Our WHAT TO PACK - WHAT’S PROVIDED Guide

Congratulations ! You’re going on a painting holiday. Here is some basic information on what is provided and what you will need to bring depending on your chosen medium.

TUITION and what to except: Our painting holidays are not intensive painting workshops. We also sightsee, eat, drink and generally have a great time! On the first painting day, your tutor will give a watercolour demonstration for participants working in watercolour. During this time, participants using other media are welcome to work independently, begin a drawing or painting, or simply take the opportunity to test out and familiarise themselves with their paints and materials. Further demonstrations can be given during the week if participants would find them helpful. Those choosing to work in other media — including drawing, pastels, acrylics, oils or gouache — will receive individual guidance during the plein-air painting sessions. Your tutor will move between participants, offering advice tailored to your chosen medium and level of experience, helping with composition, colour, technique and any difficulties that arise as your work develops. Additional help and guidance can be requested at any time throughout the week, so please do not hesitate to ask if you would like further advice or individual assistance. The aim is for everyone to enjoy painting/drawing while benefiting from personalised tuition and support throughout the painting holiday.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO BRING: ( A MUST) A comfortable RUCK SAC / BACK PACK large and deep enough to hold the board and stool (and optional portable easel if chosen for acrylics or oils). It should open up at the top, possibly with a flap or a zipper, with the possibility of being left slightly open up top so that the stool legs or easel can stick out up top if the height of your bag is slightly too short. No need for an expensive bag ! Decathlon among other stores have adequate bags. NO TOTE BAGS please, as these tend to let objects "hang loose'' and risk harming others. Recommended weight of backpack : 500 g (1 lb). A good size or larger is 56 cm x 26 cm x 26 cm depth . In inches : 23 ‘x 11’ x 10’ depth.

A smart phone + PRE-PAID INTERNET for a week (you will need it during our outings, but also wifi in certain accommodations can be weak). Try to bring a power bank (optional), a tablet (optional) to take photos of scenery or finish-off-later subjects.

You will need to download WHATSAPP on your phone, a free application, to keep in touch with your group starting Day 1 of your holiday.

Walking shoes and appropriate clothing (aim for comfort, beware of staining). A hat or cap, sunglasses, a bathing suit, evening windbreaker or jacket depending on the time of year of your painting holiday. Pre or post summer evenings can be slightly chilly.

A suitable suitcase : A small cabin suitcase is always best on trips as they are light and convenient. Remember that you can possibly post/ship things back in case you are overcome with shopping fever during your trip! For art holidays to TUSCANY (It) or PROVENCE (Fr) with airport transfers, we require that your luggage not exceed the following measurements: 50cm x 70cm (20’ x 27’). Important note: If over-sized luggage cannot fit into our vehicle, we will ask participants to find a place to store it until their return. For your comfort, we also recommend light luggage for VENICE and LAKE COMO.

A carry case or tube for your art work (unless your suitcase has a completely flat side). You will be able to leave this in your room. If using OILS, you will need a WET CANVAS CARRY CASE.

PAINTING MATERIALS -> WHAT YOUR TUTOR IS BRINGING (PROVIDED) FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS

• Board (general size is 37 x 27 cm / 14.56’ x 10.63’) • Stool (size 60 cm x 9 cm / 23.5' x 3.5') Maximum weight: 100 kg / 220 Ibs. • Multi-media cold-pressed Paper (A4 size) • Apron (yours to keep) • Tape • Scissors • • Paper: We paint on 300 gr multi/medium cold pressed paper which is taped to the board we provide. If you have chosen acrylics or oils and would rather paint on canvas boards or pre-cut pieces of unstretched canvas, do not hesitate to bring some (6).

Optional portable easel rental on demand (£45/week) for participants who choose acrylics or oils. You can also opt to bring your own BUT ONLY IF IT IS IDENTICAL to the one in our photo below, small in size and metallic. Our permits in different places ONLY ALLOW this type of easel. We are sorry but you will not be allowed to paint with any OTHER TYPES OF EASELS in our groups, OR WITH DIFFERENT STOOLS you might bring OR with portable tables or shelves, etc. Any unauthorised equipment is strictly forbidden.

PAINTING MATERIALS -> WHAT YOUR TUTOR IS BRINGING (PROVIDED) FOR WATERCOLOUR PARTICIPANTS ON TOP ON WHAT’S LISTED ABOVE: Watercolour paints and brushes. DRAWING PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE GRAPHITE PENCILS PROVIDED.

IMPORTANT NOTE: MORE ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING MATERIALS THEY ARE USED TO USING

Also, if you will not be needing any materials, please let us know!!

WHAT TO BRING DEPENDING ON YOUR CHOSEN MEDIUM

Participants who have chosen WATERCOLOURS (RECOMMENDED) as their main medium: Paints and brushes are provided, as well as a board, stool and and apron. YOU WILL NEED TO BRING a rubber/eraser, pencil, plastic palette, 1 or 2 waterproof watercolour pens (0.1 and 0.7 is perfect), a foldable plastic cup, a small bottle of water.

OPTIONAL: Masking fluid, a ruler, sharpener, cotton buds/Q-tips, watercolour pencils, watercoulour sketchbook, wet wipes.

Participants who have chosen DRAWING as their main medium: Pencils and paper are provided, as well as a board, stool and apron. YOU WILL NEED TO BRING a pencil case with a rubber/eraser, a pencil sharpener, wet wipes. Graphite pencils are provided. You can also bring (OPTIONAL): Blending stumps, a ruler, coloured pencils.

The following mediums (below) are not recommended for beginners:

PASTELS (EXPERIENCED ARTISTS ONLY): Please bring pastels, pastel paper (or you will be able to use our multimedia paper), glassine sheets (about 10 printer paper size), a pencil case, blending stumps, and wet wipes. OPTIONAL: Gloves, a soft or hard brush for creating effects or clearing. If you’d like the pastels provided (dry pastels) at no extra charge, please send our coordinator your request.

GOUACHE (EXPERIENCED ARTISTS ONLY): Please bring paints, paintbrushes, a pencil, a rubber/eraser, a palette, wet wipes, a small bottle filled with tap water, a foldable cup, cloth/rag. Reminder: Multi-media cold pressed paper is provided, but feel free to bring your own if you wish. If you’d like gouache paints provided at no extra charge, please send our coordinator your request.

ACRYLICS (EXPERIENCED ARTIST ONLY): Please bring paints, paintbrushes, a pencil, a rubber/eraser, a tear-off palette pad, wet wipes, a small bottle filled with tap water, a foldable cup, cloth/rag. Reminder: Multi-media cold pressed paper is provided, but feel free to bring canvas boards (about 5 or 6) or pieces of un-streched canvas + 3 board clips. Please note that we can provide acrylic paints and brushes for an extra cost of £50.

OILS (EXPERIENCED ARTISTS ONLY): Please note that this medium is a tricky medium to use on painting holidays because of long drying times and portability! Paints and brushes are not provided for this medium. You will have a board, a stool and an apron provided. Just as every one else, you will of course receive individual guidance during the plein-air painting sessions. If to you oils is the only way to go, then please bring oil paints (water soluble oils are best and much appreciated painting in a group), or regular oil paints with ODOURLESS SOLVENT (a must). Also please bring a container for your solvent (unless using water soluble oils, then simply bring a cup), a pencil, a rubber/eraser, a tear-off palette pad, cloth/rag, wet wipes, a wet painting carrying case (a must, in order to bring your work home). We recommend RAYMAR cases. Reminder: Multi-media cold pressed paper is provided, but feel free to bring canvas boards (about 5 or 6) or pieces of un-streched canvas + 3 board clips. Please note that walnut or linseed oil are not recommended as they make drying take even longer!

IMPORTANT NOTE WHEN PAINTING AS A GROUP

Our painting permits require for us to 1) STAY TOGETHER AS A GROUP: We cannot have participants stray from the group to paint in their own corner. 2) We are also required TO BE IDENTIFIED AS A GROUP. While painting with the group, you will be kindly REQUIRED TO WEAR OUR GROUP’S PROVIDED APRON (higher part around the neck, please). This will identify you as a participant of our group, as per our permit. We ask participants not to sit on the floor when painting with the group in cities or communes, nor to put their bag or personal belongings against the walls.

ALL PARTICIPANTS: You may also want to bring... A bathing suit! Destinations where you can swim: Tuscany, Venice (Lido island), Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast/Pompeii, Nice and Provence (France), Santorini and Mykonos (Greece), Lake Como, Sicily, Croatia. Please do not forget to check on monthly temperatures of your destination.

YOU’RE ALL SET TO HAVE A FANTASTIC PAINTING HOLIDAY !