Join international artist and art educator Christopher Eymann at Clos Mirabel in South West France for a week long painting workshop. Christopher Eymann is a full time painter and Art Tutor. During this class, emphasis is put on composition and exploring semi-figurative motives.
About this course:
When we tell our friends about our vacations, people and places are often coloured into a vivid narrative. But we can summarise all these events into what is essential for us and develop colourful worlds that consist mainly of emotions and very personal lasting impressions. If we succeed in freeing ourselves from the constraints of the given image focus, we find ourselves empowered to invert local tones.
During this painting week, we will be stimulated by the outstanding nature of Clos Mirabel in order to define pictures that combine figurative depictions with our own interpretation using our outer and inner voices. When these are harmoniously balanced, we are encouraged to break new artistic ground.
We will be driven to accomplish a significant part of the journey, through painting sketches, which we will carry out on different topics. For example, if we succeed in freeing ourselves from the constraints of the given image focus, we find ourselves empowered to invert the local tones between foreground and background. At this stage, we will be in a position to further develop our ideas on composition and expand them into larger formats and into semi-figurative motives.
References to contemporary artists and a day trip to the nearby Pyrenean National Park will most certainly inspire us.
Painting holiday programme outline:
Saturday
Guests settle in and explore Clos Mirabel
An introduction to the course and demonstration by Christopher Eymann
Welcome drinks and dinner
Sunday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Introducing ourself and getting to know the materials and the procedure. Starting on small sketches on Paper- Brainstorming!
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Studio work with individual tuition throughout the day
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 Landscape painting en plein air at Clos Mirabel – Reducing the complexity of Landscape to the essential. Quick sketches based on observation – looking at the difference in structure, how to break it down to an exciting composition. Looking at some traditional Landscape Artist.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Afternoon – studio work from sketches with individual tuition and collective consideration.
5.30 – An evening talk on prominent local landscape artists
6.30 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Tuesday
10.00 – 1.00 Day out working en plein air in the mountains, with the large vista looking south. Quick sketches based on observations, exploring juxtaposition between line and surface, contrast of warm and cold colors as well as depth of glaze and impasto.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at local Auberge
2.00 – 4.00 Plein air painting/sketching in the area of lac de Castet. Looking at some abstract Artist referring to Landscape.
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 local vineyard, explore Pau or beyond
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 Studio work from photographs and sketches of the mountains/village. Working form memory and interpreting the seen Landscape at your desire. Demonstration, followed by individual tutoring and a collective review.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Studio work with individual tuition throughout the day. A collective review of the weekly work and resume!
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 Free day of painting at Clos Mirabel, with individual tuition throughout. Working either en plein air, still life, or from our photographs and sketches
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Free day of painting at Clos Mirabel, with individual tuition throughout. Working either en plein air, still life, or from our photographs and sketches
6.30 – Evening exhibition in the double living room of Clos Mirabel and aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Saturday – Buffet Breakfast and departure
Non-participating guests: we are more than happy to welcome 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 55 m2. It is available at all times during Click here for more information.
