Join award winning artist and tutor Peter Keegan for a week of painting the stunning scenes of Clos Mirabel overlooking the glorious French Pyrenees mountains.
About this course:
During what promises to be a delightful week of painting, Peter will both demonstrate and guide painters in the different ways they can create landscape paintings filled with colour, light and expression, using the magnificent views of the French Pyrenees mountains as well as the gardens and grounds of the beautiful Clos Mirabel estate as our inspiration.
Suitable for all artistic abilities, Peter will cover many of the essential aspects of painting and drawing including creating strong compositions, understanding the power of tonal values, how to achieve rich colour harmony and how to loosen up your brushwork. Peter will be on hand to give plenty of individual guidance as well as numerous group demonstrations and discussions.
Peter will be working in oils and gouache but Artists are welcome to work in either oils, acrylics or gouache paints, with plenty of time given for sketching and photography.
All artistic abilities are warmly welcomed to attend this retreat along with non painting friends or partners.
Painting holiday programme outline:
Saturday
4.00 – Check-in time from 4pm onwards. Guests arrive, settle in, introduction to our hosts, Peter and explore Clos Mirabel
6.30 – Welcome drinks and dinner
Sunday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Painting and tuition: Capturing the perfect composition. Working with the glorious views presented to us of the French Pyrenees, vineyards and gardens, Peter will explain and demonstrate how a strong composition can make for a stronger painting.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Painting and tuition continuing on the same theme as the morning
6.30 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Monday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Painting and tuition: Tonal Values and how to play with them. Exploring how tonal values can be adapted to enhance the sense of space, depth and atmosphere in landscape paintings, all working en plein air.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Afternoon – Painting and tuition, continuing on the same theme as the morning
6.30 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Tuesday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Painting and tuition on the theme of Colour: This day will be all about colour and what we can do to push our colour palettes in a more vibrant and expressive way.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Afternoon – Painting and tuition, continuing on the same theme as the morning
6.30 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Wednesday – day off
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
We suggest wine tasting in a local vineyard, exploring Pau or beyond.
Peter Keegan will be providing an additional demonstration on location in Pau which you are most welcome to attend.
6.30 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Thursday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Painting and tuition: Exploring Mark making. This day of painting will focus on exploring the range of brushstrokes and marks that can really advance a painting as well as creating a more loose and expressive way to depict the landscape.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Afternoon – Painting and tuition continuing on the same theme as the morning
6.30 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Friday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Painting and tuition. During this session we will be adding the final touches to the paintings from the week and revisiting any areas which students feel they need further guidance on.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Afternoon – Painting and tuition will consist of a relaxed and encouraging group critique as well as preparation for the evening’s exhibition
6.30 – Evening exhibition in the Art Atelier and aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Saturday – Buffet Breakfast and departure (Check-out at 11 am)
Peter will be on hand to help you make sure your paintings are suitably labelled and packed ready for taking home with you
Non-painting guests: we are more than happy to welcome non-painting guests, accompanying partners, family or friends. There are plenty of activities to experience around Clos Mirabel, that will make your holiday unforgettable Click here for more information.
The Art Studio, offers a spacious open plan layout of 75 m2. It is available at all times during your stay. Click here for more information.
