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Painting Holiday May 10th-16th 2025

Immerse yourself in surrounding beauty and explore your creativity in the beautiful South-West France on this painting retreat!
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  • Tutor: Kate Sparrow
  • Duration: 6 Days
  • Medium: Oil painting
Eye for an eye

Unleash Your Creativity: Oil Portrait Painting Retreats in Scenic France

Experience the perfect blend of artistic growth and relaxation with our oil portrait painting holidays in the picturesque Béarn des Gaves region of France. These immersive retreats offer a unique opportunity to hone your skills while enjoying the serene French countryside.

Discover the Art of Oil Portrait Painting

Our expert-led workshops guide you through the intricacies of oil portrait painting. You will learn to work from both photographs and live models, master various oil painting techniques, and develop your unique artistic style. Benefit from personalized instruction in a supportive environment, ideal for both beginners and intermediate painters.

Immerse Yourself in Inspiring Surroundings

Stay in the charming village of Laàs, known for its quaint auberge with uniquely designed rooms, peaceful countryside atmosphere, and rich local culture and history. This idyllic setting provides the perfect backdrop for unleashing your creativity and finding inspiration.

Indulge in French Culture and Cuisine

Enhance your artistic journey with authentic French experiences. Savor seasonal, locally-sourced meals while exploring traditional markets and visiting the medieval town of Navarrenx. Immerse yourself in the local lifestyle, allowing it to influence and enrich your artistic perspective.

Comprehensive Retreat Package

Our all-inclusive retreats offer comfortable accommodation with en-suite bathrooms, all necessary painting materials and equipment, expert guidance from experienced instructors, and delicious meals featuring regional specialties. You can focus solely on your art and relaxation as we take care of all the details.

Unwind and Connect

After a day of painting, enjoy relaxing evenings in your comfortable lodging with opportunities to reflect on your work and engage in discussions with fellow artists. These retreats provide the perfect balance of personal growth and social connection.

Embark on a transformative artistic journey in the heart of France. Our oil portrait painting holidays offer more than just skill development; they’re an opportunity to rejuvenate your creativity, immerse yourself in French culture, and create lasting memories. Book your retreat today and unlock your artistic potential in one of Europe’s most inspiring settings.

The Week

Arrival day

8.45 am – 9.45 am – Breakfast at the hotel
9.45 am – Transfer to the studio
10 am – 12.30 pm – Continuing to work on our final painting we will begin to build up layers adding glazes.

Students will develop their own art piece exploring the narrative in portraiture.
12.30 pm – 1.45 pm – Lunch at a local restaurant.
1.45 pm – 4.45 pm – We will discuss glazing and how to explore further techniques in your painting.
5 pm – Transfer back to hotel
7 pm – A beautiful three course meal to celebrate the end of the course and all the fabulous paintings created.

Painting day one

8.45am – 9.45 am – A continental breakfast awaits you. Transfer to the studio in Laás to start the day.

10 am – 12.30 pm – We will start with a drawing lesson exploring proportions and planes of the human head. Exploring how to build up tone using one colour.
12.30 pm – 1.45 pm – Lunch at our local French restaurant.

1.45 pm – 4.45 pm – Working from photographic reference we will work on a small painting to understand the principals of oil painting. We will prepare the canvas and continue to develop the underpainting. Looking at how to see tonal ranges in a portrait we explore how to set up a work space and oil palette developing colour mixing and creating flesh tones.

Students will learn to mix solutions for painting and how to use them. Getting ready for our next day of painting.

5pm – 5.30pm Drinks

7.30 pm – A three course meal for dinner, followed by your own relaxation time.

 

Painting day two

8.45 am – 9.45 am – A continental breakfast awaits you.

9.45 am – 10 am – Transfer to the studio

10 am – 4.45 pm – Day of painting in the studio in Laás. Kate will teach you the next steps to successfully create a portrait using layers to build up your piece. This will give you the confidence before we work with a life model.
Lunch 12.30 – 1.45 pm Picnic by the river and the opportunity to swim.
1.45pm – 5.30pm  Contine painting
7.30 pm – Dinner at the hotel followed by your own relaxation time. Opportunity to play Pétanque.

 

Painting day three

8.45 – 9.45 am – A continental breakfast awaits you.

10 am – 12.30 pm – Working directly from a model we create a painting from life. Developing colour studies of the subject, we will explore the narrative in portraiture.
12.30 pm -1.30 pm Buffet style light lunch.

1.30 – 3.30 pm – Students continue to develop colour studies from the model.
3.30 pm – 4.30 pm – You will take a photo of the model and develop your own concept.
5 pm Freetime
7.30 pm Dinner at our house.
9 pm Drinks and an artist talk. Local artists will come and discuss their work with you.

Painting day four

8.15 am – 9 am – An early breakfast
9.30 – 11am – Visit to the morning market in Salies de Béarn. Taking a break from painting we will explore the thermal town and its traditional French market.
11.30 am – 12.30 pm – Return to the studio. Prepare your canvas for our final painting.
12.30 pm – 1.45 pm -Lunch in a local restaurant
1.45 pm – 5.30 pm – Sketching out your painting and underpainting.

5.45pm-7pm- Visit a walled village and the local art galleries.

8 pm- Dinner at the restaurant

Painting day five

8.45 am – 9.45 am – Breakfast at the hotel
9.45 am – Transfer to the studio
10 am – 12.30 pm – Continuing to work on our final painting we will begin to build up layers adding glazes.

Students will develop their own art piece exploring the narrative in portraiture.
12.30 pm – 1.45 pm – Lunch at a local restaurant.
1.45 pm – 4.45 pm – We will discuss glazing and how to explore further techniques in your painting.
5 pm – Transfer back to hotel
7 pm – A beautiful three course meal to celebrate the end of the course and all the fabulous paintings created.

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Pricing

What’s included:

1,600 euros per person (this is based on a solo traveller if you would like a quote for sharing with a friend please let us know) 

Non painting partners 50% reduction (lunch not included for non painters)

Included: All meals, accommodation in a double room with ensuite bathroom, painting materials and 5 days of art tuition.

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What's not included:

Flights or travel to the hotel, insurance. Additional drinks or alcoholic beverages.

Non painting partners:

We are happy for non painting partners to come and stay with you at the accommodation. There is plenty to do in the area. Take a look at the tourist board website here for some tips. https://www.tourisme-bearn-gaves.com/en/

We can arrange airport pickups for you and an additional cost. The nearest airport’s are an hour away. Biarritz or Pau. Nearest station Orthez.

We are situated in a rural area with limited public transport. If you wish to we can recommend car hire places for you.

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Transfer shared will be 25 euros one way.

 

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Get in Touch

For more information about the workshops & painting holidays or comissions, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

kjsparrow@outlook.com

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© 2023 Kate Sparrow / Contact: kjsparrow@outlook.com

For workshops & painting holidays or comissions, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

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