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From £800 pp
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Short Painting Break in the South of France

Highlights

  • Option to add on extra tuition or have more free time to relax.
  • French farmhouse accommodation with swimming pool, gardens & terraces.
  • Home-cooked meals served daily and art supplies included.
From £800 pp
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  2. Select time if there are different times shown
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What you'll do

Overview

Indulge in delicious food, local wines, delightful sights and individual art tuition on this 3 night painting holiday in France; master new skills in painting and art with a fantastic hands-on teacher who knows how to bring out the best in your work while you stay in a lovely rural French farmhouse!

Discover your full potential with a range of paints, time, inspiration and instruction on this 3 night / 4 day painting break in France. With trails, animals, an artisan workshop, night markets, local wines, and the finest foods, there is no end to what you can discover here, and what creation will come from it.

Your host on this creative holiday is the talented and welcoming Jo, whose experience covers all forms of art; from painting with different mediums, to art restoration, conservation, bookbinding, and art history. Her pride and passion is helping you find your inner creativity; at any level you may be at. For the beginner painter, she will help you find the medium right for you and your own unique voice, and for the more experienced, she can help you go to the next level with new materials and a new way to see things.

Jo’s philosophy is that she herself is learning every time she takes on a new group, and loves the interaction with like minded people. Learning is a big focus of her holiday, not just techniques and painting styles, but spiritually and emotionally. She has created an interactive holiday for students to learn from each other, bounce new ideas around, and share various painting techniques.

Arrival

– Arrive in the afternoon and get settled into your room, then begin with a painting session.
– A 3-course dinner will be served in the evening!

Typical itinerary

The itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes but is typically as follows:

– After breakfast each day, there will be a morning session from 10am-12:30pm followed by a break for lunch
– Morning sessions will be a time for group discussion and experimenting with techniques, styles, and finding out exactly what you want to achieve
– Your afternoons will be free to continue your art, relax by the pool, go for a walk in the country or even add additional tuition time with Jo for an extra cost (this can be added during the booking process).
– Gorgeous 3 course dinners are either in the dining room or on the terraces at around 7:30pm
– Evenings after dinner are for you to enjoy at your leisure
– Thursday evenings throughout the summer, your hosts visit the local night market in Ste Foy La Grande where you can dance to live music and taste freshly cooked local food, beers and wines
– If your departure time allows, a visit to the famous Ste Foy Farmers Market on a Saturday morning is a must!

Departure

– Breakfast will be served on the day of your departure before we say our fond farewells!
– Check-out is before midday.

What's included

Included

  • 3 nights accommodation in a beautifully restored farmhouse
  • Please note: prices are per person and based on a double room with ensuite or shared bathroom; please check availability
  • There are no single supplements for solo travellers
  • Daily morning and afternoon sketching, painting sessions, art history and tuition
  • All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
  • Wine, beer and drinks with lunches and dinners
  • Coffee and tea throughout the day
  • The following art supplies: Watercolour paper, Watercolours (tubes), Acrylics (tubes), A selection of brushes, Use of easels and other studio equipment, A3 acid free mount, A3 Beech frame for your best work to make a great addition to your home
  • Use of the pool from May-September
  • A transportation to and from the lively local night market on your free day (Thursday only)
  • Free transfers to and from Sainte Foy La Grande Station
  • Check in and check out time is flexible; however please note that only breakfast is served on day 4
Your local host

Jo

Jo Gibbs is the host and tutor on her wonderful art holidays in South West France. In 2014, Jo moved to the Bordeaux wine region of Le Gironde and created her intimate and unique Chambre d'hôtes with her husband and two children, and offered internships to postgraduate conservation/art students. Jo has created the perfect environment to enjoy her art and the animals she keeps; offering the ideal setting for those looking for an oasis of beauty and creativity; let’s not forget the fine wines and delicious food of the Bordeaux region.

Jo Gibbs is the host and tutor on her wonderful art holidays in South West France. In 2014, Jo moved to the Bordeaux wine region of Le Gironde and created her intimate and unique Chambre d'hôtes with her husband and two children, and offered internships to postgraduate conservation/art students. Jo has created the perfect environment to enjoy her art and the animals she keeps; offering the ideal setting for those looking for an oasis of beauty and creativity; let’s not forget the fine wines and delicious food of the Bordeaux region.

Jo image
Sustainability Efforts

What Sustainability Efforts are we Taking?

At Not in the Guidebooks we’re committed to empowering the local communities in Costa Rica. We work closely with the local people and their businesses to make sure that they receive a fair percentage of the money you spend on your holiday there. By partnering with local guides and suppliers, we’re able to create meaningful, authentic experiences that directly benefit the people who call this incredible country home.

Learn More

Location

Just 30 minutes from Bergerac airport, your cosy home away from home was originally owned by 18th century vine workers who resided in 3 stone cottages, and has now been beautifully converted.

Jo instructs in Watercolour and Acrylic techniques, also charcoal and graphite( pencil) for portraits and architecture.  She’s always open to experimenting with all types of medium and that includes the substrate, Paper, Canvass, board or wood.

Nearest airports: Bergerac (30 minutes by car)
Bordeaux (1 hour to Sainte Foy La Grande Station by train)

Nearest train station:
Sainte Foy La Grande (10 minutes by car) – Free transfers from the train station is provided.

 

 

What our travellers are saying...

Painting and wine tasting in south of France (Le Peyrail) July 3rd-6th. After a long journey to Bergerac airport, I was met by my host Jo and from that moment I felt at ease. The accommodation was rustic, eclectic and comfortable, first time sleeping on a waterbed - so relaxing. At the house there was a ‘collection’ of animals, dogs, cats, hens, doves, horse, donkey, pigs and a baby blackbird. It all added to the experience. I have ‘dabbled

Jacqui Taylor

I had the best time learning new skills in watercolour in a fabulous location along with excellent service and teaching from Jo. I highly recommend this if you enjoy art, peace and quiet surrounded by nature (and animals) and enjoy wine on the side! The perfect combination for a relaxing time away.

S Lee

Had an amazing and memorable experience on this painting holiday last September. I'm from Canada and decided to do this solo trip, unsure of what to expect. Jo-Anne is a super-talented artist and great teacher who was very warm and welcoming. The property was gorgeous, and very serene. Great setting that was both very calming and inspiring for me as a beginner painter. Jo tailored her lessons and the overall experience to meet my learning needs a

D Sherman

Set in a peaceful and inspiring location in a charming house. Jo and her partner are wonderful, generous hosts welcoming us wholeheartedly into their home. They kindly invited us to join them to meet their friends, giving us a special pan-European, cultural experience. Jo is an encouraging teacher.

H Bowers

FAQs

Who is this holiday suitable for?

- Suitable for all painting levels from beginners to advanced
- Minimum age 18
- During this holiday, you are free to work with whatever medium you like, however, the holiday mainly focuses on watercolour and pastel and the various qualities of acrylic and gouache

I'm a solo traveller  - can I join?

- Courses have a maximum of 6 people in each group, singles are very welcome as you'll meet others with a passion for art and there are NO single supplements for those travelling solo

When can I start?

- Arrival days are on selected dates during the year
- Painting holidays are for 3 nights / 4 days
- If you wish to stay for extra nights, please email to check availability for your preferred duration and we will do our best to accommodate you
- All holidays are on request so please email us info@nitgb.com and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible

What to bring

- Although supplies are provided (watercolours and acrylics), feel free to bring your favourite brushes, paints, or paper
- Please bring suitable footwear for walking
- Swimming costume if you are visiting during pool season

Restricted mobility access

Please find below some information regarding the accommodation and location of the holiday which may be useful when deciding if this is the right holiday for you; should you have an further questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help
- Although this location does not have official disabled access, the front door is wide enough for a wheelchair
- The main bedroom and ensuite are all on one level and on the ground floor
- There are no cobblestones, however there are slopes. Although not the easiest venue for wheelchairs, your host would be happy to help any way she can
- The shower in the ensuite has one step up into it
- If a person is able to walk but has 'some' restrictions then we would need further information concerning their needs and would be very honest if we felt the person could not participate in the activity holidays

Features

- A beautiful rural location surrounded by vineyards, trails, a bamboo forest, pond and terraces
- In-ground pool available from May-September
- Wood burning stove in the cooler months and electric fans available in the summer
- Large comfortable double rooms, decorated with comfort and style whilst maintaining many traditional features
- 1 room has a waterbed and ensuite bathroom, whilst the other 2 double rooms share a Jacuzzi bathroom
- Onsite studio on a covered terrace for outdoor inspiration
- 10 minutes from Sainte-Foy-La-Grande, if you feel the need to get out

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