A Place to Paint in France: a guest post by artist and tutor Nicola Blakemore

 ‘Joucas’ by courtesy of the artist Forrest Priddy, USA

Planning to book a Painting Holiday in France? Make sure you look at the full package. When you go on a painting holiday, there are many factors to take into account.

Of course it’s important to find a tutor to whom you can relate, learn from and have fun with (meet me on my video further down the page).  You also want a destination which will inspire you and you want to be well fed and comfortable, of course.  But don’t forget the area where you are staying and in which you will be painting, that can make a big difference to your results and enjoyment.

With that in mind, here are a few things that I, as a tutor, look for in a venue in which to operate my painting holidays.

Ideally I look for a venue with space both inside and out in which I can nurture my tender creative spirits as they learn and improve their painting skills.  For example, depending on the schedule required, there may well be a trip to a suitable place to sketch and collect information, but sometimes it is when you return ‘to base’ that the real work starts and conditions there need to be flexible.

A perfect shady spot!

Working ‘plein air’ can be great as that means you can see colours and shapes in their full glory and enjoy the glorious weather at the same time as you’re painting.  There must though, be shade as well. Nobody wants to get too hot or get a touch of ‘paper blindness’.  It’s very difficult to paint in full sunshine as the paper looks so bright it can be dazzling and dappled shade is worse, but an area that is both shaded and outdoors can be magical.  And in the unlikely event that is does rain, you’ll need somewhere to keep yourself and your work dry.

If it has to be indoors, then there must be as much daylight as possible.  If that isn’t the case then daylight bulbs are available or even other electric lighting can work.  The main thing is to work in a ‘constant’ condition.  There are times when I have to work in conditions that are far from ideal.  But as long as you don’t “change horses in midstream”, such as starting off in the gloom then continuing in bright sunshine, and you can see your colours and their values consistently then that will work.

Plenty of space for pots, paints.....

The other relevant things, such as comfortable upright chairs and tables with enough space so that people don’t feel too cramped. are also important.  I always find that any individual will take up as much space as is available within their arms reach.  So enough space for you to put out pots of water, paints, sketches, paper, kitchen roll and more, will be needed and certainly the freedom to leave everything as it is until you return.  This includes the freedom to come back and paint in the evening if you wish, or even get up extra early to steal a march on everyone else.

It’s also nice to have an area where you can prop up your work in progress.  Taking time out from any painting is important.  I sometimes have to drag people away from their work as they become so absorbed. Working for too long is not a good idea as you get tired, make errors and sometimes can’t see how you are progressing.  Having a display area is where you can learn a lot just from seeing how someone else has tackled a subject.  There must be water and a sink close to hand for the washing of hands and brushes. My students work mostly in watercolour and it’s imperative to have clean water; murky water leads to murky colours, and we don’t want that!

There are many things that make a memorable painting holiday and the venue is just one of them.  My role is to make sure you get the most from my tuition, bond with the rest of the group, get plenty of individual attention and that you go home looking forward to the next time you come on a painting holiday with me. 

Nicola's approach to teaching:

We know from our own experiences at school that our enjoyment and ability to grasp a subjet can depend very much on the teacher. Therefore my approach is gentle, patient but most of all enthusiastic.

My objective is to make your learning experience as much fun as possible. I do this not just by talking about a technique but showing you how it's done, where it can be used and holding your hand every step of the way.

The creative spirit within needs to be coaxed and gently nurtured  to allow it to acheive marvellous things.

There is great pleasure to be had  in the 'doing' until, you are almost in a meditative state and the result is merely a happy ending to a fulfilling experience. Trust me to bring out the artist in you.

If you'd like to know about my work as an artist and see some of my paintings, go to www.nblakemore.com   My site is soon to be completely renewed and restyled. So bear with me if it looks a bit odd at the moment.



About Nicola:

I originally trained as a graphic artist, and then followed a different career path working in the media, travel and public relations.

After time spent in both London and Paris, I returned to my creative roots, so to speak, and became involved with interior design, specialist painting effects and creating murals for clients in both the UK and overseas.

I have taught at college level, with special needs and worked with private groups.  Now installed in the Languedoc south west of France, I continue to create murals, specialist painting effects, teach art both in classes and on painting holidays. I also paint a variety of subjects to commission, including pets and houses and I am accomplished in a variety of media and styles including portraiture.

There is a saying that you should "know what you are good at and stick to it", I say, "discover what you might be even better at and go for it".

I have had work featured in Country Living magazine and on BBC Radio 4 and Central TV in the UK

La Vidalerie jewellery making holidays in the Aveyron, France: what the students say

Tiara Making and Wedding Jewellery...

There's no better guide to what a course has to offer than what former students have to say.  So here are some comments from some of the alumni of La Vidalerie which offers a wide range of jewellery making courses in the beautiful Aveyron region of France.

I did the silver smith course last year in April with my best friend and it was the best holiday I had. Learnt so much in a very relaxed atmosphere. Karen is an amazing teacher and used good quality materials. T James

The best holiday ever! Had an amazing time filled with patient, encouraging and highly skilled tuition (wire work workshop), top quality materials, tonnes of delicious home cooked food washed down with lots of equally delicious wine, amazing sights to see, a beautiful gite... I could go on. Suffice to say I'm looking forward already to going back next year - silversmithing next I think! Thanks Karen and Tim! x L Rose 

Karen & Tim's beautiful farmhouse in the Aveyron

I have done 2 jewellery courses at Karen & Tim's beautiful farmhouse in the Aveyron. Karen is the most wonderful teacher and got me completely hooked on creating jewellery. She has bags of patience and will adapt any course to teach you exactly what you need to know. She totally inspired me and I have continued making jewellery with a passion ever since. Tim - her right hand man in every way c ... ooks a mean dinner and has a wicked sense of humour and kept me entertained with his funny stories (and lots of wine). The setting is perfect, peaceful and very rural and they are both fabulous hosts. The gittes are lovely, very comfortable and homely. This is a great holiday in every sense and I will be back again! S Finlayson

I have very happy memories of a course I did with Karen and Tim about 18 months ago. I have done a number of courses at this stage to do with glass and jewellery and Karen is the best teacher I have come across - patient, clear, encouraging, inspirational. I would heartily recommend these courses - excellent value, covering many hours of learning as well as excellent home-made food and very comfortable accommodation. A return visit is definitely in order!! I Raftery

I had a fantastic time on my week long jewellery making course. Karen and Tim were fantastic hosts and I learnt so much great stuff that I have been putting into practice ever since. I've even started selling pieces and it's all thanks to what I learnt during my course. The location was perfect, beautiful and peaceful - just what I needed for a break from my busy schedule - and Tim's cooking was delicious and generous.
I recommend anyone interested in jewellery making to sign up and head over to La Vidalerie! C Evans

Karen and tim make you feel so welcome and i had a fabulous holiday the cottage and surroundings are first class and it's sooo peaceful!
Oh and of course i learnt loads too!! If you have the chance go for it! D Dibble

What a special week's holiday! I was met at the airport by Tim who made sure I saw some of the sights before heading towards St Geniez d'Olt. And be sure to check out a supermarket or two. So many treats to try.
The gite is beautifully and tastefully crafted. I had a large room looking out to the lush trees on the other side of the narrow valley. Lovely cotton sheets, a comfortable mattress and a ... full bookcase - heaven.
Karen and Tim offered an excellent mix of sociability and privacy. Breakfast was good and lunch was both delicious and enormous.
I loved taking strolls after class along the quiet lanes nearby and was very pleased when Tim suggested a sightseeing day to the cathedral city of Conques.
As for jewellry making: Karen is a patient teacher. She manages to pass along the knowledge in just the correct-sized chunks and is supportive yet never patronising. I was so grateful to view the selection of examples of the techniques we were learning as well as the chance to consult Karen's extensive library of jewellry making books. I came away with many pieces of jewellry I was proud to show off to my friends. B Auterson

I have just spent the most fantastic week learning silversmithing and PMC... it was a really great time. It was my second trip to La Vidalerie, and I wasn't disappointed. Karen's teaching is brilliant and supportive, and she manages to teach design as well as the technical side of things. I've come home with a whole load of beautiful jewellery, an awful lot of knowledge and some really good memories.
I would certainly go back again - there is always more to learn and I can't think of a better place to do that learning! R Dean

Silversmithing and so much more...

We've just got back from a lovely two days of 'silversmithing for beginners' The course was brilliant and Karen & Tim were fantastic hosts. It's a very relaxing experience as Karen has endless patience and you come away feeling you've made two friends with the added bonus of all the 'goodies' you've made. As it was my husband who was more interested in jewellery making we can highly recommend Karen & Tim's courses for male and females alike. We're already discussing what we would like to do next. Thanks to you both xx L Reed

What an amzing weekend we have just had! Karen and Tim are truly great hosts, very welcoming and lovely food! The jewellery making experience was amzing, thank you Karen for being a great teacher. We both feel like we learned so much and will certainly be putting our new found techniques into practice! I've already started recommending you to others! Thank you so much! x L Hill

Best weekend I have had in a very long time. Thank you so much!! I have started planning my next trip hehe!! C Brogden

Thanks for such a wonderful holiday Karen & Tim!! I learnt so much about silversmithing and just loved the farmhouse and breathtaking country scenery. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone and will definitely be going back. You both were great hosts. Thanks again! J Kline

Karen and Tim offer a fantastic break in the most beautiful area of France. Definately a jewellry making holiday not to be missed as they treat you like family and make you feel very special. The food is fantastic (ask to try the Aligot - I have never tasted a mash potato like it), the wine is free flowing, the workshops are first class and Karens patience is .... well, in my case, never ending! ... J Silver

If you have ever wondered about making your own jewellery, but were afraid to have a go; if you like the quieter, rural side of life in France; then this is the holiday you are looking for. Karen takes you patiently through every step to enable you to succeed in making your chosen items. Unless you come with a couple of close friends, there will only be a maximum of two of you learning so you have ... plenty of individual attention. Tim will make sure you are well fed, sitting outside the farmhouse for lunch if the weather is warm enough, so you can really appreciate the hard work they have put into renovating the buildings. Karen and Tim are excellent hosts and nothing is too much trouble, be it picking you up from the airport, cooking, sightseeing, or making sure your jewellery is something you will love to wear! The choice of workshops mean you can just have a short beak away or indulge in a full week of creativity, retiring to your large comfy bed each night to dream about what you're going to make the next day!
Now I might just have to check out those workshop dates again, just writing about it has made me want to book for a third visit! Jane Moore " "

The hosts are fantastic people, who entertain, teach, cook a fabulouse meal, and make you feel right at home. A Armstrong

I loved every minute of this course and came home with some beautiful jewellery. Can't wait to put my new skills to the test. The accommodation was lovely and Tim's cooking [not to mention his banter!!] was superb. T MacKinnon

The best holiday EVER!! The area is stunning, breathtakingly beautiful and serene, the building intriguing and the work that Tim and Karen have done to it is very impressive, but the jewellery making is amazing! Karen is a brilliant teacher, and I came home with absolutely tons of silver jewellery that I "smithed" myself like a proper jeweller! It is amazing value for money too, with 2 meals a day, materials and use of tools included, and superb accommodation. I urge anyone interested in broadening their horizons or simply starting out in jewellery making to go. I will certainly be going back! J Jones

Beautiful setting, relaxing atmosphere and classes tailored to individual interests and capabilities. We worked with quality materials and came away with beautiful jewelry. Karen and Tim are so friendly and helpful. The lunches were delicious, and they catered to even the most difficult dietary requirements. C Boyle

I really enjoyed this trip! The jewellery making was great and I was pleased with the piecies I made. The school is set in beautiful surroundings. After the initial suprise of being the only one there I had a fab time and Karen and Tim were lovely and made me feel very welcome (and are great fun!)! V Earnshaw 

Follow this link if you'd like to find out more about La Vidalerie: http://facilitutors.com/index.php?ch=15&id=284

A Natural Balance: family friendly eco-holidays, fly fishing equipment and rod building courses in the Loire Valley

Mike and Jean

An interview with Mike and Jean Brookes of Les Mortiers Holiday Gîtes in the Maine et Loire.
Mike and Jean moved to France fourteen years ago.  They offer family holidays and are pioneers of the eco gîte movement.  The area they chose to settle in is also ideal for their other business which revolves around fly fishing: selling silk fly lines, making traditional bamboo fly rods and running courses teaching others the craft.  Their lives and businesses seem to me to have a very natural balance.

Eco friendly family holiday gîtes

What prompted you to move to France and what attracted you to the Maine et Loire in particular?
A love of the country of France, love of the people, love of the food and the attitude to life and family values.
The area around Saumur also had a similar feeling to Hampshire where I used to live, so I felt at home instantly.  Other factors were, again, the food and wine of the Loire, French culture, easy reach of the Channel ports, the chateaux along the majestic Loire valley and a distinctly French environment, known as ‘La Douceur Angevine’.

Tell us a bit more about “La Douceur Angevine”, Jean...
It’s the way of living in our part of France, the relaxed lifestyle which comes from the gentle countryside and the way in which people of the region live and use the local produce, good wines and fine cuisine.  This part of France was once the hunting region for the nobility who had their chateaux and hunting lodges here and used the area as their escape to the country.

Did you find it easy to settle into the quiet of the French countryside?  Was the reality very different to the picture you had in your minds before you came?
Yes, very easy indeed, the gentle countryside has a comfortable feel to it. We had visited many parts of France, but the area we chose was the one that felt right. We found everyone very friendly and courteous. The only exception might have been when Mike joined the local chasse and I found that it took a while to understand the culture of the French chasseurs.  One amusing incident was the annual soirée when the men expected Mike to join him at their table, the ladies having assembled on a separate table and Mike moved them into the 21st century by saying that he preferred the conversation of the ladies. Some of the younger couples then followed his example. It was all very “amical”. Looking back we can’t think of anything else which didn’t meet our expectations.  

One of Mike's rod building students

Did you run similar businesses back in the UK or did you start from scratch here in France?  Did you have to learn lots of new skills or did you find that you already had the right “skill set”?
No, we started both businesses from scratch and it was our first experience of being self-employed. For the fly fishing business, Mike was already well known as a bamboo rod builder and a much respected fly fisher man. He’s a trained engineer so the two combined nicely to run Phoenix Lines.  I worked in administration with management experience in the leisure industry and also planning and building development. Again the mix of skills was right for developing a successful holiday rental business.
Our skill sets did not drive the choice of businesses, but were good tool kits across both businesses.

Would you do anything differently if you could turn the clock back?  What has been the hardest lesson you’ve learnt and the most pleasant surprise?
No - we wouldn’t change a thing.
The hardest lesson was the allocation of time between the two business, which we’re both involved in and making sure we leave time for a personal life.
The most pleasant surprise was when my son decided to move to France, so now we have a granddaughter born in Ireland and a grandson born in France. They’re both bi-lingual and achieving well at school.
Do you have a strict division of labour or do you share a lot of the tasks involved in running your businesses? 
No - as we need to be reactive to run both businesses effectively. However, there are certain tasks which require a strict division of labour and then we have to make certain that that person has uninterrupted time to complete them!

Is there ever a conflict between the businesses or do they dovetail nicely?
Generally, the businesses dovetail well. Over the years, we have refined our work programme so that time can be allocated to run things smoothly. Perhaps the most difficult issue is that everything is based at our home so the business needs can sometimes take more priority than things which need doing for our own comfort.

Mike and Jean's guests enjoy the Loire Valley wines

I know you like to keep your businesses “green”, how far do you take that policy and does it ever cause problems with your guests eg not recycling, sticking glass bottles in with the general rubbish?
Our first major investment in green energy was twelve years ago when we installed solar heating for hot water in our house. Followed by, four years ago when we installed geothermic heating to provide heating for our house and hot water and central heating for two of the gîtes. It enables us to heat them quickly and without major running costs out of the main season. The third gîte is heated by a wood burner, which is another sustainable form of energy.
The eco-friendliness of our businesses is important to us but we’re not evangelical, it’s more that we prefer to lead by good example. Like most things in life, you need to be convinced in your heart that it’s right to do something, so being critical of others or dictatorial would not be right and would get us nowhere. However, we would like to feel that we raise awareness, that’s what most of our guests tell us. Generally, there is a greater awareness of recycling now than there was when we published our eco-friendly webpage over 10 years ago. We’ve been told we were one of the first holiday rental properties to do this.  Our guests play their part in being eco-friendly with daily trips to the composts bins we provide and the recycling rack for wine bottles, which often creaks in the centre under the weight of empties!
We found a quotation at Blackwell Arts and Crafts House in the Lake District and it really summarises our philosophy.  The Arts and Crafts movement “sought to create not only an honest and fulfilling approach to design and production, but a simpler and more ethical way of life”. William Morris, the movement's father figure, believed that greed and over-sophistication would deprive men of the "beauty of life".

There must be a big difference between what you do in the summer and what you do in the off season and do you get tired of people thinking that your life is one long holiday because they don’t see what goes on behind the scenes?
We like the idea of Les Mortiers following the seasons. In summer, it’s bright and active and it’s essential that our guests receive priority. We’re happy to share in this as we’re so proud of the area we live in. Our guests do say sometimes that we must have one long holiday, but soon temper that with a comment that it would be impossible to provide such quality accommodation without a lot of hard work. When autumn arrives, we’re both ready to slow down socially and tend to relax a little more.  We enjoy speculating on the date for the start of the ‘vendanges’ for the lovely Loire reds which are produced in our area and planning a short holiday for ourselves. There is a feeling that Les Mortiers is enjoying a well earned rest ready to wake up again early in the next spring.

When you do get some time off together, how do you like to spend it?
Longer periods of time together tend to be in the autumn through to spring, when we make an annual visit to see family in the UK or take a short break to explore France. We both enjoy cooking and entertaining, so this part of the year is also devoted to catching up with friends who like us, are busy in the summer months. Our large garden keeps us busy throughout the year growing all our own vegetables and then preserving them in various ways for the winter months. I enjoy being like a squirrel at this time of the year, storing up for the winter.
The summer is a very sociable and time to visit vineyards to sample and, naturally, buy wine. We love the variety of Loire wines, so these visits are a source of useful information for our guests in the holiday rentals, we regard it as essential research!
I’m a keen swimmer, whilst Mike is quite content to sit under the abri in the garden and play his guitar. Living in such an area of gentle countryside, with plenty of forest tracks and safe roads also makes walking and cycling a pleasure - when we have time!

You can contact Mike and Jean via their websites to find out how you too can get a taste La Douceur Angevine
For their holiday cottages: http://www.frenchholiday.co.uk/
For the fly lines, accessories, rods and rod building courses: http://www.phoenixclassics.com/

A gîte or B&B....is not just for the summer! How to extend your letting season by offering holiday courses or activities or linking up with someone who does.

"The wonder of a holiday in France!"

I’d like to welcome my guest blogger Danny Kibbey. Danny is one half of the inspiration behind Holiday Let Exchange , a website designed to bring Gîte & B&B owners in France closer to their audience.

Francophile Danny has split his time between the UK and France ever since a school exchange trip took him to Strasbourg at the age of 14.

Gîtes...ah, the wonder of a gîte holiday in France. The lazy afternoons staring at nothing but cloudless blue skies with the gentle aromas of ‘la garrigue’ and the soothing sounds of cicadas. The afternoon snooze following the long, lazy lunch or the dip in the pool before the aperitif is served and dinner runs deep into the seductive, starry night.

We often ignore the fact that for the owners, this is their business. And like any business, it takes guts, hard work and sometimes lots of creativity. The toughest thing for many gîte owners is not making their place lovely for us to enjoy during the summer months, but rather coming up with interesting and innovative ways to make use of their beautiful properties for the rest of the year. Whereas some people choose to close down for the quiet periods others decide that a bit of imagination can go a long way: snow shoe walks in winter, truffle tours in autumn, stargazing breaks and wild swimming trips are all innovative options we’ve come across from some of the more adventurous gîte owners.

Following the explosion and popularity of all kinds of courses cropping up throughout France, this is another area some gîte owners are beginning to explore. Now, if you want to offer your own cookery masterclasses it clearly helps to have a Michelin Star or Masterchef endorsement behind you. But if your area of expertise is looking after people, offering a comfortable night’s sleep in your beautiful surroundings, then we recommend forging partnerships with these establishments.

We can almost guarantee that there is someone, somewhere nearby offering any number of courses for a week or weekend, whose customers need a good night’s sleep after a hard day’s learning. But how can the canny gîte or B&B owner tap into this growing market? We recommend carrying out some research on what’s on offer in the region in terms of courses, and then have a long hard look at yourself to assess how your place can match the requirements of the visitors.

You could run cookery courses.....

So, if you offer group accommodation with bunk rooms you may be perfectly suited to the local language school giving intensive courses. Or maybe you offer 5-star B&B suites, which means you could be a perfect match for those 5-star cookery masterclasses offered in the next village. Once you begin exploring you’ll soon realise the possibilities are endless: one person’s empty barn is another’s ceramics studio, and that unused meadow could be perfect for an afternoon’s watercolour class perhaps?

What with the snow shoe walks, truffles, cookery class accommodation and families booked up for those long, sunny days, you have all the ingredients for a busy and fruitful year in France.

I hope Danny has given you some ideas. Don’t forget that there are lots of freelance tutors out there who would love to spend a few days in France teaching creative writing, watercolour painting...you name it, there’s someone who’ll teach it. So even if you don’t have anybody nearby running courses and you don’t have any teaching experience yourself, it’s still possible to run courses. You will of course need to provide the space and facilities (which will vary depending on the subject) and market your courses which is where Facilitutors comes in. If anyone would like to talk their ideas over I’d be happy to help, just get in touch.

Don't forget to check out Danny's website http://www.holidayletexchange.com/

Brenda and her Brush with Bushell: what makes a good painting holiday in France?

An inspiring view across the rooftops at Chez Castillon

I thought it might be interesting to look at an art course from the student’s point of view for a change, so I’d like to introduce you to Brenda Todd.

Before moving to France Brenda lived in Suffolk and worked as purchasing manager for an international paint company.  She retired once then went back to work on a part time basis, mostly working from home.  When the ‘part time’ became more like full time and the working from home became a commute from Suffolk to West Bromwich in the Midlands, she decided to retire for good at 56 and a year later she and her husband moved to France.  They had had many happy holidays in the Aquitaine region and so that’s why they eventually settled in Puisseguin near St Emilion where their home is surrounded by vineyards.

I wanted to talk to Brenda because she’s been on a painting course at Chez Castillon, not once but twice!  So I asked her what the ingredients of a good painting course are?

I believe that the first ingredient of a good course is to have an experienced tutor who can teach all levels of ability and this is exactly what we got with Lynn Bushell.  Secondly, you need a good mix of people, some of the other students were much more advanced than me, I had never painted before, some had attended other courses.  One lady was even an artist herself; it was good to hear her views of the different aspects of creating a painting.  I love meeting new people and on these courses you meet all sorts of different people, I’ve kept in touch with a couple of the other students.  

Do you think you learn more on a concentrated week long holiday course than in a traditional weekly adult education class?

Although I was a day student on both occasions and the others were residents, I still had a lot of opportunity to chat with them, during the day and also at the wonderful lunches that Janie and Mickey provide.  I would say that a week long course is much better because you really get down to it and see the results of what you have learnt at the end of the week.

Why is it such a good location for an art holiday? 

 A five minute walk from the banks of the Dordogne

The South West of France is ideal for courses during the summer months because of the great weather.  At Chez Castillon there’s a South facing garden which gets the sun all day long, which is marvellous for painting and also eating lunch!  There’s a very large swimming pool too which is great for a dip before lunch, after a mornings course work.  Chez Castillon is a five minute walk from the banks of the Dordogne with lovely views and just ten minutes drive from the wonderful old medieval town of St. Emilion which has so many beautiful buildings to draw and paint.

I hope Brenda's story inspires some of you to book a course this year.  Chez Castillon are offering EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS on all their courses (which include CARTOONING, PHOTOGRAPHY, WRITING CRIME FICTION, HOW TO WRITE A ROMANCE, WRITING BESTSELLING WOMEN'S FICTION)  if you book before the end of January and non-painting partners are welcome at a reduced rate.  Why not e mail Mickey and Janie now!

By the way, you haven’t heard the last of Brenda, I’ll be talking to her again soon about some more of her other interests...prepare to be surprised...

If you’d like a glimpse of Chez Castillon to see why Brenda loves it so much here is a short video clip: