Painting in Provence With Valerie Collymore
Book Your Workshop Now!
$4,550.00
Painting in Provence With Valerie Collymore
June 6 – 15, 2022
10-Day Workshop during Lavender Season. Château near Aix-en-Provence.
Let us introduce Valerie Collymore, an exceptional painter and highly-gifted instructor who has unraveled the mysteries of the Impressionists. Valerie’s workshop will be based in a beautiful chateau nestled below the Luberon Hills, north of Aix-en-Provence. Your time will be spent painting with this instructor while immersing yourself in French life and enjoying what Provence has to offer. This workshop is located between the Luberon mountains and the Mediterranean. It is a wonderful opportunity to paint with Valerie and other artists and spend 10 idyllic days in the South of France. All while surrounded in the natural beauty and bounty of Provence in Lavender Season.
We are experts at creating a highly supportive environment that allows joyful productivity and creating art which are the hallmarks of Valerie’s teaching style. Valerie is committed to making sure that each artist receives the help, direction and encouragement they need to make steps in perfecting new skills.
The experience is open to artists of all levels. The workshop is designed to have you leave with paintings, more confidence and inspiration. Welcome to our community of artists!
At the start of the day, there will be a brief demo progressing to one-on-one coaching as you continue to paint into the afternoon. Valerie paints in oils; but you may also bring your watercolor and/or acrylics. (We encourage you to bring watercolors regardless; they great for impromptu sketching.)
Don’t worry, a complete materials sheet will be sent to you, as well as tips and tricks for traveling with your supplies. Depending on our schedule, you will paint on the estate, in nearby fields as well as venturing to Mediterranean fishing ports or the secluded villages and vineyards of Provence.
You also visit St Rémy where Van Gogh lived. And yes, we will paint where he painted. Not only that, but we get to visit Cézanne’s studio in Aix-en-Provence.
Evenings are reserved for socializing and discussing all things art as we wine and dine in the Chateau’s grand salon or eat outdoors en plein air.
Our workshops are legendary for great groups of guests and crew. Paint as much as you want! We arrange for several side trips so that we can get to know one another and discover Provence. We visit markets, hilltop villages and vineyards for wine tasting. These are but to name a few itinerary destinations. More than this, we are following a tradition of artists who travel to live and paint together.
Meet Your Instructor: Valerie Collymore
Valerie Collymore is an award-winning fine artist and instructor. She is very generous with her knowledge imparting a great deal of useful information on painting, yet she simplifies the concepts and practices. Valerie spent her formative years in the South of France. How cool is that? She regularly visits sites where French Impressionist masters have painted and lived. Valerie is not only passionate about Impressionism but also about painting and teaching and the artists who choose to study with her. This will be a highly supportive workshop which favors joyful productivity in creating unforgettable art. Valerie is highly committed to making sure that each artist receives the help, direction, and encouragement to make decisions while perfecting skills.
“In many ways, Collymore carries on the legacy of French Impressionists, such as Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who shared her love of southern France.” – Bonnie Gangelhoff, Senior Editor, Southwest Art Magazine
“The paintings I’ve made since studying with Valerie now exceed what I see in my mind’s eye. I’ve never loved what I’ve created more. And I feel like I now have the foundation to create great art for the rest of my life.”
” Valerie has unlocked the important principles that make for a good composition which has given me confidence that the “bones” of my painting will hold together as I develop the values, the light and dark of the design, and choose the colors, both high chroma and neutral. Because Valery makes these principles easy to understand and to apply, I have growing confidence in growing as an artist. “
“I have learned to paint for more than 5 years with several instructors. Valerie is the best. one among them – different from the others, she can explain the technique of painting in a scientific way and her “Seven Fundamentals” is easy to practice for creating stronger artwork. She is very patient and always there to help. More importantly, she is really encouraging which gives me strong motivation in pursuit of my art career. It’s a great pleasure to paint with Valerie and other fellow artists in her studio. “
” Valerie gave me permission to paint. With a few simple rules, she made it sound easy…and she told me to paint what really matters to me. And I did. Hooray! “
“ My experience with Valerie has been tremendous. She is an inspiring teacher who allowed me to look into my buried love for art and painting – and unearthed it. She is non-judgemental in her approach which allowed me to be …less critical about my potential. Since studying with Valerie, I have confidence that I will continue with my art expression until I am old and grey, and too old to hold a paintbrush! Then I’m sure Valerie will give me a new approach!”
“ Valerie Collymore is a wonderful Art teacher. She really helped me with the color mixing process. Her enthusiasm and support pushed my limits and made me want to go further. “
This Workshop Includes:
- 10 days of artistic immersion.
- All Inclusive: Tuition, fine food, wine, accommodation and ground transportation with one lunch and one dinner at own expense.
- Paint, sketch and enjoy the good life in beautiful European surroundings.
- Daily painting locations: Private vineyards, charming villages, markets (more painting and excursion locations varied upon location of workshop).
- Balanced itinerary of painting, instruction, exploring and relaxation for artists – all levels!
- Learn, live and paint side-by-side with fellow artists.
- Plenty to do for non-painting partners!
- Pickup at Marseilles Airport or Aix-En-Provence TGV Train Station, airfare is not included.