Our Art & Textile Holidays
Our aim is to offer an enjoyable and relaxing holiday where our guests can develop and improve their artistic skills in a convivial atmosphere.
What We Offer
We offer a combination of structured teaching and one to one tuition both for complete beginners and those with a little more experience.
We work within the extensive grounds of Preniac, our studio workshop, and also on location in the surrounding countryside and historic villages.
Our objective is to help guests develop the confidence to explore and experiment with new and different media, gaining the skills and expertise to develop a body of new work while at Preniac.
Under guidance guests will experience a range of different art or textile media of their own choosing, depending on the course.
We also have an extensive art & textiles library available to guests for additional inspiration.
Non participating partners or friends are extremly welcome. They can either relax and take advantage of the peace and tranquility of Preniac, or explore the many activities on offer locally such as walking, cycling, canoeing or wine tasting.
Our Art & Textile Courses
We are offering 2 themed Art courses and 1 themed Textile course for 2008:
Art Based - Hidden valleys and wild flowers
This course is based on the gorgeous flora and fauna (including many rare orchids), and stunning landscapes of the area.
Some of our time will be spent working either within or at close proximity to Preniac, sketching and photographing the intricate wild orchids and other flowers that grow prolifically in the area or working from the stunning views of the Quercy landscape that surround the property.
We will also take half day trips to secluded valleys to draw in peace and tranquillity.
Some time will be spent working in the studio either drawing or painting from natural forms, or developing samples in silk painting, batik or monoprint. Guests may then develop their sketches or samples into ideas for final pieces, (choice is dependent on guest's personal preference).
Art Media available on this course includes: watercolour/water wash and fine line pen, acrylics, chalk and charcoal, colour pencil, soft pastels, mixed media, monoprint, silk paints or batik.
Art Based - Touring the Bastide Villages
This course is based on the stunning architecture of the numerous medieval bastide villages that are so characteristic of this area of South West France.
We take half day trips to nearby villages such as Lauzerte, a beautifully preserved 12th century hill top village, Saint Circ Lapopie, built on a rocky outcrop above the River Lot and Puy l'Eveque, magnificently reflected in the River, recording the architecture through sketches and photographs.
One day during the week we will travel further afield to experience the bastide villages further north, induding Monpazier, one of the best preserved bastide villages in France, where the white stone changes to a deep gold.
While on location guests may choose to record views of whole villages within the landscape, or may prefer to concentrate on more intricate architectural details.
We will also spend some time at Preniac, working in a broad range of different art or textile mediums depending on guests choice, but there will be opportunities to try acrylics, watercolour wash and fineline pen, soft pastels, chalk and charcoal, monoprinting, silk painting, batik or mixed media. Guests can then choose to develop ideas for a main piece in a medium of their choice.
Textile Based - Colours Textures & Patterns of the Southern Lot
This course is based on the rich colours textures and patterns intrinsic to the landscape of this beautiful part of South West France.
Initially time will be divided between working in the studio on new textile techniques and drawing outdoors in close proximity to Preniac, or slightly further afield. Based on their sketches and digital photos of the local landscape, guests will develop ideas for a composition based on the textile techniques demonstrated during the week.
These will include fabric manipulation, (working with fabric to form relief texture such as free smocking, folding, stuffing etc), brush dyeing, hand embroidery, basic machine embroidery, silk painting and applique.
This course is suitable for complete beginners and all skills will be taught from scratch, but would also appeal to thise with more experience in working with fabric.
Art & Texile Media available on this course includes: watercolour or acrylic paints, colour pencil, soft pastels, silk painting, specialist fabric dyes, hand and machine threads. Calico can be purchased by the metre at cost on site.
Tutor And Hosts
Liz Halls-Moore
Liz studied painting and textiles at Liverpool and Goldsmiths and then gained her PGCE (distinction) at Reading University.
She has taught a broad variety of both adults and children with abilities ranging from special needs to postgraduate art students. She latterly ran an "outstanding" (Ofsted) art department in a large secondary school in the UK before moving to Preniac. Liz has taught both Art and Textiles at all levels including A-Level for the last 15 years. She worked in conjunction with the University of Surrey as a mentor for trainee teachers and has delivered inset to other art teachers.
Liz works in a range of styles and media and has completed many commissions over the years. She recently illustrated a children's book for the television presenter Lesley Judd and is now working on her 2nd book.
Group Holidays
We are happy to accommodate art groups and may have alternative dates to suit your organisation. You can either bring your own tutor or arrange the services of a local teacher. Don't hesitate to contact us with your requirements
We limit our course numbers to a maximum of 10 so all guests are guaranteed plenty of individual attention.
Our goal is for all our guests to thoroughly enjoy all aspects of their holiday. We therefore tailor our weeks to include a combination of art based activities, site seeing in the local area or simply relaxing by the pool.
Once the course has finished guests can extend their holiday on a bed and breakfast or self catering basis if they wish.
Dates & Prices
All courses run from Saturday to Saturday apart from the last 2 weeks in September, which run mid-week to mid-week
| Date | Course | Prices |
|---|---|---|
| May 10th - 17th | Textiles - Colours Textures & Patterns of the Southern Lot | £625 |
| May 24th - 31st | Art -Hidden Valleys and Wild Flowers | £625 |
| Jun 7th - 14th | Art -Hidden Valleys and Wild Flowers | £625 |
| Jun 21st - 28th | Textiles - Colours Textures & Patterns of the Southern Lot | £625 |
| Jul 5th - 12th | Art - Touring the Bastides | £625 |
| Aug 30th - 6th Sep | Textiles - Colours Textures & Patterns of the Southern Lot | £625 |
| Sep 10th - 17th | Touring the Bastides | £625 |
| Sep 25th - Oct 2nd | Textiles - Colours Textures & Patterns of the Southern Lot | £625 |
Cost to non-participating partners sharing a room: £450
What's included:
- Bed, breakfast, light lunch and 3 course evening meal with wine
- All bedrooms are ensuite except for 2 which are reserved for single guests who will share an adjacent bathroom. (No single supplement).
- All basic materials including paper, acrylic paints, watercolour paints, chalk and charcoal, fine pens, pastels, a selection of brushes, specialist textile dyes
- Pick up from Bergerac airport or Cahors station if required
- Touring around to drawing locations
- Tuition for 5 days
- Wednesday morning trip to Cahors market or Sunday morning trip to Montcuq market
- Use of digital cameras
What's not included:
- Flights - You can easily reach Bergerac from London Stansted via Ryanair
- One evening meal taken at a local restaurant, cost 20 euros
- Specialist watercolour paper/canvas
- Oil Paints.
- Acrylic Boards etc
- Specialist brushes
- Silk and fabric (this can be purchased from us)
- Sketch books - guests may wish to bring their own