A Week in Provence

Lunch in the garden at
Maison des Arts

In the same way that it might be a good thing
if we all retook our driving tests once in a while, there is a lot to be said for experienced artists taking time out for a residential painting course. We can all get stuck in a rut with our work, especially when the
most astute criticism we receive is “Ooh, that’s nice”, and it does no harm occasionally to be shaken up, taken back to a few basics and made aware of bad habits. I felt that my painting could do with a kick start and I want you to understand that this spirit of stern self-criticism was my sole reason for booking a painting holiday in the South of France. The idea of
escaping the tail end of winter to spend a week in sunshine free of all domestic or work responsibilities of course had nothing to do with it.

Tutor Mitch Waite
demonstrates
acrylic techniques

So at the end of February I travelled, in a few short
hours, from the cold and damp of York Station to the sun and palm trees of Nice airport. There I was personally collected by Mitch Waite, the course
tutor, for the short drive to Maison des Arts, run by Mitch, his wife Hanna and a fantastic team.

I settled in to my comfortable room (which opened directly off the studio – no excuse for slacking) and explored the four storey house and gardens while
Mitch continued to drive back and forth meeting flights. I eventually met up with my fellow students for the first of many superb four course dinners.
There was only one other Brit there that week, the other participants being Norwegians, Swedes and Danes, but we all found we had plenty in common as
well as our shared love of art; firm friendships were soon made and much laughter (some of it rather raucous and childish, I must confess) punctuated
the week.

At a pavement café in Antibes. (Living in North Yorkshire,
Jane is unused to painting
in sunglasses.)

The course is structured so that all levels of ability are
accommodated. Mitch quickly finds out what people are hoping for from the course and makes sure that that is what they get. Beginners are encouraged
and nurtured while more experienced artists are challenged and stretched while still being supported. One course member said to me “Mitch sees right
inside you; he knows what you were thinking when you were painting” and that sums up his particular skill in tuition; it is one thing to be able to see
what is wrong with a painting or drawing, it is quite another to be able to see how or why the artist ended up taking that route and to be able to help them find their own way back on course.

The portrait session

The first day started with monochrome exercises in tone, but as the week progressed we rapidly moved through warm and cool tones, colour, perspective, oils, acrylics, watercolour, life drawing and finally
portraits. Within each area participants were free to choose their own subjects so some developed an interest in still life, others packed up their equipment and set off into the local streets for inspiration while the more inert, like me, painted the beautiful views from the studio terrace.

Having attended various courses before, ranging from workshops and night classes to a very disappointing weekend residential course in England, I have to say that Maison des Arts stands out from the crowd. It caters for people who want to be treated as grown ups rather than recalcitrant teenagers and I had a strong feeling that the week and the accommodation
were geared around the needs of the guests, not the tutor. Four of our number had attended previous courses and come back for more which is the highest recommendation of all.

The food was stunning and abundant and guests were free to help themselves to drinks all day. The simple act of being able to make a cup of coffee (or pour a glass of wine) and go and sit in the garden for a few minutes when the power of the muse all gets a bit much is a huge change from the institutional feel of many residential courses. Excursions and gallery visits (we visited the Picasso Museum in Antibes and the Maeght Foundation in St Paul de Vence) were included in the course fee and I didn’t have to take so much as a pencil with me; all materials (good
quality) were provided, though most of us found ourselves buying some favourite materials from the gallery shop before our return.

I brought back a very comfortable clutch pencil and an excellent watercolour brush which I had road tested during the week, while others were inspired to buy a previously untried medium or to remember their visit with a ‘Maison
des Arts’ painting apron. Had I been more restrained my euros could have remained untouched all week, but I also bought a Picasso print in Antibes (the originals were slightly out of my range) and some scary salamis from
Vence market – the sort suitable for use in hand to hand combat. The stallholder cheerfully assured me that they would be good for two or three months but after that would ‘get a bit hard’. They must have good teeth in Provence. I noticed when I got home that my suitcase had been opened at some point at the airport – I suspect the sausages gave the x-ray machine cause for concern.

And there’s more; I didn’t even have to worry about recording my stay on camera because after the course I received a CD with more than 300 images of the week, some of which are reproduced here. Everyone’s masterpieces were
there, as well as pictures of tuition sessions in progress, days out, painting subjects, the house and area and of course plenty of photos of my new friends to raise a smile and bring back memories.

‘Class Outing’ to
the Picasso Museum.
Jane is third from right.

So at the end, what did I come away with? Well, apart from an extra half a stone (I told you the food was good), I rediscovered my love of portraiture and I gained a much clearer idea of how I want my art to
develop. I was well and truly shaken out of my rut; to be honest I don’t think the idea of my art ‘developing’ had occurred to me for years. On my return my husband, who had done a sterling job of keeping house and family going while I was away, pronounced that I looked like I’d been ‘lit up from inside’, while work colleagues told me I was ‘glowing’. Since then I suspect that daily life and winter weather have dulled the glow a little, but it will be a long time before I forget my trip to Maison des Arts – for a start those sausages are still there every time I open the fridge….

Maison des Arts runs courses throughout the year in painting and creative thinking. More details are at www.maisondesarts.com