Personal Provence

FAQs

*“What I’d Like to Know is—“

Is this the best price for me?

Yes, if:

You’re looking for a serious breakthrough

You’d like to be treated as an individual

You want insight and personal attention from a committed teacher

You’d prefer hosts who actually live in the foreign land you’re visiting

You’d like restaurant quality cooking and good wine—without the bills

You want a stylish and comfortable room with private bath

You’d like fellow painters who are serious about developing skills

You’d benefit from an ongoing professional relationship with your instructor

You like to work as hard as you play

How did you come up with a Package Price?

We figured a modest budget per person for food and lodging, added tuition and general expenses, and came up with a reasonable figure. You could keep the costs down if you planned it yourself, but you wouldn’t have time to paint!

Our aim is to relieve you of anything that gets in the way of enjoying every day you’re with us.

What is included in the price?

Tuition for all morning and afternoon painting sessions; double or single (with supplement) accommodations, with daily breakfast, a 3-course lunch and a buffet supper with wine; transportation to and from painting sites, and scheduled excursions; student show and reception; plus continuing on-line consultation with your instructor when you get back home.

Where will I stay?

Our historic stone maison du village rises four stories over the picturesque Place de l’Horloge right in the village of Saignon. The ancient vaulted ‘caves’ on the lowest level houses our art gallery space. Guest quarters on the second floor offer you several charming rooms or suites with double or twin beds and private bath, and there are equally attractive accommodations in an adjacent village house as well as at the village Inn down the street. On our top floor is the bright, loft-like dining room where you’ll take your daily meals.

Where will I be painting?

We're located in the Luberon region, the heart of Provence, which features perched stone villages overlooking a rolling landscape of vivid ochre earth, fields of lavender, poppies and sunflowers, olive and cherry orchards. You’ll take at least one excursion beyond the Luberon to places like St Remy de Provence, Lourmarin or Arles, which are of special interest to artists.

Am I responsible for my own materials?

Bring your own materials. We provide portable easels. And there is a good art supply store in nearby Apt where, with our 20% discount, you can supplement your stock.

What airport would I fly into?

Marseille (1hr 20 mins by Autoroute) or Nice (2 1/2 hrs). There's a direct flight from New York to Nice every day. For Marseille you can connect in Paris or Gatwick or numerous other airports. You could also fly direct to Paris and take the high speed TGV train right from Charles de Gaulle airport to Avignon, which is just a 40 minute drive

What do I do for ground transportation?

We provide transportation to and from painting sites and scheduled excursions, but if you want to be more autonomous we recommend that you rent a vehicle. Reserve before you leave the US and pick it up at the airport or train station where you arrive. We’ll send you directions and other instructions before you come.

Where will we go and what will we see?

You'll start off the week with an excursion to explore the lay of the land and find your sites for your morning and afternoon paintings. Then during the week, there is usually one major group excursion to a significant historic landmark, for instance the awesome Pont du Gard, Van Gogh’s Arles, or the lost city of Glanum near St Remy. Depending on the interests of the group (and our groups are small) there could be others. We're only limited by the painting time and number of days in the week, and we like to stay flexible to respond to the spontaneity of our artists.

What’s this about showing my work?

The posters go up around the village a few days after you arrive: “Notre Pays des Yeux D’étranger -- “Our land through foreign eyes”—with your name and nationality. At the end of the week, we start preparing work for the student show and reception, when local guests and visitors will gather to meet you and see your works. For some students it’s a first, for everyone it’s the emotional high point of a week of personal and artistic growth.

What is your payment policy?

The entire package is $3500 per painter based on single accommodation, or $5600 for two based on double occupancy. We require a 50% deposit to reserve, payable in your currency for the Euro equivalent at the current exchange rate. Balance is due upon arrival.

What is the refund policy in case of need to cancel?

Like most similar programs, our 50% deposit is non-refundable, but may be applied to a future workshop. We strongly suggest that you take out vacation insurance in order to cover unforeseen events.

To receive a brochure and enrollment form, or to arrange a special workshop for your own group, email personalprovence@yahoo.fr or mizmittle@yahoo.com

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Personal Provence