Flower painting from life in oil

12.05.2022 - 19.05.2022 South West France | Alex Kelly painting, plein air 950 GBP

Learn to paint from life in the ‘Alla prima’ manner, studio and ‘plein air’ including landscapes, floral, figurative and still life.

We are delighted to welcome Artist and Tutor, Alex Kelly who will be working from life.
 
Suitable for all levels, from beginners to experienced artists and taking inspiration from all there is to offer in our beautiful region of France. Alex’s expert tuition and guidance, fabulous excursions, and wonderful food and wine combine to make for an unbeatable experience. 
The above date in April 2021 will be our first exclusively ‘flower painting’ workshop and really is a spectacular time of year, here in Gascony, with so much variety and colour here in the garden at La Salle and around and about. Bienvenue! 
 
Alex currently lives and works in Birmingham, UK. In his college years he had a strong affinity for both science and art and initially followed a university degree in science but later decided to pursue an artistic career and consequently gained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art specialising in sculpture. He went on to set up a studio making ceramic sculpture, as well as teaching art at schools and community colleges. Currently he is developing a new body of work, primarily oil paintings in the alla prima manner.

 
Alex’s work in oil is usually painted directly from life study. Alla prima, direct painting, usually wet-in-wet, is exciting and often surprising because one is often responding spontaneously but with great concentration on the subject. 

Alex will be sharing the passion and inspiration he finds in all kinds of subjects from flowers to landscape and still life. He feels that creating work starts with developing a sensitivity to the beauty present. Beauty means whatever moves, inspires, intrigues or is simply interesting enough to want to study more deeply. Most often it is the quality of light which inspires.

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The holiday is at La Salle, a beautifully restored limestone country house, in an area known as the Tuscany of France. The house has wonderful gardens and terraces, surrounded by olive and lemon trees.

The package includes painting tuition, accommodation and home cooked food.

SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR 7 NIGHT PAINTING HOLIDAY

Please note the itinerary may be subject to minor changes due to weather and/or after consultation with your tutor. 

Day 1 
Pick up at Toulouse Blagnac Airport, transfer to La Salle and settling in. Introductions, a tour of the house, the all important studio, gardens and time for a well deserved apero with fellow guests before a relaxing 3 course dinner with wine on the terrace.

Day 2  
Leisurely breakfast and into the studio for 9.30am for your first painting session with your tutor. Lunch at 1pm on the shady terrace and time to relax before your next painting session. Opportunity for some 'plein air sketching in the garden or working in the studio.

5pm Tour of and wine tasting at Chateau Monluc and time to explore the village, maybe take a few photos for reference.

Day 3   
Breakfast and a day out to the local beautiful 'Jardins de Coursiana' or the magnificent water gardens of 'Latour Marliac' where Monet bought the water lilies for his famous gardens at Giverny. Lots of time to sketch, take reference photos and paint. We take a picnic lunch to make the most of this wonderful painting opportunity. Home in the afternoon and time to continue your painting or relax in the pool before a delicious dinner with wine.

Day 4   
Breakfast and into the studio for your next painting session. Lunch on the terrace. An afternoon of painting 'en plein air' or in the studio or garden (depending on the weather) Dinner at La Salle. 

Day 5   
A trip to the UNESCO World heritage site at La Romieu, a picnic lunch in the village and again some photo or sketching opportunities before returning home.  An afternoon of painting with your tutor. Dinner at La Salle.

Day 6   
Breakast and a day of painting in the studio, gardens or village. Lunch at La Salle before an afternoon of painting with your tutor, A BBQ in the evening at La Salle. 4pm A visit to the Abbaye de Flaran and the Simonov exhibition of 20th Century paintings which includes work by Monet, Cezanne, Picasso and others.

Day 7  
Breakfast followed by painting time with your tutor and finishing off any work. Time to reflect on the week's acheivements. Lunch on the terrace and a late afternoon trip by canoe down the river Baise (optional subject to season) 7.30 pm 3 course dinner at a local restaurant. 

Day 8  
Breakfast and 'au revoirs'. Transfer to Toulouse Blagnac Airport. 

Flower painting from life in oil
Alex Kelly