France Painting Provence: Art and Adventure in the Land of Impressionism

Orientation in Paris

Live like a Parisian in a historic quartier of the French capital. Join locals in a café for a morning croissant before navigating the ancient avenues to the Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre. Spend the afternoon using your French to find the best traditional baguettes, cheeses, and local specialties for a picnic on the famous left bank of the Seine. Explore the Monmartre art district beneath the soaring spires of Sacré Coeur and dine at tiny cafés that serve regional specialties from across France. Master the Metro and venture across the city to take in an outdoor film at the summer cinema festival, or watch the sun set over the Jardins de Luxembourg.

Homestay and Arts Adventure in Provence

Fill a canvas with your own impressions of a landscape that has inspired artists for centuries. Following your homestay, practice your painting skills as you explore southeastern France. Walk in the footsteps of Matisse to capture the beauty of the Riviera while meeting with working artists. Paint the olive groves, cypress trees and rolling hills of Cézanne’s beloved Mont Sainte-Victoire near Aix-en-Provence. Capture the beauty of the verdant valleys of Van Gogh’s paintings around Arles. Immerse yourself in the countryside and villages in one of the most vibrant regions of France.

Sample activities:
Learn the art of Provençal watercolor; explore the Camargue National Park on horseback; work with French artists and artisans; create your own portfolio; participate in a landscape, portrait, and still life workshop in the lavender fields of Seguret.

Sample host communities:
Perpignan, La Roque d’Anthéron, Sete