Holiday itinerary
This paint making painting holiday is dedicated to painting nature with mediums taken from nature itself, as well as the creation of these natural materials. You’ll learn to represent the landscape based on direct observations in the open air, as well as learn to make your own paint using the natural resources available to you in the inspiring beautiful surrounding.
Stay in a creative and inspirational eco-retreat in a stunning ‘off-grid’ location, which has been skilfully designed and heavily influenced by the abundant natural surroundings, with wind, wood and solar power.
The creative eco-retreat is in a dreamlike location which has to be seen to be believed, surrounded by almond blossom, poppies and wild flowers, rolling hills, orchards, olive groves, rocky mountains and desert-like scenes.
These remarkable and varied landscapes are the perfect foundation for paint making. You’ll use the natural bi-products of the erosion of minerals found in the soil as a rich source of colour to make your paint, focussing mainly on paint making techniques using calcium carbonate and sand stone, which are found in the nearby mountain range.
Learn about other integral components in paint making such as pure chalk deposits - used to create colour and also as a medium for holding colour in gouache or pastel. Gain a fascinating insight into the world of paint making and how the natural world is integral to your artwork.
Your tutor and guide is Simon, a gradu0ate of ‘Fine Art’ from Manchester School of Art as well as postgraduate at The Royal Academy Schools in London. Simon and his wife Donna also host residencies for professional artists who will typically be on hand during your stay to discuss paint making techniques and all things creative with you, as well as other guests on the course.
Capture the true colour of the mountains, orchard and desert with your own handmade paints on this incredible painting making painting holiday with a difference.
Suitability
- Suitable for those completely new to art, those returning to something long neglected and current artists looking to escape distraction and develop their skills
- Minimum age: 18 (under 18’s are accepted if accompanied by an adult)
- Please note that if you are travelling solo, there are no single supplements making this an ideal singles holiday
Non Painting Partner?
- Non-painting partners sharing a room are welcome and will receive a discounted price, click on the costing and extras tab to see the price
Paint Making Painting Holiday Start Days
- Arrivals are every day and will finish 7 nights / 8 days later
- Please note that there are no minimum numbers on the course so if we confirm a date to you, it will definitely go ahead
Typical Paint Making Painting Holiday Itinerary
Please note this itinerary is an example only and may change slightly due to time of year and the weather conditions:
Day 1 Arrival day
- Check in any time after 2pm (earlier arrivals may be accommodated on request)
- You will be welcomed on arrival by your hosts Simon and Donna
- Take the rest of the day to settle in, relax or maybe stroll around the land
- Simon is always keen to explain the ecology systems employed at the house and will happily show you around
- In the evening you will be joined by Simon, Donna and the resident artist for an informal and relaxed dinner at the house
Day 2-6 Paint making and painting tuition
- Each day, enjoy a leisurely Spanish breakfast before setting off for your day with Simon
- Simon will guide you through how to make paint and you will explore the stunning scenery to find the perfect natural material to make the paint
- Explore techniques and processes to make the paint, such as using a riddle, adding pigments and natural binding agents
- Learn how to depict the landscapes surrounding you with freshly made paint under guidance from Simon, who will be on hand at all times to assist and guide you so that you create artwork to be proud of
- On one of these mornings you will be invited to the resident artist’s studio and be introduced to their current work
- Enjoy lunch at the house or, if you are heading out for the day, a gourmet picnic
- In the evening you will enjoy dinner at the house with your hosts
- On one of these evenings the resident artist will be more than happy to give you a presentation of their work, their influences and their experiences in the professional world
Day 7 Penultimate day
- This morning, enjoy a leisurely Spanish breakfast before setting off for your day with Simon
- Enjoy a delicious lunch of locally produced foods at the house
- In the late afternoon you will review your week’s work, either together with other members of the group or, if you prefer, individually
- In the evening you will enjoy a farewell dinner with your hosts and resident artist
Day 8 Departure day
- After breakfast you are kindly asked to check-out of your room ready for departure taking home with you new paint making skills and creative artwork, and a commitment to yourself to pursue your work once you have returned back home
What Will I Learn On This Paint Making Painting Holiday?
- Whether you are a beginner, a practicing artist or someone wanting to return to their creative routes, you will learn the skills and confidence to boost your personal and artistic development
- You will be taught at a pace suited to you and will learn all aspects of the creative process with an emphasis on how to make art
- You'll learn to make your own paint using natural materials taken from the surrounding soil
- You’ll learn how to best depict the landscape which surrounds you with paint made from the colours which occur naturally in the landscape
- You’ll make the paint for your paintings which represent perfectly the landscape to get a picture perfect match
- For example: using the earth you can create a perfect match raw umber or raw siena by toasting the earth a little
- The technique will involve various processes including taking the earth free of organic matter, putting it through a riddle, adding any pigment where necessary and binding the mixture to get the perfect match for your landscape painting
About Your Tutor
- Your guide and tutor is Simon Beckmann, professional artist and ecologist Simon studied ‘Fine Art’ at Manchester School of Art before studying for a postgraduate at The Royal Academy Schools in London
- Afterwards he lived in Milan where he pursued his interest in the early Renaissance painters such as Sassetta di Siena
- Simon paints in oil but likes the portability of watercolour and favors the ‘simply’ executed and the thought provoking
- Simon is also an accomplished photographer and he frequently makes his own paint from the abundant surroundings
Paint Making Eco-designer Accommodation
- You’ll spend 7 nights in a stunning designer eco-retreat set in a rural area of extreme natural beauty in the heart of the 'Parque Natural Sierra Maria-Los Velez'
- As you drive over the hill, this incredible guesthouse will emerge almost like an oasis with almond trees to one side, beautiful poppies and wild flowers to another, verdant hills and mountains and desert scenes all encompassed in this undiscovered natural park
- This really is an eco-family refuge far from the noise of any city or town and the night sky is unpolluted by metropolitan light - on summer nights you can gaze at the stars for hours
- In the daytime the air is hot and infused with the pungent scent of pine trees
- Skies are nearly always blue and sunlight is bountiful and with long warm days
- The 'carbon neutral' designer eco-guesthouse sitting within the national park is surrounded by 50 acres of land which is arable, almond and pine as well as an olive grove and orchard
- Heat and light from the sun, thermal winds and wood from the land combine in a system of solar panels, wind mills and fires to cook and create energy
- Rain water is harvested from the roof, waste water is managed and utilised through a system of reed beds and a grey water recovery system is used to irrigate the dry land
- However, being environmentally and socially responsible needn't compromise design and the house where you’ll stay was once 5 old farm houses, now converted into one very beautiful and luxurious eco-chic space all with the tiny touches from the artist owners that makes this really something special
- On the one hand great homage and respect has been given in its restoration to the simple vernacular architecture of the building, and on the other hand a crisp eye for detail has been employed which makes the place seem stunningly modern
- There are 6 large double rooms, 2 of which are twins and 2 with disability access, all rooms have beautiful designer en suite bathrooms with large wet rooms
- You may check in any-time after 2pm on your arrival day (earlier check-in’s are possible on request) and check out is by noon 8 days later
Meals
- All meals are included and are usually taken at the house with your hosts Simon and Donna and sometimes with the resident artist
- Breakfast will be typically Spanish style along with cereals and fresh fruits
- Lunch will be either at the house or a picnic hamper in the field
- Dinner is taken at the house and is cooked on a wood burning range and where possible cooked using seasonal food bought locally from the small market farmers and the local butcher
- The food is simple and infused with the flavors of our travels to India and north Africa as well as Spain
- Vegetarians are welcome and those with dietary requirements can be catered for if requested in advance of your arrival (add your dietary requirements to the special request box at the time of booking)
The Creative Retreat Resident Artists
- This retreat hosts many different resident artists throughout the year
- For example, artists from all over the world come here to spend time away from the cities and to work on their pieces in the quiet and space the retreat affords
- Artists work on a variety of projects from drawing, installations, sculptures, paintings, print making and textiles and much more
- This scheme will give you, as a creative guest, not only the opportunity to hone your own skills but to spend time with a professional artist (often a tutor) to talk art and artists, materials and techniques as well as the experience of being a practising artist
- Having resident artists as well as creative guests and your hosts Simon and Donna makes for a great social atmosphere as meals are often taken altogether
Paint the striking natural scenery which surrounds the eco-retreat with paint made from this very landscape on this paint making painting holiday with a difference.