Join Rita Sabler for a week of Travel Sketching / Carnet de Voyage in South West France. Document your journey in a sketchbook using ink and watercolour. Let images and words work together in harmony to tell the story of place.
About this course:
Have you ever arrived in a new place and been immediately overwhelmed by its unique character and beauty? Our natural instinct is to capture this beauty, to cherish and remember it. Taking photos provides a quick and easy solution, but doesn’t allow you to really look and absorb the place with all of your senses to truly make it yours.
Join us in the magical place following in the footsteps of French romantic painter Eugène Delacroix. While suffering from respiratory ailments, Delacroix came to this area seeking fresh mountain air of the Pyrenees. What he found were majestic mountains and the hidden villages that provided a lot of inspiration to the 19th century artist – he filled many pages of his famous sketchbooks with scenes that largely remain unchanged even today. We now have a unique chance to spend a week in the same location that inspired Delacroix putting together a perfect travel sketchbook.
Let’s delve into the art of “Carnet de Voyage”. Over the course of a week, we will create a travel sketchbook that truly captures the place and honors its beauty.
The Art of Travel Reportage at Clos Mirabel
Program (Subject to Change)
Saturday
4.00 – Check-in time from 4pm onwards. Guests arrive, settle in and explore Clos Mirabel
6.00 – Welcome drinks and dinner
Sunday – Objects That Tell A Story
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Main themes and tools of travel reportage. Intro to storytelling, Textures and values. Writing in travel reportage.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 5.00 Field Exercise: Drawing objects that tell a story
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House
Monday – The Natural World
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 12.00 Natural World in Ink and Watercolor. Monochrome washes. Watercolor techniques. Atmospheric perspective. Value Maps.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 5.00 Capturing the majestic landscape that surrounds us
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House
Tuesday – day off
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
Wednesday – Day Out in the Pyrénées
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 –1.00 Exploring the traditional villages of Castet and Bilhères en Ossau. Choosing and simplifying what you draw. Perspective. Vignettes
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at local Auberge or gourmet picnic
2.00 – 4.30 Sketching in Castet and Bilhères en Ossau
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House
Thursday – Capturing the Spirit of a Royal City
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Drawing in Pau: C16th quarter with its historic Château and Parliament of Navarre. Creative approach to capturing Architecture. Composition.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch on your own (recommendations provided)
2.00 – 5.00 Drawing in Pau: Place Royale & Boulevard des Pyrénées.
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House
Friday – Telling The Story of Human Activity
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Jurançon Market. Drawing people. Showing activity. Putting your visual story together.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 5.00 Sketch Walk to our local vineyard
6.00 – Evening exhibition of the work produced during the week with aperitif
7.00 – 4 course farewell dinner in the Manor House
Saturday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet Breakfast and departure (Check-out 11am)
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.
