French village art and culture
Living, exploring and creating in Southern France.
Join us!
For our French village art and culture immersion experience in the beautiful and diverse Occitanie region in the South of France. Catherine Mackenzie, Cerulean Studio owner, has been visiting this part of France regularly since 2005 and knows the area intimately. She has always loved sharing the area with friends and family and is bringing her local knowledge and Cerulean Studio mobile adventures together to provide the ultimate South of France art and cultural immersion experience. Mornings will be spent sketching and painting en plein air, and afternoons exploring local sites, plus at least one life drawing session. Our en plein air sites include Mediterranean fishing ports, rustic wine villages, chateaux, the Canal du Midi and the stunning Haut-Languedoc.
We are delighted that Lizabella Baker will be joining us as our tutor. Lizabella will be principally be teaching sketching and drawing using charcoal, graphite pencil, pastels and ink, and painting with watercolour. Lizabella is experienced tesaching in all media, so you’re welcome to bring your own materials as well. An Adelaide based artist, Lizabella holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts and Applied Design from Adelaide College of the Arts. She is a passionate and experienced art educator who takes joy in guiding artists to reach their creative goals. Currently working full time as a commercial and fine artist and teacher, Lizabella has a vivid, bold, contemporary approach to her art practice. Her work captures the essence of expressive movement inspired by her background in flamenco dance and her love of nature. Most recently, Lizabella has been employed as Artist in Residence at Coober Pedy Area school. This involved collaborating with and teaching students to design, develop and paint two large scale murals. The murals depicted Coober Pedy’s landscape, culture and history.
For fun and inspiration, we will visit local artists, galleries, local village events, foodie surprises, wineries and produce markets. We will also include some free time for relaxation, exploring the local village, or continuing with your own drawing or painting. There will be a flexible itinerary for non-art program partners too!
Please submit a booking form using the button below to reserve your place.
Included:
Artistic immersion in a delightful rural French village with a small group (8 maximum artists).
Balanced itinerary of en plein air sketching and painting, instructed and uninstructed sessions, studio time, local adventures, exploring and relaxation. Daily activities will be selected based on forecast weather conditions: Example itinerary.
Painting and drawing materials; you are also welcome to bring your favourites.
Jars, easels/boards, stools, paper, masking tape, paper towel/rags.
Accommodation with a pool and plenty of relaxation spaces.
Meals, with a mix of in-house catering, picnics, cafes and restaurants, except lunch on the Pézenas market day and two evening meals (you may dine at a local village eatery or utilise the well-equipped kitchen).
Transfers to and from Béziers railway station and airport. Pick up and drop off times by arrangement.
Travel between accommodation and all site visits included in the itinerary during your stay, including history-laden villages, vineyards, fishing ports, mountains, markets and the Mediterranean coast.
Learn, live and paint with other artists.
Fun, flexible itinerary for non-art program partners.
Not included:
Airfares or train travel to or from Béziers.
Travel insurance.
Two evening meals, to allow free time to explore local eateries or make use of the fully equipped kitchen.
Snacks or lunch on the Pézenas market day.
Control over the weather!
Accommodation:
We will be staying in the gorgeous village of Pouzolles, in a beautifully appointed, rambling heritage house with several living areas and a stunning pool and outdoor kitchen area. The house is adjacent to the village park, with views across to the Pouzolles chateau. Pouzolles is in the L’Herault region, central to the areas we will be visiting over the 10 days. The house offers beautifully appointed double or twin rooms. Please select your preference on booking.
Costs
Costs are per person, with options for single occupancy or twin/double share. Non-participating partners/friends must share with a participating artist. Please reserve early for a greater chance of securing your preferred option.
Prices are set in Euros. Australian prices are indicative and subject to change according to the exchange rate at the time of booking. We require a 30% deposit on booking and full payment 6 weeks prior to Event commencement.
Getting to Béziers
Train - Béziers is on the main route between Paris and Barcelona. There are direct trains from Gare de Lyon (Paris), and trains from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport with connections in Lyon and/or Montpellier. The SNCF booking system is very user-friendly and will show how many connections (if any) and a map including how long you have between connecting trains.
Fly - Ryan Air is the only airline currently servicing the Béziers Cap d’Agde Airport, with flights to and from several destinations, mainly in the UK - check out the Ryan Air website.
Getting around
The Herault Transport site provides information about how to visit the surrounding villages and attractions by public transport.
Contact us if you have any questions about the experience in general, or if you need assistance navigating transport options.
We invite you to share our love of the Occitanie region.
Please review our Art Events Terms and Conditions before booking.