PAINTING HOLIDAYS AT CORTIJO LAS SALINAS 2010

Cortijo Las Salinas is situated amongst the olives groves in rural Andalucia, Southern Spain.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist Steffi will help you to develop confidence and a personal direction in your artwork as you paint in the warm sunshine surrounded by spectacular scenery, landscapes and sunsets.  The areas that are chosen to paint in are always inspiring, very peaceful with fantastic light.

Painting holidays are designed for everyone, mixed ability groups are no problem. If you are an experienced painter you can paint independently if preferred and the format can be flexible to suit individual requirements.  Group sizes are normally 8-10 painters.  Non painting partners are also welcome where they can sit by the pool or go for a swim, take a walk or just relax with a book.  Non painting partners can also join in the cultural activities and days out.

A typical art course is ‘Looking at the Landscape’ where we make the most of the fantastic scenery, old ruins, interesting rock formations, waterfalls and wild flowers.  We start the course by covering the fundamentals of landscape painting in the studio and then spend our time learning by painting and drawing at various locations nearby. A sketch book is essential and the traditional technique Van Gogh employed to look at perspective is explained, using a perspective viewing frame.   Watercolour, acrylic or oils can be used, or taught to use if you are a beginner.  Experimentation is also encouraged as variations in personal style and technique is explored.  Traditional artists have turned to abstract after a week with Steffi!  A camera is also recommended to record areas of interest and can be printed off in the studio.

A typical day would start with a relaxed breakfast and then gathering in the studio at 10.00 am to prepare for the day ahead.  A break for lunch is usually around 2.00 pm and is taken at the cortijo by the pool, or as a picnic on location.  Siesta follows lunch until 5.00pm, where you can swim, sleep or do more sketching.  We then meet back in the studio to continue an earlier project or to start a canvas.  Sometimes we have a discussion about our work or art in general maybe with a slide show.  The evening meal usually takes place around 8.30 pm and then retire as early or late as you prefer.  A mid week meal is taken at the local reasonably priced Spanish restaurant when our chef has the night off.

All meals are prepared using locally sourced produce with a Spanish theme and are cooked at the cortijo, being served with Spanish wine or beer included.  All dietary requirements and vegetarians are catered for.

A typical art week costs £625 which includes full board, transport to and from Granada airport (45 minutes from the cortijo) or Malaga airport (2 1/2 hours from cortijo which will incur an additional cost).  All chairs, easels, boards are supplied but please bring a sketchbook and your favourite brushes or pencils.  Paper and acrylic/watercolour paint supplied, however oil paint, canvases or large pieces of watercolour paper will be charged for.  A cultural day out can be organised to Granada or Cordoba to see some of the extraordinary monuments of the Moorish period.

Shorter art holidays can be organised, i.e. a long weekend or Monday to Friday.

Dates for this year are:

13th - 20th June

12th - 19th September     FULL

26th September - 3rd October   FULL

 
Additional costs are: flights

Bar drinks and soft drinks which are not part of the meal

Cultural day out. A typical day to Granada to visit the Alhambra is 12 Euros (Alhambra ticket price with some concessions), lunch (this depends on what you have but the popular Menu del Dia is 10 Euros), petrol and parking contribution for the minibus. 

Spanish restaurant evening, around 20 Euros per head

Oil paints 15 Euros for a weeks supply including thinners and cleaners

Canvas or watercolour paper are charged according to size and start at 6 Euros for small canvas

Photographic printing

Non painting partners £495. 

It is recommended you take out personal travel insurance.

For further information please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Or Telephone 0034 953 120 708 to discuss any part of the art holiday or find out if there are spaces available on next course. Dates for 2011 will be published soon.  Please email for information.

Or call Sandi on 0044 7872533806   UK contact and art holiday organiser - email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it