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Painting Provence with Jane Hunt and Michele Usibelli
Château Near Avignon, June 11—19, 2024
If you love to paint to capture the heart and emotion of your surroundings, this is the workshop for you. Paint the gorgeous countryside of Provence with master painters, Jane Hunt and Michele Usibelli. Here is a perfect match to learn about painting the essence and light of the South of France while enjoying the beauty and bounty of the region.
We invite you to enjoy a fantastic program of learning and strengthening your painting skills while based at our charming, historical château near Avignon
Experience the expertise of not one, but two sought after instructors, Hunt is a faculty member of the Plein Air Convention and a demo artist/speaker at the Oil painters of America National Exhibition while Michele is an elected Oil Painters of America Board Member and sits on the PleinAir Magazine Advisory Council.
Get ready for some painting and an immersive experience in the Provence, France. This once-in-a-lifetime inspiring and instructive workshop will be unforgettable.
The workshop experience is open to artists of all levels. Jane and Michele will take turns in leading the sessions so that you can learn from both of them. There will be demos, one-on-one painting sessions and critiques. You will explore different approaches and create art using the principles learned. You will also be plein air painting on the historic Château’s Estate. Sound like heaven? We thought so…
Between both Jane Hunt and Michele Usibelli, you will experience a comprehensive learning experience for painting that you can use and refer to and further your own work. Both are skilled still-life and landscape painters and what’s more is both Jane Hunt and Michele are familiar with the European landscape.
The instruction and accommodations are in a 13th-century château estate. See more images here. You will be able to venture out with the group and capture landscapes and scenes of life in France in the surrounding countryside. In addition to obtaining painting skills, you’ll also enjoy an immersive French experience.
You’ll be able to explore the neighboring villages, visit vineyards to taste the local vintages, and shop at local outdoor markets as part of your retail therapy.
Group photo from the previous Jane Hunt workshop in Provence.
Jane Hunt
Hunt’s work has been featured in Southwest Art, Fine Art Connoisseur, Art of the West, Plein Air Magazine and others. Now based in Colorado, she frequently paints plein air, and continues to be awed by the beauty surrounding her. Hunt’s work is represented by galleries in the US, as well as her native England.
Following her move from England to the US as a teenager, Jane Hunt received her B.F.A. in
illustration from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Hunt’s work is represented by galleries
internationally. After working as an illustrator for several years Hunt eventually returned to her
true love: landscape oil painting. With a growing following and a demanding schedule, we are
grateful that Jane decided that we were the perfect hosts for her 2019 French Workshop. C’est
magnifique!
Here’s a video of Jane talking about her process.
She has risen to the top of the plein air painting field and is a noted member of the following:
Master Signature Member, Plein Air Painters of New Mexico
Master Signature Member, Women Artists of the West
Signature Member, Oil Painters of America
Signature Member, American Impressionist Society
Signature Member, Plein Air Artists Colorado
Signature Member, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
Associate with Distinction, American Women Artists
Artist Member Salmagundi Club and California Art Club
Vice President, Oil Painters of America
Lavender Fields by Jane Hunt
“Even though I paint a lot of studies on location, my landscapes are actually less about describing a specific place than they are about the feelings evoked. In an impressionistic, tonal style I hope to convey the emotional connection that I had with each scene.
Moving cross-Atlantic three times in my early years, I spent much of my life with an underlying sense of homesickness. This yearning propelled me to create a sense of ‘home’ within my landscapes.
My greatest hope is that my work gives its viewers this same sense of comfort and connectedness; a gentle place to rest.”
Michele Usibelli
Granddaughter of both Italian and French emigrants, Michele feels she was born to create. After earning a degree in Architecture from the University of Washington, she combined her professional life with her love of travel. Her extensive travels and life experiences provide the solid platform from which Michele’s artwork is created.
Michele’s early training established a strong foundation in the Russian Impressionist tradition of seeing and painting shapes of light and color using relatively loose brushstrokes. She studied extensively and have been influenced by numerous historic artists, most notably Nicholai Fechin, John Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase. All of these influences have allowed Michele to establish my own unique artistic style and define me as a truly versatile artist.
Michele’s award-winning artwork has shown in both group and solo gallery exhibitions as well as regional, national and international juried exhibitions and Museum Auctions. Usibelli has won numerous awards, including the Silver Medal Award at the prestigious Salmagundi Club, NYC and the UCI Institute and Museum of California Art Award.
She is honored to have her work in the permanent collection at the University of Alaska Fairbanks/Museum of the North and most recently, her painting “First Light, Pioneer Mill Smokestack”, was acquired by the State of Hawaii for their permanent collection. Michele has followed her passion to teach, conducting ongoing workshops and art demonstrations throughout the US and internationally. She has proven to be a popular juror. Her artwork can be found in public and private collections throughout the world.
Michele is a proud member of the following organizations; Oil Painters of America/Signature Member, American Impressionist Society/Signature Member, Women Artists of the West/Signature Member, California Art Club/Artist Member, Salmagundi Club/NYC, American Women Artists/Signature Member and Laguna Plein Air Painters Association/Signature Member. Michele is an elected Oil Painters of America Board Member and sits on the PleinAir Magazine Advisory Council.
“Fresh Flowers” by Michele Usibelli
“While I am drawn to many painting genres; still life, landscape, cityscapes and figurative-its my individual style and paint application, that creates and maintains a constant theme throughout my body of work. My work is created primarily in oils, but I also enjoy working in acrylics, gouache and watercolor in my representational style. I strive for consistency of style that is uniquely my own. “
Works by Jane Hunt
Works by Michele Usibelli
This Workshop Includes:
- 9-Days of learning with Jane Hunt and Michele Usibelli in Provence.
- Ongoing demos, discussions and evenings with the instructors.
- All Inclusive: Tuition, fine food, wine, château accommodation and ground transportation. We eat out an own expense – one/two lunches and one dinner are scheduled. Airfare not included.
- Paint, sketch and enjoy the good life in beautiful Provençal surroundings.
- Daily painting locations: Private vineyards, charming villages, markets (more painting and excursion locations varied upon location of the workshop).
- Balanced itinerary of painting, exploring and relaxation for artists of all media – all levels!
- Travel, live, learn and paint side-by-side with Jane, Michele and fellow artists.
- Plenty to do for non-painting partners! A limited number of non-painting partners accepted. Discount available for non-painting companions
