Painting with All the Senses 2019, France

Painting with All the Senses

26 - 30 June, 2019

Colourful days in the inspiring landscape of southern France with teacher Jan van Boeckel

This wildpainting course will again have its base in the medieval French village of Bize-Minervois in the Languedoc region. The course will be taught both in English and Swedish.

Wildpainting is allowing yourself to paint in ways you may have never attempted before and to immerse yourself in a natural environment that invites opening all of the senses. There are the smells of rosemary, sage and thyme. The soft sound of the rippling water of the river La Cesse, the crickets in the sycamore trees, or a distant lark, high in the sky above. The mild evening breeze cooling your skin after painting for hours in the animated landscape.

The German philosopher Herder once said, “We are full of interconnections of the most different senses . . . in nature all the threads are one single tissue. . . . The sensations unite and all converge in the area where distinguishing traits turn into sounds. Thus, what man sees with his eyes and feels by touch can also become soundable.”

Practical

Painting Course

We will start painting on Wednesday morning, June 26. Participants arrive latest on Tuesday, June 25. The course will be taught in both English and Swedish by Jan van Boeckel. Jan is an experienced Dutch artist and art teacher. All participants will receive personal tutorials as well. On Sunday evening, June 30, we will have a vernissage and exhibit our paintings. On Monday morning participants leave home again.
A wine-tasting event and excursions to surrounding medieval Cathar villages and a local farmers' market are also scheduled.

Course Fee

The course fee is €650 and includes transfers from and to Beziers and Carcassonne airports or the train station in Narbonne. Excursions, warm lunch and snacks during the course days are also included, as well as the vernissage party on the final course day. To book, please contact Birgitta Elfström ([email protected]). Please note: in the event of too few participants, we reserve the right to cancel the course. In this case we will offer the participants the opportunity to enrol in another course or to receive a full refund of the course fee (see Terms & Conditions)

Lodging

Lodging is not included in the course price. There are several nice and price-worthy guest houses within short walking distance. When you know the course is confirmed, it can be wise to be early with your bookings of flights, trains and accommodation, in order to get a good rate. Our host, Birgitta Elfström, can assist you with this.
We suggest the following accommodations:

Lunch and Wine tasting

We aim to provide high quality meals that are reflective of the local region and culture. If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please inform our host in advance.

Wildpainting in Bize-Minervois has become an annual event.
Take a look at the previous Wildpainting courses.

Wildpainting is also a group on Facebook!

Location

Our atelier is Flodhuset, (Maison de la Rivière or, in English, The River House)
Birgitta Elfström
Maison de la Rivière
4 Rue des Remparts
Bize-Minervois
Contact:
[email protected]
+46 (0)70 787 9448

Travel options:
- Flight to Beziers or Carcassonne airport. There are also
good connections to/from the airports of Montpellier,
Toulouse, and even from Barcelona
- Train to Narbonne railway station
- Car

Comments by former participants

Somehow I feel less controlled and more playful when I paint in stronger colours, I can let go. And I allow my ‘personal handwriting’ to grow, and the pictures develop to be much more expressive. I feel that I have finally found my own ‘language’ in how to paint. Susan

Good tutorials, the theoretical and practical exercises go hand in hand. Good to have breaks, to reflect on the progress and to learn from each other. Good company! A quiet environment, relaxing. A good combination, with the yoga and the food.
Lisa

Good atmosphere. "Högt i tak", as we say in Sweden. The food - made painting even better!! Nice reviewing sessions.
Karin

Painting with All the Senses
five day course in Bize-Minervois
26-30 June, 2019
€650
including:
- art materials
- warm lunch and snacks
- excursions
- wine tasting
- vernissage party
- if requested: shuttle service from and to nearby airport or railway station