Courses

Course 2010: A Recap

The painting course in May was based at the Relais des Charteuses in the Hauteurs du Boulou. The weather was kind, and the students made remarkable progress under the tutelage of Bob Smith.

The majority had attended previous courses so they already knew each other and it proved to be a very enjoyable week enhanced by some excellent meals

The mood was captured in a poem by Trevor Turpin who was on the course for the first time Inspired by the over enthusiastic participation of the hotel dog he entitled it:

THE DOG THAT ATE THE BRUSH
“More wine?” said Numpty
They shivered
“I want to make you loose women,” said the Professor,
“Give your paintings air, make them sing, make them dance”
They shivered
“More wine?” said Numpty
And then the dog ate the brush...
Then they chortled, they cackled, they squawked and squealed, they shrieked
“Silence!”cried the Professor, “I do the talking”
“I’ve burnt my zenna” wailed the novice.
“More wine?” said Numpty
They went to cloisters and castles, cathedrals and chapels; they went to forts and ports
And they chattered and chortled, they squealed and they shrieked.
I see Matisse and Mackintosh,” said the Professor,“ I see Klee, Klimt, Kandinsky!”
They shrieked
“What, more wine?” said Numpty
“I think it’s time for tea,” said Flora.

---

Landscape Painting Courses 2011

Tues 17th May to Tues 24th May and
Tues 11th to Tues 18th October 2011

The Course

Inspirational tutoring and a quality hotel with excellent cuisine and facilities have proved a popular combination of artistic stimulation and personal relaxation.   In 2011, the two courses will be based at the same country hotel which we have used for the last two years.

It is on the slopes of the Mediterranean Pyrenees, close to the Spanish frontier. From here we are half an hour from the sea at Collioure and in the other direction, we have the mountain villages and landscapes of the Upper Tech valley.

The Hotel

The hotel is an 18th century Catalan farmhouse in a quiet rural location with 10 spacious en suite bedrooms all with telephone, TV and internet. There is pleasant lounge area, a swimming pool and a sheltered garden with a massage pavilion where you can get a Thai massage. For further details and pictures see <www.relais-des-chartreuses>

Meals

Breakfast and dinner are in the dining room or on the terrace at the hotel. The hotelier prides himself on his cuisine and the dinner menu is prepared according to what fresh produce catches his eye in the market each day. Lunches are alfresco picnics or in a local restaurant, depending on the remoteness of the location

The Course

...is a structured course en pleine air in a medium of your choice. To ensure maximum personal attention, the group is restricted to 8 or 9 participants.. Beginners receive sympathetic introduction to the basics. More experienced artists benefit from the unique light and the stunningly beautiful environment.

The Tutor

By popular request, we have re-engaged the Scottish artist Robert Kenny Smith. He started out as a book illustrator in California and Canada. On his return to Britain. he studied for two years to become a Benedictine monk but fell in love, got married and retrained as a teacher. He returned to Scotland and became a staff tutor in art. Subsequently he held the post of Primary School Adviser in art in the Scottish Borders.. Then after a further thirteen years as a head teacher he decided to pursue his original career as an artist. He has exhibited widely and now he and his wife live in the Pyrénées Orientales.  His works reflects colour, energy and light with many images based on figures in motion. – see his website ; www.robertkennysmith.com.

Tuition

…will be for 5 hours per day for six days. The tutor will want to know what sort of subjects you enjoy and what you would like to get out of the course. He will certainly help you in your own way of doing things but if you are open to new horizons he will stimulate experimentation in different ways of seeing and approach.

During the Spring course, we will visit the picturesque fishing harbour of Collioure where we will meet the three 2011 Mackintosh Artists in Residence, who will demonstrate their work and discuss their ideas.  (Jaqueline Wartt (Edi) , Mary Bachelor (Rhu), Anne Devine (Gla)

The autumn course will include an invitation to the opening of the exhibition “Un Mois en Collioure” in the Royal Palace, presenting the work of 11 Scottish painters who have been awarded residencies

Choice of subjects

Subject will be chosen to provide a range of stimuli for even a hesitant beginner. Locations will all be within a half hour radius of the hotel. The choice on the day will depend on local wind and weather conditions.

Transport:

We will meet you and return you to Girona airport. and transport you to and from location every day.
  
We can supply a list of watercolour equipment. This is a very comprehensive and maximal list. But work in whatever medium you prefer and bring what you normally use. Some of you will be using oils or acrylics. If you tell us what you need, we can buy paints and other materials before you come and what is left over, you can leave behind for next year. We supply you all with a folding chair and can provide easels for painters using oils. If you want to talk to Robert before you come, we will supply his e-mail and phone number.

The price includes:

Six days teaching, 7 nights hotel accommodation with en suite facilities, all meals served with wine, transport within France, & French holiday tax.

Couple sharing pp
£ 965.00 (1099,00€)

Non-painting partner sharing pp
£ 795.00 (  900,00€)

Single room occupancy pp
£1230.00 (1399,00€)

Non resident (teaching 28+ hrs & picnic lunch + own transport)
£  220.00 (  250,00€)

A 25% deposit secures a place with the remainder due on or before 1st February 2011.

The only extras are your personal bar bill, any massage, land line telephone calls, and your own painting materials. You should make your own plane/train/ferry booking.  The dates from Tuesday day to Tuesday allow you to benefit from the cheaper mid-week air fares. You should also take out your own travel and medical insurance with cover for cancellation or curtailment due to circumstances beyond your control

Travel to and from France

By road (11 hours driving from Calais or Zeebrugge)
By train Edinburgh/Glasgow –London (High Speed)) London-Lille (Eurostar), Lille-Perpignan TGV)
By air (Ryanair). There are direct flights from a number British and Irish destinations. Not all arrive at a convenient time so we will gear the pick-up to the Stanstead, Prestwick and Gatwick arrivals (16.50. 17.35 and 18.20) [2010 times].

Contact:

Robin Crichton  crichton.efp@gmail.com,
11 rue du Porche, 66720 Bélesta la Frontière FRANCE &
Keepers House, Traquair House, Innerleithen EH44 6PP, UK