CREATIVE ART COURSES with luxurious accommodation in the most beautiful surroundings. A recipe for refreshment and renewal, far away from the stresses of normal life, with the added reward of producing really worthwhile artwork.

STUDIO. A beautifully renovated stone barn gallery/studio with space and light for working and exhibitions.

HOUSE & GARDENS. All within the grounds of Le Manoir, a wonderfully renovated 14th century country house, surrounded by ‘Le Jardin Anglais’ one of the finest privately owned gardens in France.

MATERIALS. You can bring your own but all necessary materials for the courses will be on hand and available.

LOCALITY . A haven for artists, Le Manoir is set in the valley of the Vilaine river surrounded by totally unspoiled countryside, villages, woodlands and chateaux.

YOUR TUTOR

ADRIAN WHITTLESEA studied at the Ruskin School of Fine Art, Oxford, and has been a professional artist for much of his working life, including fifteen years in art education. He now lives locally with his wife Anne.

HIS WORK revolves around two central themes:

• A meditative approach to landscape.
• An intuitive and expressive exploration of colour, form, texture and composition making work that although abstract, is full of intense movement and life.

HIS TUITION is founded on the firm belief that anyone can achieve worthwhile visual artwork given:

• The right environment, conducive to security, freedom and inspiration.
• Positive and encouraging professional guidance.
• The best materials
• Good company to share ideas.
  

THE COURSES

At all times we must emphasize that as a guest at Le Manoir you are essentially on holiday and here to enjoy yourselves, and as such you are free to join classes as you wish.
Partners who do not wish to paint are free to enjoy all the facilities of Le Manoir.

We can arrange locally, golf, horse-riding and fishing as well as giving guidance to all of the local attractions. Le Manoir has it’s own mosaic Spa, bicycles and even dogs that you can walk. Classes will be for a maximum of 10 students.

We offer two courses:

THE TASTER

DAY ONE.
Arrival and settle in rooms, explore Le Manoir and ‘Le Jardin Anglais’.
Cocktail Party and Introductions.
Meet your tutor, view his work and supplement material if necessary.
Four course dinner with wines and port.

DAY TWO.
Breakfast.
‘Seeing by Drawing’
First steps in the gardens
A Buffet Lunch.
Complete/continue drawing.
Being brave with water and colour.
Drawings into paintings.
Dinner.
Mini exhibition in the Gallery with talk and demonstration by Tutor.

DAY THREE.
Breakfast
Work or rest as you will.
Summing up by Tutor with advise and recommendations tailored to the individual for work at home.
Lunch.
Departure

Note. Of course a weekend is not a long time in art terms, but it is enough for beginners to gain confidence and set out on a road that could last a lifetime. For those more experienced it may be enough to give then a new insight, find new inspiration or try new methods. You will all enjoy Le Manoir, the gardens and this special corner of France.

Tariff
For artists €220 per night including all accommodation, meals, drinks and instruction.
For Partner sharing room, €150 per night.
(€50 per night single supplement.)

FIVE DAY WONDER. See dates below

Once again, you are on holiday and can join as many or as few of the classes as you like. Partners are free to use all the facilities of Le Manoir and we will be delighted to arrange golf, horse-riding or fishing.
The course includes accommodation, Breakfast, Buffet or packed Lunch and Dinner. All house wines, soft drinks and coffees are included.

DAY ONE.
Introduction by Tutor, samples of his work and display of materials.
First talk and demonstration ‘Seeing by Drawing’
First steps in the gardens.
After lunch: Complete/continue drawing.
Before Dinner: Review of the day’s work.

DAY TWO
Talk and demonstration ‘Freedom with water and colour’
Walk to River Vilaine and set to work on watercolour.
Packed lunch and Tutor’s reviews
Continue work after lunch at River or back at Le Manoir.
Dinner and Tutor’s reviews.

DAY THREE
Talk and demonstration: ‘Versatile Acrylics’
Tour to local landscape for drawing and colour sketches.
Return to Le Manoir for Lunch
Embark on acrylic painting in Studio.
Dinner with Tutor’s reviews.

DAY FOUR
Talk and demonstrations: ‘Towards Abstraction’
Painting by intuition in the studio. (those that prefer more conventional work are free to work in the gardens)
After Lunch work continues.
Dinner and Tutor’s review.

DAY FIVE.
After breakfast set up the exhibition in the Gallery.
Tutors review of work.
After lunch, free to sketch or paint in gardens or by river.
Champagne reception and exhibition in Gallery.
Dinner and final review.

Tariff
Your stay in Le Manoir will be for 7nights and will include all tuition, accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, wines, soft drinks and coffees. The Art classes will be for 5 days.
For artists €1050 .
Non-painting Partners sharing a room. €950.
Single room supplement €50 per night.

Dates for 2006
June 17-24
July 1-8
August 19-26
September 2-9.