Holiday itinerary
Spend 7 nights/8 days on this painting holiday with your experienced drawing tutor and guide Andy who will introduce you to the local landscapes guaranteed to inspire your creativity during your painting course.
Your courses are set in beautiful Alcala de los Gazules, in a charming 18th century Andalucian town house which perfectly combines beautiful old style with modern facilities and original charm. The charming accommodation and spacious art studio are combined so you can relax or develop your artistic techniques as much as you like.
Your painting and drawing tutor Andy is a talented artist who offers a wealth of professional experience, on hand to provide you individual attention and to ensure you get the most out of your course. During the week you will work with a wide variety of techniques including still life, landscape, townscape, human figures and portraits whilst developing your sketching skills and work in acrylic paints and charcoal.
Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced artist, your hosts will be there to cater to your every need and to help you to really develop your painting skills; you will enjoy the delicious food prepared daily from the local market as well as the vibrant and sociable Spanish lifestyle.
Enjoy an inspirational art holiday in unspoilt Alcornocales Natural Park, immerse yourself in Spanish life and enjoy the perfect opportunity to unleash your creative side on this painting holiday with a difference.
Suitability
- Suitable for all levels from those new to painting to budding artists and those with more experience
- Minimum age 18, under 18s are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult please contact to check availability for under 18s on your chosen date
- Please note that if you are travelling solo, there are NO single supplements making this an ideal singles holiday. The course will run for a minimum of two guests.
- Non-painting partners sharing a room are welcome and will receive a discounted price
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
Painting Course Start Days
- The course starts on selected dates from March to October, excluding August; check the ‘Dates and Booking’ tab for more details
- If you can’t find the dates you need, we can be flexible so please email your ideal arrival date requirements to or call us on 08445 020445 and we’ll do what we can to accommodate you
- Please note that this course will run for a minimum of two guests.
Typical Painting Course Itinerary
Please note this itinerary is an example only and may change due to time of year and weather conditions:
Day 1 (Arrival Day)
- A free transfer from Jerez or Gibraltar airport (Seville at extra cost) will take you to the charming village of Alcala de los Gazules where your course and accommodation is based
- Once you’ve settled in, you will enjoy a walk around the town to view potential drawing/painting sites
- This will be followed by a group discussion to establish prior experience, style and ambitions
- Andy will then create an outline of the course direction to meet individual students’ needs, before your evening meal in the guesthouse
Day 2
- Your course starts in the morning after a leisurely 9am breakfast
- Your first lesson of the day will involve group charcoal, chalk or pencil sketching in the studio
- You will break for coffee at around 11.30, after which you will have a still-life painting session
- Enjoy lunch at the house at around 2pm, before beginning a townscape project with Andy in the afternoon
- In the evening at the house there will be an informal discussion of the day’s progress and events over a restorative drink, before dinner at home at around 8pm
Day 3
- After breakfast you will have sketching practice followed by a painting exercise
- Following your morning coffee break the course will continue with a ‘Painting the figure’ class
- After lunch at the house you will have free time to work on a solo project, relax or explore the village
- In the evening you will have your daily progress discussion over drinks, before your evening meal
Day 4
- Today is your excursion day
- After breakfast you will have a sketching session followed by life drawing
- After your coffee break at around 11.30 the group will head into Cádiz for a tutor-led trip around the city and a visit to the Art Gallery
- You will also have lunch in Cádiz and more time to explore before heading back to the art school in time for your evening meal
Day 5
- Following breakfast, you will be able to do some sketching practice, before focusing on townscape drawing
- After your coffee break you are free to concentrate on painting your own choice of subjects
- After your 2pm lunch take some free time, or alternatively you could choose to work on your own solo project
- Before your evening meal you will have another group appraisal with Andy over evening drinks
Day 6
- Your day will begin after a relaxing breakfast with a pastel and charcoal drawing course with Andy
- After your morning break you will continue with a still life painting session with your group
- Your lunch will be followed either by some free time where you can explore the Natural Park, lounge by the pool or work on your own solo painting project if you prefer
- After the evening discussion on your group’s progress you will be free to enjoy your dinner at one of the many restaurants in the village, and enjoy some traditional Andalucían food
Day 7
-After your daily breakfast, your day will start off with a charcoal, chalk and pencil class before continuing with some landscape painting after the morning break
-After lunch you will have time to work on your own solo projects in preparation for the exhibition on students’ work later in the afternoon, which will be followed by dinner at the house
Day 8
- Departure with new found artistic skills and memories that will last long after the holiday is over, return transfers are included to Jerez and Gibraltar (Seville at extra cost, please see 'costing and extras' for more information)
What Will I Learn On This Painting Course?
- Students will learn the importance of the ability to draw and be able to put this into practice
- You will have the opportunity within a week to paint Still Life, Landscape, Townscape, the Human Figure and a Portrait
- You will learn the basics of perspective, colour mixing, light and shade along with other basic techniques
- If you are a more experienced painter your tutor will initially look at past works (where possible) and give a personal assessment during discussions involving subject matter, composition and choice of medium so you can formulate a plan for the week
- The aim of the course is to encourage you by de-mystifying painting and drawing in order for you to achieve the confidence to continue and develop your skills
- The tutors preferred medium is acrylic paint which is relatively easy to use and is quick to dry so this helps to accelerate the learning process and allows for more finished works during the course
- Your tutor can also advise on oil and watercolours
Your Painting Tutor
- Passionate about painting, your British painting tutor Andy has been an artist for 35 years
- With many years experience working as a professional painter Andy has taught painting at all levels
- His passion is using acrylics and emulsion to create strong portraits and landscapes
- He enjoys using oils from time to time and also paints murals, trompe l’oeil, marbling and graining
- Andy has exhibited in the UK, Spain and the US and is the lead tutor at the Arts Centre and now teaches local Spanish people at the art centre as well as those on residential art holidays
- He also loves delicious authentic Mediterranean food which is reflected in the freshly prepared meals during your stay
Painting Course Accommodation
- The house was completely renovated recently and consists of one building which was previously an inn for travellers
- The lower stables area has been converted to the art studio, linked by arches to the guest accommodation
- You will stay in one of the 4 charming twin bedrooms with your own private bathroom
- There is a shared lounge area and terrace with a splash pool shaded by an orange trees set beneath part of the town’s ancient wall
- The building is in the centre of the ancient village of Alcala de los Gazules, with views over the Alcornocales Natural Park in one direction, and views over the roofs of the village in the other
- Arrival at the accommodation is on day 1 with departure 7 nights later on day 8
- Wi-fi is available in the whole house
- Your hosts have a small dog who normally stays in a separate apartment unless guests give permission for him to be in the studio with Andy
Meals
- All meals are included (with the exception of 1 lunch and 1 evening meal on excursion day to give you a chance to sample the local restaurants and bars)
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner are usually taken at the house
- Your hosts have previously worked in catering and owned a restaurant, so both have a love of good food, reflected in the delicious Mediterranean and Moroccan inspired food on offer
- Vegetarians and those with dietary requirements can be catered for if requested in advance
Weather Conditions And Itinerary
- Your painting tutor will alter the itinerary if the weather doesn’t offer the best conditions for painting the area
What shall I bring?
- A large sketch pad (preferably A3) and a couple of drawing pencils
- Paint boards or primed paper (or canvases if you prefer)
- Your preferred palette of paints including: red, yellow, blue, black, white and others if you wish
- A basic selection of brushes for your chosen medium
You will be provided with:
- Studio easels
- Stools and lightweight easels for outdoor use
- Drawing boards
- Basic paints and materials
- There is also a small shop in the studio that provides additional material requirements
Be inspired by the beautiful landscape, colours and flavours of Spain, for a truly unforgettable experience. Go learn to paint in Spain and take your skills to a new level on this painting holiday with a difference.