FRENCH ART SCHOOL IS BACK!

Join me for BLOOMS FRANCE  Impressionist Florals

art immersion!

June 7-18, 2022

Start & finish in Paris

Enjoy 9 full days, 10 nights at my French Art School in the Creuse! Monet painted down the road from us!

 

NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

 

 

 

 

It's been a long wait to get back to France and now I'm allowing myself to feel the excitement that it's actually happening. I hope you can feel it too! I can't wait! 

 

In the picture above I am standing outside L'Hirondelle, one of three beautiful and traditional stone villas that make up my French Art School base in France.  L'Hirondelle, was built in the time of the French Impressionist era from stone, in the 19th century. The local mayor was born upstairs and her father ran the local auberge downstairs. This makes it the perfect space for us to hang out and paint in.  It's named for the swallow, because L'Hirondelle means Swallow and like a swallow I shall return in spring!

 

It's now safe for us to travel. I have several friends who are already over there, with great reports, and I'm making choices for the Blooms France Impressionist Immersion to make it even safer.

 

BLOOMS FRANCE IMPRESSIONIST FLORAL IMMERSION

 

And now I am inviting you to join me! However, I have only 8 spaces at a maximum with no further plans for 2022 at French at School at the moment.

 

One place is taken already. So that makes 7 places available, and I've added an extra day in, plus the opportunity to meet in Paris the day before if you want to arrive in Paris and meet at midday on June 6, with time to meander to my fave Parisian  florists, art stores on the Seine, and dinner out. Or whatever you like!I'm giving my time for that. There is always something new to do in Paris. We leave Paris by train June 7 around midday destined for a welcome dinner at French Art School and settling in!

 

 

Aperitifs each evening and wine with meals is all included. Let down the girdle!

This is delicious French cooking and generous everything!

 

 

In the ballroom studio painting and immersing in the art. I provide loads of guidance and am there every step of the way.

 

Whilst I've been away there's been lots happening at French Art School, including some wonderful renovations that continued regardless! And they're looking great!

 

From shutters on the old farm house where I stay, and a slate roof made in the traditional way, so a love job essentially to my gorgeous old farmhouse with cherry wood floors and oak beams. This was once a school in the village and at another time housed two families.

 

There have been upgrades of new oak floors and an additional bathroom at La Tonnellerie, the house with the stunning orchard which is one of two charming traditional houses where my students stay.

 

 

Internal renos to La Tonnellerie including re layout of rooms , new oak floors and a third bathroom with luxurious bath tub! And at Anne's request, a linen cupboard built in under the stair well.

 

 

My sister Liz and my daughter Lily who are both living in France have visited my French Art School and stayed during this time so I have been able to visit through live video communications and kept in touch.

 

For those of you who have been to French Art School with me, and some of you have been back several times!, our friend Anne has of course been looking after things too for me and yes she is going well as is Jose our chef.

 

 

I am joined for the art immersion by delightful graduate of my MMFA program, Trish Arden who assisted me in France in 2019.

 

Over the last three years I took the opportunity to build my online courses and connect with more of you from USA , CANADA, NZ, all over AUSTRALIA, and even the UK, NETHERLANDS, SPAIN and GERMANY. I am still loving that and so are my students.

 

In June it will be time to step away for a break in France for a few weeks from the online training and immerse in the inspiration of the Impressionists, of the charming hamlet of La Foret du Temple in the Creuse, south west of Paris, a charming place stuck in a  time warp it seems from the French 1940's.

 

'Sweetpeas grow wild in stable yards, chestnuts plop onto the road and, in the old apple orchards, small sweet, windfalls speckle the long grass.'

 

-excerpt by Christine McCabe, travel journalist and a guest of French Art School as published in the feature article in the Weekend Australian Feb 3-4, 2018 . Christine was totally charmed by her stay and plans to revisit. 

 

Below; La Foret is positively heaving with the natural abundance of peonies, hydrangeas, fruits and roses. I've never hydrangeas seen like these before.

 

 

 

WHAT ARE WE PAINTING AT THE NEW BLOOMS FRANCE IMPRESSIONIST FLORAL IMMERSION?

 

Explore mark making, freestyle painting and the stunning floral combinations on offer. Learn the Impressionist colour palette, study original Impressionist paintings at close hand and learn the secrets of getting a painting down quickly with a fresh touch.

 

This is a looser style than Blooms, and involves drawing and painting, and alternative ways to build the paint and detail. It will be a  fun and relaxing way to work. Less hard work, more fun and still the great results.

 

 

I've designed the course to be expansive to teach lots of freeing  and effective painting skills and produce beautiful work. We pack the work afterwards so you can carry it easily which is something we do together on the last evening.

 

We make an easy to carry over shoulder package with comfy straps  students can manage along with their luggage. I've thought of everything. You will love it!

 

EXPLORE OILS, & EXPLORE ACRYLICS!

 

 

 

I have collected several series of paintings by French post impressionist painters including Lily D'Alpuget, a French artist who was painting in Morocco in the 1940's. She had a love of florals and still life. We learn a lot from her work accessing the actual very luscious paintings collection  in my studio. I've had the paintings restored so you can enjoy them too.

 

As well as unrestricted studio work, in my ballroom studio, we will also be using my portable lightweight Blooms Travel Paint Boxes ( Gift for each student) for some painting outdoors as a nice added extra. These are small quick paintings.

I will show you how.

 

We will be enjoying some en plein air of the local hamlet from the fields with the Charolais cows or the lovely toffee coloured Limousin cattle, to haybales and gorgeous stone barns, leafy village laneways and blooms. Learn how small paintings can be great to move through ideas and to create a series.

However the focus is on the blooms and local produce as this is a floral workshop!

 

There is nothing that will hold back the spring and early summer blooms in France. I can actually feel it in my blood that I have to get myself over there!

I am travelling to Paris in about 5 weeks and my team are already preparing.

 

 

I can understand if you are swooning by now looking at the beautiful flowers and produce that grow in La Foret with out effort. Here is a stunning basket of peonies gathered in the hamlet. The basket is hand woven locally.

 

I founded French Art School in Feb 2016 initially with the help of my family and friends plus local trades.  My first French Art School  was met with huge enthusiasm. I then committed to creating more accommodation locally in the hamlet and building my French team. Do I speak French? Mais oui! 

 

Since then we have two very comfortable houses for the students. And a very characterful farm house reno in progress where I stay with my assistant, all with in a few minutes walk of each other.

 

KEEPING MY GUESTS SAFE

 

We have spare rooms in my farmhouse should we need to quarantine anyone, who needless to say will be plied with fine food, art books and fresh flowers. I have restricted exposure to outside influences so we have our bubble and created a leisurely schedule based in the quiet hamlet of La Foret du Temple with loads to explore, our paintings plus relaxation time and walks. Not to mention delicious dining experiences. We have a day of touring midway and a dinner out.

 

 

How many Blooms France tours will I be doing? At this stage this is the only one scheduled for 2022. So don't miss out! Clients have travelled previously from the UK, USA and Canada, Australia and NZ, Spain and Germany.

 

PLACES ARE LIMITED SO DON'T MISS OUT
 

With just 8 places you will need to be decisive. I will do a  great job of looking after you. Travelling alone? You will make great friends with other participants. Many students are still in touch with other participants years after their art immersion! We have a private fb page for the group too.

 

I request that guests are vaccinated with a  booster shot.

Although restrictions have eased greatly in France, I prefer to take precautions where possible.

 

Guests have own rooms fully separated from each other thanks to the renovations and the restricted numbers I am taking.

 

If you needed more time at La Foret after the art immersion that is no problem. You are welcome to unwind even more. I plan to have some painting time there. You just need to arrange and book it in advance. If you suddenly needed have more time to stay for any reason I am sure we can manage that too.

We have plenty of room.

 

All the details are at the Blooms France page. Just click on the link below and it will take you there. Any questions please email me at jacquelinecoates1@gmail.com

 

 

See you in class!

 

A bientot!

 

Jacqueline Coates

BLOOMS FRANCE 

FRENCH ART SCHOOL 2022