You will arrive at Montpellier or Beziers airport or train station, we will collect you and bring you to the village. You can then settle into your gite and we will all meet up for supper, introductions and an outline of what we have planned for the week.

Morning

We will visit a local market, soak up the atmosphere, have a coffee in a cafe and do a little sketching and/or take photos. We will make our way back to Arboras for a BBQ lunch in the road or in our garden.

Afternoon

Introduction to MONOPRINTING - responding to the environment with colour -
Creating prints which can also be cut up for collage and/or overprinted with linocuts / etching / drawing

Morning

We start the day out in the landscape with drawing boards and chairs to draw in the countryside surrounding the village. Followed by a picnic lunch 'au plein air'.

Afternoon

Back at the studio we will use the sketches to develop and explore LINOCUT printing. Learn the principles of relief printing and create a simple small single colour print.

Morning

LINOCUT 2 - working back in the studio we will continue with simple print and/or add a second colour

We will make our way down to the river for a picnic lunch at the famous local landmark 'Le Pont du Diable' (The Devil's Bridge) a historic bridge over the Herault river.

Afternoon

At the river, drawing, painting or cutting lino in the sunshine - the only way to do it!

Swimming optional, if it is warm enough it's a wonderful spot for a bit of wild swimming.

Introduction to DRYPOINT etching.

A deceptively simple technique which produces prints which look like they are created using traditional etched or engraved metal but actually use card and so no chemicals or acids are needed.

Collating work and collaging

By this point artists are often immersed in their personal project and so will be working independently in the studio or out in the countryside. All the tutors from the week will be on hand with further instructions and guidance as needed.

Depending a little on the weather we can also make various trips to local places of interest

Just up the river from the 'Pont du Diable' is 'St Guilhem le Desert', a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most beautiful villages in France. We can explore the streets, have a coffee under a 500 year old plane tree and visit the 12th century abbey. 

Spring - we can visit the local iris farm and see the fields full of these magnificant blooms in 100s of varieties

Afternoon / early evening; we will put up our creations in a mini exhibition

Final dinner all together - BBQ in the road!

After breakfast we will drop you back at the airport or station of your choice.