Join Jenny Muncaster for a fun week exploring the joys of mix media. Create your own totally original artwork and discover a beautiful area of France.
NEW for 2025 ~ On this course you will also have the opportunity to learn the art of drypoint etching to create a wonderful mini landscape print.
About this course:
Jenny is committed to making creativity available to everyone, during this week-long painting holiday she will introduce you to different techniques using a whole range of wonderful art materials. Combining traditional & non-traditional methods & tools for exploring line, painting, print, texture & collage in your work. Using these new skills, capture & interpret your subject matter to create totally original artwork inspired by the beautiful surroundings of Clos Mirabel in the French Pyrenees.
At the end of the workshop, you will have gained a tool kit of creative skills & techniques, a new artistic energy, and a portfolio of paintings to be proud of!
2025 Painting Holiday Programme Outline including a day painting in the Pyrenees
Saturday
4.00 – Check-in time from 4pm onwards. Guests arrive, settle in and explore Clos Mirabel
6.00 – Welcome drinks and dinner
Sunday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 ‘BEING MATISSE’. Having fun together capturing the big expansive view with big & small sketches. Developing our ideas for landscapes in charcoal & pen. Exploring the amazing effects of Inktense blocks.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 ‘A snapshot in the grass’. Layering effects using System 3 acrylics, various tools & brushes. A look at acrylics: Pigment & brush techniques. Discover four types of acrylics, original, heavy body ink and fluid acrylics. Explore three favourite brushes; fan, sword & filbert brush.
6.00 – 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 Jennys demo for creating mini engravings using a stylus and acrylic etching plates. Design & etch your own engraving of the landscape. A look at Aquafine watercolour inks. Experiment with painting small & simple, atmospheric
landscape vignettes incorporating some magical effects.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Continuing from the morning session followed by Jennys tips for sketching in the village and mountains.
6.00 – 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 Day out working en plein-air in the village & Pyrenees mountains. Sketching in the village. Fun with colour & collage with individual tuition from Jenny. Individual interpretations using art materials of choice.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at a local Auberge
2.00 – 4.00 Free time or plein-air painting/sketching in the mountains. Take photos & make sketches. Inktense blocks available for all to try when out and about.
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Wednesday day off (Lunch is not provided on the free day)
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
We suggest wine tasting in local vineyard, explore Pau or beyond
6.00 – 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 Components for a playful still life. Gathering seasonal goodies from Clos Mirabel to inspire our artwork. Fun exercises for loose drawing & techniques for composition, colour, pattern & effect. Jenny’s step by step still life workshop with collage ink and mixed media.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Still Life continued. Combining various artists’ drawing, printing & painting skills. Jenny will be on hand to work on further techniques with you for generating fabulous mixed media compositions. Option to continue etched landscapes for printing on Friday.
6.00 – 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 Free day of artwork at Clos Mirabel, with individual tuition throughout, with time to print your mini engravings. Working either en plein air,
still life, or from our photographs and sketches. Experiment with combining any variety of the techniques & materials you have learnt for sketching, painting, print & mixed media.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Meet in the studio for individual tuition & get ready for evening exhibition
6.00 – Evening exhibition with aperitifs in the atelier of Clos Mirabel
7.00 – Farewell dinner – 4 courses in the Manor House or on the terrace
Saturday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet Breakfast and departure (Check-out 11am)
Itinerary
Re Jenny’s course itinerary. Jenny cannot give individual tuition separate to or which is distinctly different from the group course theme and itinerary.
We reserve the right to make adjustments to the programme content without prior notice. This is sometimes dependent on the time required to complete certain projects & the weather.
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.
