Join Kevin Scully at the beautiful Atelier Clos Mirabel estate in the French Pyrenees for a week of drawing and painting in the medium of your choice.
About this course:
During this painting holiday the emphasis will be on creating work that captures the sense of space and mood of our delightful surroundings, and producing paintings that are both loose in style, and enigmatic in atmosphere.
Kevin Scully will be giving plenty of demonstrations as well as providing individual guidance in choosing the right materials, choosing a composition, tonal arrangement, and suitable colour schemes during the week to help you produce some exciting paintings.
Whether your favourite medium is oils, watercolours, acrylics, or pastels, the retreat is for painters of all levels of experience, and non-painting partners are more than welcome to join you.
Drawing & Painting Holiday – Programme Outline
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 Studio introduction to materials, subject matter, composition, tonal values, and colour schemes
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Outdoor painting around Clos Mirabel with Kevin demonstrating his approach to plein-air painting. If weather isn’t favourable you will be working in the studio from supplied mages.
4.00 – You may continue painting or relax before dinner
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 Introduction to a variety of techniques that can be applied when painting en plein air including choosing a focal point, aerial and linear perspective, what to include and what to leave out.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Demonstration and one to one tuition. Painting en plein air.
4.00 – Continue painting or take a break before dinner and relax
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 – 12.30 Painting on location in a characterful Pyrenean village with the emphasis on local architecture
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at a local auberge
2.30 – 4.30 Painting outdoors from specific locations. Return to Clos Mirabel.
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4-course dinner in the Manor House, or on the terrace
Wednesday– day off
8.30 – 9.30 After a buffet breakfast of local and regional produce you are free to spend the day as you wish. Perhaps a visit to a local vineyard for wine tasting, sightseeing in and around Pau, or you may wish to continue painting
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 – 12.30 Painting en plein air by the river in Pau
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Painting en plein air on site with Kevin providing individual tuition
4.00 – Continue painting or take a break before dinner and relax
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 Painting en plein air on site with Kevin providing individual tuition.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 More outdoor painting in the park and gardens of Clos Mirabel
4.00 – Continue painting or take a break before dinner and relax
6.00 – Evening exhibition in the double living room of Clos Mirabel followed by aperitifs before 4-course dinner in the Manor House, or on the terrace
Saturday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast and goodbyes before departure (Check-out 11am)
This itinerary is a general guide to the course. It can be changed at any time dependant on weather and other factors. Suggestions are always welcome.
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, full of natural light was designed by our Italian architect and offers a spacious open plan layout of 75 m2. It is available at all times during your stay. Click here for more information.
