lent begins, a massive Zapotec Sunday market, a studio visit with a master mask maker where we'll paint our own masks, a master alebrije (wooden carved figures) family studio, a papermaking studio using local natural fibers, a gorgeous art center housed in a renovated textile factory, and a guided street art walk in a hip barrio - all mixed in with art instruction and creative play time.
 
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
Instructor: Pedro Cruz Pacheco + Corrie McCluskey
Cost: $2595 (includes lodging)
Sponsor: Talismán Oaxaca / Oaxaca Dreams
Website, email, 707-327-2747

Amit Kapoor is a leading master of watercolor in India. Join us for a unique and exceptional watercolor painting workshop in Sicily with the Indian artist Amit Kapoor. It’s a beautiful opportunity for you to live and paint with a master artist in an authentic Sicilian farmhouse located just 500 m from the Mediterranean sea. Participants will learn Amit’s techniques and process to paint Plein-Air and in studio, how to be expressive with bold brush strokes and colourful palette. Limited single rooms for a supplement.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Amit Kapoor
Cost: From € 2150
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email

A Watercolor Painting Workshop with Anita Winter. Known all over the world for its beauty, Provence is the artist's dream destination. Anita Winter will lead a group of watercolor painters on this painting adventure. During the days, we will explore Luberon, and its spectacular countryside of vineyards and orchards, fascinating "perched" hill-top villages, outstanding natural produce and the light of Van Gogh and Cezanne. You will soon see why artists of all calibers are drawn to this alluring area.
 
Location: Bonnieux, Provence, France
Instructor: Anita Winter
Cost: $3,890
Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours
Website, email, 970-846-9000

Join me in Carmel and Pacific Grove, where we’ll experience the wild beauty of rugged Pacific shores, the enchanting fairy-tale cottages, and historic Mission architecture that make this place so unique. I’ve designed this workshop to give you confidence sketching wherever you happen to be. I’ll show you how to keep your watercolour sketches loose, fresh and vibrant. And I’ll share my techniques for capturing the beauty that surrounds us, so you can savour it for years to come.
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: David Daniels
Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

I am so excited to teach you in this inspiring place while working outdoors in Plein Air as the Impressionist masters did! Paint the crystal blue Mediterranean waters with breathtaking vistas of the Catalonia coast, a hidden gem fishing village, botanical gardens, and medieval villages. As a painter and colorist, I have learned that the best way to achieve the feeling of light and color in your paintings is to paint outdoors. I will be your guide and teacher for an incredible week of painting, sightseeing, dining, and artistic community while we all learn and grow our artistry during the week. The experience of painting with other artists will be a treasure you carry with you for a lifetime.
 
Location: Costa Brava, Spain
Instructor: Rose Irelan
Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join me for an amazing week of plein air painting in magnificent Provence, France! This is ‘Red poppy season’ and we’ll explore and paint the exciting spring colors of glorious Provence. I’m super excited to teach you painting in such an inspiring place! We’ll paint flower fields, countryside villages, waterways and hillside castle towns, quaint, flower-filled alleyways, medieval churches, fountains and ancient archways. We’ll paint our impressions, dine exquisitely, share gorgeous sights and creative companionship, all while learning and growing our craft. I will share my methods for creating successful paintings with loose brushwork and exciting color harmonies. I will demo in oil primarily, but am proficient and happy to help with watercolor, acrylics and pastels as well.
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: Maggie Hellmann
Cost: $3,940 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

We explore the dramatic landscape of Doolin, County Clare, Ireland and translate its landscape, energy and lore into visual artwork. Our time together will be a balance between group excursions, individual exploration, and creation coupled with sharing and diving deeper into technique. We will establish a shared studio space as a center of operation as artists of any level work together in their preferred Media. Included in the retreat are 4 art workshops with Martin Bridge; field trips; 2 meals/day; housing and publication in an anthology of creativity (subject to vetting)—join us for this retreat of like-minded individuals connecting in various ways to the land in this very special place.
 
Location: Doolin, Ireland
Instructor: Martin Bridge
Cost: $1500-$2500 depending on accommodations
Sponsor: NatureCulture, and The Milk House
Website, email, 413-475-0650

You probably fell in love with making art before a painting holiday occurred to you. Classroom lessons, online sessions, or time in the studio are typically safe environments in which to learn. But once we venture outdoors to paint, the light can be dramatic, the air is filled with sights, sounds, and smells of nature. While this can all be new, it enriches the painting experience even more. When we arrive on the Costa Brava, my job is to help you capture the nuances of our surroundings with confidence. Even before departure I’ll provide practical pointers on what to bring, what to leave behind. My plein-air workshops are jam-packed with helpful tips to help you make powerful statements through your art.
 
Location: Costa Brava, Spain
Instructor: Randy Hale
Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

The Lake Como Experience - A Plein Air Watercolor Painting Workshop with Kathleen Lanzoni. Join us in Bellagio in 2025, as Kathleen Lanzoni takes a group of watercolor painters on this trip to northern Italy. During the week, this tour is designed to guide you to the finest spots along the shores of the picturesque Lake Como with its charming lakeside towns, its Renaissance architecture, Italian villas and terraced gardens. Daily we will plein air paint the beautiful towns, the lake scenes and the surrounding scenery. You will receive personal painting instruction each day. Whether you are a novice or experienced painter, this trip will be fun and an educational experience for all!
 
Location: Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy
Instructor: Kathleen Lanzoni
Cost: $3,990
Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours
Website, email, 970-846-9000

Join me for one week of sketching with watercolor in beautiful Provence! Drawing while traveling is the best way to experience and remember a new place. Traveling is also a perfect opportunity to learn or hone your drawing skills. When we see new sights everything strikes us as unusual, memorable and inspiring. We have a natural desire to admire new vistas, taste new flavors, inhale unusual aromas and record these sensations through taking photos, but also through drawing and writing. For me, drawing while traveling is instinctual, and I am eager to share my passion to fully immerse yourself in a new place through the practice of travel sketching.
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: Rita Sabler
Cost: $3,940 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

A Sketchbook Journaling Workshop with Karen Ramsay. Widely considered one of the prettiest areas of Europe, the Italian Lakes were once a playground for nobility and royals, visible in the many palaces dotting the lake shores. We will be staying in the beautiful town of Bellagio, often called "the Pearl of Lake Como", situated by the foothills of the Swiss and Italian Alps. During the week, this tour is designed to guide you to the finest spots along the shores of the picturesque Lake Como with its charming lakeside towns, its Renaissance architecture, Italian villas and terraced gardens. The Italian Lakes region has a mesmerizing, timeless beauty where we will find endless inspiration to design, generate and create art.
 
Location: Bellagio, Italy
Instructor: Karen Ramsay
Cost: $3,990
Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours
Website, email, 970-846-9000

The wonderful views and landscapes of the French Alps seem to be just made for watercolor. All the incredible villages, lakes and mountains are just begging to be caught on the tip of your brush. Moving from place to place, we will find the best locations to create vibrant and sunny watercolors. Every day will be a discovery for you—and a new opportunity for painting in watercolor. In addition to traditional watercolor techniques, I will introduce you to my personal methods and secrets. Join us for relaxation and enjoyment of the French Alps with a very rich and informative workshop in the open air.
 
Location: Haute-Savoie, France
Instructor: Shari Blaukopf
Cost: $3,840 before Nov 30
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join acclaimed watercolorist and instructor, Margie Samuels, for a magical week of painting in beautiful Provence! Each day will start with a short morning lesson, reviewing the watercolor skills that you will be using in that day’s landscape. These lessons will focus on the specific techniques that you’ll need to take your painting to the next level, including: Creating Stronger Compositions; Putting Depth in Your Paintings (with Perspective); Employing Thoughtful Color Mixing; Painting People into your Landscapes for Interest and Movement. This workshop caters to all skill levels, focusing on foundational techniques. Whether you are a beginner or experienced, my goal is to equip you with the skills for creating vibrant paintings!
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: Margie Samuels
Cost: $3,940
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

A thought-provoking and inspirational art workshop open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). Nine full days of plein air painting, art history/theory lectures, touring, and gastronomy in the most beautiful area of Tuscany. Our teaching approach and groups limited to eight participants allow us to offer personalized instruction and a stimulating environment that fosters creativity. Cost of CAD 4175 (around US$ 3050) includes instruction, 9-night single or double accommodation (limited single rooms available at no extra cost), all breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from and to the Arezzo train station, transportation to all painting sites (Montepulciano, Cortona, Pienza, etc.), train ticket to Florence, and a guided tour to the Uffizi Museum.
 
Location: Lucignano, Italy
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$3050
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

Do you want to learn how to capture the spirit of Costa Brava in paint? Here’s your chance! Join plein air and gouache painting veteran Judd Mercer in northeastern Spain for a whirlwind tour of one of the world’s most idyllic coasts. Along the way, you’ll learn the power and portability of gouache, a fantastic medium for capturing the landscape no matter where you are in the world. Watercolorists, oil and acrylic painters, and urban sketchers alike will learn to use the speed and versatility of gouache to capture ideas quickly for plein air work (or studio use later). Each day will feature two demos (morning/afternoon) and emphasize different plein air and gouache techniques.
 
Location: Costa Brava, Spain
Instructor: Judd Mercer
Cost: $3,940 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

The wonderful views and landscapes of the French Alps seem to be just made for watercolor. All the incredible villages, lakes and mountains are just begging to be caught on the tip of your brush. Moving from place to place, we will find the best locations to create vibrant and sunny watercolors. Every day will be a discovery for you—and a new opportunity for painting in watercolor. In addition to traditional watercolor techniques, I will introduce you to my personal methods and secrets. Join us for relaxation and enjoyment of the French Alps with a very rich and informative workshop in the open air.
 
Location: Haute-Savoie, France
Instructor: Shari Blaukopf
Cost: $3,840 before Nov 30
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

While learning the importance of oil painting techniques (values, edges, composition, etc.), the joy of actually painting France en plein air won’t get lost on Kathie! The enthusiasm for painting the mountains, lakes and chalets with you will be contagious! Kathie will walk through her process of narrowing down the choices of subject matter and then demo before it’s time for you to get your brushes wet too… and she will be right alongside cheering you on with personal instruction and encouragement! There is a reason why you want to paint. Kathie will work to help you tap that desire by throwing herself into the entire experience and beauty of the French Alps!
 
Location: Haute-Savoie, France
Instructor: Kathie Odom
Cost: $3,840 before Nov 30
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

In this watercolor workshop, I will help you discover new approaches to your works. Values and Color are the two main elements I will focus on and a dramatic sense of design. My personal style is basically a loose and carefree approach. Leaving a lot of the white of the paper, for me, is paramount in my watercolor work. We will work mostly from our own reference photos, in a relaxed studio environment. You can choose which genres best suit your personality - florals, landscapes, structures, etc. Critiques of the work and one-on-one directions will also be a part of this workshop. I hope you will join me in Bruges for this fantastic painting experience.
 
Location: Bruges, Belgium
Instructor: Rae Andrews
Cost: $3,840 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

A unique art workshop/art tour open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). 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 4700 per person (around US$ 3450) 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 875 (around US$ 650),
 
Location: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence & Barcelona, Spain
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$3450
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

A unique art workshop/art tour open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). 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 4700 per person (around US$ 3450) 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 875 (around US$ 650).
 
Location: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence & Barcelona, France
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$3450
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

While learning the importance of oil painting techniques (values, edges, composition, etc.), the joy of actually painting Belgium en plein air won’t get lost on Kathie! The enthusiasm for painting medieval architecture and windmills with you will be contagious! Kathie will walk through her process of narrowing down the choices of subject matter and then demo before it’s time for you to get your brushes wet too… and she be right alongside cheering you on with personal instruction and encouragement! There is a reason why you want to paint. Kathie will work to help you tap that desire by throwing herself into the entire experience and beauty of this amazing city of Bruges!
 
Location: Bruges, Belgium
Instructor: Kathie Odom
Cost: $3,840 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling in Bruges, Belgium and have a creative life experience. You’ll enjoy inspiring locations such as canals, wind mills, Flemish architecture, daily painting demonstrations, personalized instruction, and encouraging support from Cindy and Theresa. “We show you how to simplify and design your subject, draw confidently, jazz up your colors, paint with serendipity and experiment with new techniques. Create colorful paintings en Plein Air with an emphasis on celebrating your own unique point of view”.
 
Location: Bruges, Belgium
Instructor: Cindy Briggs & Theresa Goesling
Cost: $3,840 before Jan 31
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join me for an unforgettable painting holiday in Giverny, a strikingly beautiful part of France famous for its stunning scenery and captivating light. We’ll have plenty of time to capture once-in-a-lifetime experiences on the pages of our watercolor journals. You’ll learn how to add style and interest to your sketchbook pages through the use of unique page layouts and borders, and we’ll cover several fun new lettering styles. In addition, 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: Giverny, France
Instructor: Leslie Fehling
Cost: $3,840 before Jan 31
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling in the French Alps and have a creative life experience. You’ll enjoy inspiring locations such as mountains, lakes, chalets, meadows, daily painting demonstrations, personalized instruction, and encouraging support from Cindy and Theresa. “We show you how to simplify and design your subject, draw confidently, jazz up your colors, paint with serendipity and experiment with new techniques. Create colorful paintings en Plein Air with an emphasis on celebrating your own unique point of view”.
 
Location: Haute-Savoie, France
Instructor: Cindy Briggs & Theresa Goesling
Cost: $3,840 before Jan 31
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Do you struggle to apply watercolour or get overwhelmed sometimes when sketching? I will help solve your problems by showing you how to make fast improvements through sharing my most successful tips with watercolour sketching. You will receive plenty of individual tuition, demonstrations and examples to support you along the way. Return home armed with new skills in watercolour and sketching as you will have learnt how to sketch confidently, understand paint consistency and application and mix wonderful glowing colours to capture the magical scenes of Giverny. I will encourage you to sketch what makes your heart sing! The subjects covered will be truly inspirational – including French buildings, landscapes, local scenes and Monet’s garden!
 
Location: Giverny, France
Instructor: Judy Salleh
Cost: $3,840 before Jan 31
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Experience the Provence region on an immersive artistic journey with Alicia Farris. Alicia adores sharing her passion for watercolor painting and inspires with her creative energy and loose and lively painting style. She feels artists share a special sense for both seeing and feeling their subjects. She helps inspire her students to use color and light to paint a story from their hearts, not merely from what their eyes see. You’ll have the opportunity to watercolor paint, sketch and photograph your way through this spectacular region of Provence. Whether it’s the beautiful gardens, the lovely vistas, colorful markets or the quaint villages that inspire you, Alicia will guide you through the creative process.
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: Alicia Farris
Cost: $3,840 before Jan 31
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Come join me for an amazing week of plein air painting in beautiful Provence, France! We will have gorgeous views to paint of cute medieval villages, colorful markets, rivers, olive trees, etc… It is also a place to enjoy gourmet cheese and wine, ratatouille and creme brûlée! You can choose to work with Oil &/or Gouache in this workshop. I will be doing daily demos and assisting you with your paintings. I enjoy teaching and will be there with you to help strengthen your painting skills and artistic voice. We will focus on design, color mixing, and capturing the mood of the day by understanding atmospheric perspective. This workshop is open to beginner and intermediate students.
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: Ellen Howard
Cost: $3,840 before Jan 31
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling for their 2nd workshop at the stunning Salinara Art Farm on the west coast of Sicily. Sicily is a unique island that has been shaped by many cultures over many thousands of years. Excursions and painting to surrounding salt pans with colorful sunset, fisherman boats, local markets, picturesque villages with narrow streets, churches, a never ending range of restaurants and cafés, blue skies and beautiful nature, jovial, kind and friendly people, traditional foods and great local wine, medieval hill town of Erice, Archeological Park of Selinunte with Greek temples. And many beaches where we can swim in the blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. Limited single rooms for a supplement.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Theresa Goesling and Cindy Briggs
Cost: From € 3100
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email

A thought-provoking and inspirational art workshop open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). Nine full days of plein air painting, art history/theory lectures, touring, and gastronomy in the most beautiful area of Tuscany. Our teaching approach and groups limited to eight participants allow us to offer personalized instruction and a stimulating environment that fosters creativity. Cost of CAD 4175 (around US$ 3050) includes instruction, 9-night single or double accommodation (limited single rooms available at no extra cost), all breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from and to the Arezzo train station, transportation to all painting sites (Montepulciano, Cortona, Pienza, etc.), train ticket to Florence, and a guided tour to the Uffizi Museum.
 
Location: Lucignano, Italy
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$3050
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

Sicily – It's on everyone's bucket list, with colorful sunsets, olive groves, vineyards, and picturesque villages with narrow streets, a never ending range of restaurants and cafés, blue skies and beautiful nature, it’s a painters paradise… And it will be our home for 7 days. The workshop is hosted by the retreat center Salinara. Our daily watercolor routine will include daily demonstrations by Gary, along with time for individual instruction. Afternoons will vary between painting time, exploring the region on your own, or possible one of the many activities offered through Salinara – on designated days Gary will conduct group critique over cocktails before the evening meal. Limited single rooms for a supplement.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Gary Tucker
Cost: From $2300
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email