Le Manoir de Gurson Holidays 2018

Manoir de Gurson 2018

Sketching and Painting Holidays

May 30th to June 6^th (Wednesday to Wednesday) and September 1st to 8^th (Saturday to Saturday)

Art Appreciation

October 3rd to 10^th (for details see separate listing)

In the heart of France’s most famous wine region Magnificent Scenery

Relax and soak up the atmosphere, lots of demonstrations and one to one tuition in the medium of your choice!

Only £575 per person - £350 per non painting partner (not including flights)

Painting Holiday Accommodation and Package

This holiday is available for the amazing price of  only £575 per guest (£350 per non painting partner). The holiday price includes 7  nights accommodation, bed, breakfast, 4 lunches, evening meals, all tuition, the day trip and transfers to and from the airport (Bergerac). Lunches for the trips to St. Emilion, Bergerac and Bordeaux are not included as it gives us a chance to sample the local fayre and joie de vivre.  On the final Day we will take a trip to Bordeaux visiting the Musee de Beaux Artes and the Cathedral with the whole day to explore this magnificent city culminating in an evening in the city with the evening meal (included in the price) at  one of Bordeaux’s fine restaurants. Why not come and join us for a relaxing, informative and truly memorable holiday and  experience a true taste of France!

The Three Milk Maids

The Three Milk Maids

This is an oil painting of three young ladies that took a particular interest in what I was doing whilst on a walk near Bourton on the Water in The Cotswolds in the summer of 2016, I have only very recently finished this painting.

Poppies with Texture in Acrylic

Prepared for Demonstration

Set up ready for demonstration

Completed painting (partial image)

On Thursday November 23rd I did a demonstration at the Memorial Hall in Freshwater for Freshwater Horticultural Society of these Poppies in Acrylic. I had prepared the canvas with the initial drawing and used texture paste to build some impasto detail in the poppy blooms, some of the leaves and stems.On the night I only managed to achieve an idea of the finished painting as the alotted time was only one hour. I have spent a good number of hours on it since, Saturday 25th November I spent most of the day working on it at a Christmas Fayre where I was exhibiting at the Methodist Church in Freshwater and put the final finishing touches on it this morning, Sunday 26th November. I have now declared it finished and for those who were interested the price for this painting will be £135 (unframed).

Art in the Aquitaine A Holiday with a Difference

The Needles from Headon Warren

Stage 1 As demonstrated to West Wight Painting Circle

Stage 2

Stage 3 

Stage 4

Stage 5 

Stage 6

Stage 7

Stage 8

Stage 9

Stage 10 The finished painting

New Exhibition

Stag Rock, Low Tide

I am exhibiting 40 paintings, many new at Quarr Abbey from Thursday April 6th to Tuesday April 11th from 10.30 to 16.30 daily with free entry. Come along and say hello discuss painting and have a look at the new additions to my portfolio!

Clun Castle The Finished Painting

Clun Castle The Finished Painting

After some more deliberation I decided it did need the Rooks, they give the painting a bit of life and there's something about Rooks, Ravens and Crows that give castle ruins a sense of the Gothic, probably to do with Hollywood and the Hammer House of Horror, but I like it!

Clun Castle Stage V

Clun Castle Stage V

I painted the grasses and flora in the bottom right hand corner using my two haired brush, no this is not an exaggeration I took two hairs from a decorating brush and taped them tightly together to a cocktail stick, made some well wetted paint with painting medium and painted each blade of grass a method which is actually a lot quicker than it sounds. Next was to paint the wild flowers on the hillside, some yellow (Ragwort I think) some white ones and some blue ones (I'm no Botanist).

I put a little more variation of colour on the middle distant trees and the field to the left and signed it thinking I was finished, however having now lived with it for a day have virtually decided to paint in some birds which will constitute the final stage, watch this space!

Clun Castle Stage IV

I have now roughed in the castle's hill and next have to highlight certain areas and finish the bottom right-hand corner with the addition of some dry, pale grasses and finally paint in the wild flowers that cover the hillside.

Sketching and Painting in The Dordogne

An Amazing special offer on this holiday!

2017 Sketching & Painting Holiday near St. Emilion at Le Manoir de Gurson

Week Starting Saturday May 6th

A Watercolour Painted En Plein Aire at Le Chateau de Gurson

Come and join me for a truly memorable sketching and painting holiday in this historic and beautiful region of France, enjoy the relaxing and inspirational haven that is Le Manoir de Gurson. I will do demonstrations and be on hand for much one to one tuition allowing you to make the most of the glorious countryside and picturesque French towns and villages. By way of celebration we are offering this holiday at an  amazing £595 per person as this will be the last one at Le Manoir. For more details please visit and book through   http://www.manoirdegurson.co.uk/art-holiday

View Toward Villefranche de Longchat