21-28 June 2024
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 village of Fleury d’Aude in the Languedoc area of Southern France. The location is set in the historic centre of the village, surrounded by vineyards and just ten minute’s drive to the beautiful Mediterranean beach of Saint- Pierre-la-Mer.
This former winemaker’s house and garden is the perfect place to paint and relax. The gardens are filled with sunshine but also with many areas shaded by olive trees and Mediterranean plants where you can sit and sketch, read, or have a cool glass of wine. The pool is always an option if the sun of the Midi gets too strong.
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. This year La Maison des Vendageurs offers independent apartments in this beautifully restored winemaker’s house.
The house, gardens, pool, and terraces of the house are open to all students and wifi is available throughout the building. All apartments have a full kitchen, dining area, and bathroom.
Afternoon Time to Yourself
- Walk into the village and visit one of its cafe terraces or restaurants. There are lovely walks through the vineyards right beside ‘La Maison des Vendangeurs’. A bus service runs to Saint Pierre la Mer and also Narbonne every half hour.
- Take the bus to the beach and enjoy a swim or a cool glass of rosé.
- Try one of the many picturesque walking routes in the local area or explore scenery further afield, if car rental is chosen.
- Indulge in wine tasting in one of the local wineries.
- Take some time for personal painting development.
- Or simply relax in these beautiful surroundings and take a siesta by the pool
Car rental, shared or otherwise, is the ideal way to explore this fascinating area and is recommended. Information on alternative private transport can be provided.
