21-28 May – 2 places left!
28 May-4 June – Fully booked

If you have always wanted to draw or paint, you can do so under the tutelage of Loreto Reilly, a fully qualified art and design teacher, with over 20 years of professional experience, including 15 years running this course. Loreto is an adept and accomplished teacher as well as a successful Irish artist who exhibits regularly at home and abroad.

Loreto will host this year’s painting courses in the beautiful city of Taormina, Sicily. The location is set between the historic centre of Taormina and its beautiful beaches among the lush Mediterranean vegetation which surrounds the residence.

This spacious hillside residence is the perfect place to paint and relax. The extensive gardens are filled with sunshine but also with many areas shaded by the olive trees and Mediterranean plants where you can sit and sketch, read or have a cool glass of wine. The pool is set in a picturesque spot overlooking the sea and Isola Bella.

Classes

The course is all about painting your own original landscape. Beginning with selecting a subject, learning how to make a preparatory sketch, and then working that to a finished painting. Each step is demonstrated to the group and then developed through one-to-one tuition. Students are encouraged to work at their own level of art experience.

During the course of the week, you will sketch a number of subjects, often completing several paintings by the end. Following this course, whenever you encounter a striking subject, at home or while travelling, you will have the skills to sketch and paint it.

The group is kept to a maximum of ten, in order to ensure that every student receives the maximum assistance and encouragement from the tutor at all times. The synergy of working together with like-minded people brings its own rewards, and many of our students have become close friends. Many people also return from year to year.

Among the painting and drawing media used during this course are graphite pencils, acrylics, and watercolours if requested.

Most materials for painting and drawing are included.  For a list of things to bring click here…

Accommodation

All care is taken that your stay is an enjoyable experience while attending the course and this includes the accommodation.

The house, gardens, pool, and many terraces of the house are open to all students and wifi is available throughout the building. Most rooms and apartments have a terrace with chairs and tables from which there are sea or garden views.

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Another fantastic week with Loreto painting in France. This year we were in the beautiful chateau de Brussons, an authentic French secluded chateau on beautiful grounds where we were blessed with options to paint whichever way we turned.

This year we had the added bonus of yoga each morning with Marie. We stretched and meditated and with Marie’s encouragement, we grew to love and enjoy the morning yoga. This was so (early!!) relaxing and set the tone for the day. Food was excellent, as usual and the wine flowed and sing songs and laughs with this lovely group made the experience very relaxed and enjoyable.

Loreto’s expertise and gentle tutoring coaxed us along ensuring we grew in confidence and learned to experiment and put our new learning into practice, The culmination of this was our Exhibition on our final evening. We celebrated with champagne with Veronique and her husband, owners of the chateau, who were affirming and appreciative of our weeks work all based on the chateau de Brussons.

I now equipped myself with the basic paint colours, brushes and boards and have the confidence to go forth and paint!

Many thanks Loreto and Marie!
Katerine Kennedy, Longford

I’ve just returned to England following a week in France!
Loreto’s course was splendid and as a novice ‘artist’ I learnt so much in 7 days. She is an encouraging, enthusiastic teacher who offers positive advice yet with suggestions of how I might improve my work. Nothing was too much for her and I never felt belittled or dismissed as a non-painter.
Marie with her yoga was an inspiration too. The morning sessions set the pace of the day and allowed me to feel relaxed yet invigorated.
A truly memorable week – for many reasons!
Sally Edwards, Exeter

Thank you Loreto , for a wonderful week in the amazing chateau de Brussons, loved every minute, especially the painting in the very inspiring surroundings of the chateau, amazing food and of course all the great wines. Marie’s yoga each morning was so good, especially after the late nights. Thank you again for all your encouraging words and patience. Looking forward to going back once again in 2018.
Maura Harty. Dublin

I have just returned from a wonderful week painting with Loreto in the lovely sunny Loire Valley in France. As a beginner I was encouraged by both Loreto and the rest of the class, she is an excellent teacher and was always available for support. All good quality materials were provided and we were introduced to various locations and landscapes which catered for students of all levels. The group comprised of many nationalities, abilities and friendly people who all shared a love of painting , good food, local wine and a sense of fun . I would thoroughly recommend this type of holiday to my friends and I am looking forward to going again next year, to Provence.
Breda Fordham, Essex

Thank you Loretta and Marie for painting and yoga in chateau de Brussons. Lovely meals and wines. Trips to Le Mans and Tours. Going to France with Loretta and Marie for many years each year brings new things. Looking forward to 2018 in Provence.
Maura Rooney, Longford

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By Domhnall O Suibhne

Anyone who ever approached a canvas with the intention of starting a painting feels the tension of getting it right. However according to Loreto that shouldn’t ever be the approach. There is no right. According to Loreto it’s like taking a plunge into a river.

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