The Joy of Painting Colour and Light
Painting, Sketching & Colour in the South of France — An Immersive Artistic Retreat in St-Paul-de-Vence
Set in St-Paul-de-Vence, one of the oldest and most celebrated centres of French art and culture, this immersive workshop offers a rare opportunity to sketch, paint, and learn directly in the landscapes that inspired generations of great artists. Surrounded by medieval villages, olive groves, dramatic hills, and Mediterranean light, you will experience painting not as an isolated studio exercise — but as a living, breathing practice rooted in place, history, and observation.
Over the course of the workshop, we will work outdoors and in the studio, combining location sketching, plein air painting, museum visits, and structured studio sessions. You will learn the complete creative process — from selecting materials and sketching on location, to developing finished paintings back in the studio — while building a strong technical foundation in colour, tone, composition, and paint handling.
Each day is designed to balance practical skill-building with artistic exploration and cultural inspiration. We sketch in the countryside and historic streets, study master paintings in nearby galleries and museums, and enjoy the rhythms of life in Provence — from local cafés and markets to the unique atmosphere of this extraordinary region.
How to turn inspiration into painting
In this workshop, you will learn how professional artists work with this kind of rich visual environment, moving step by step from outdoor observation to finished studio paintings.
Rather than focusing on isolated theory, you will be guided through the full creative process: finding strong subjects in the landscape, deciding what is worth recording, gathering visual information through sketchbooks and studies, and transforming those raw observations into resolved paintings back in the studio.
You will learn how to:
- Find inspiration and strong motifs in natural and urban environments
- Choose what to observe, simplify, and record when sketching outdoors
- Use sketchbooks effectively for composition studies, tonal notes, colour ideas, and visual research
- Translate outdoor studies into structured studio paintings
- Build paintings step by step with clarity and purpose
- Strengthen composition, tone, colour relationships, and spatial depth
- Develop confident brushwork and painterly decision-making
- Understand how master painters approached observation, preparation, and construction of their work
Each concept is introduced practically and applied immediately through demonstrations, guided exercises, and your own projects. You will work closely with me throughout the process, receiving individual feedback and professional insight at every stage.
By the end of the workshop, you will not only have stronger technical skills — you will understand how to think and work like a painter, from the first spark of inspiration in the landscape to the completion of your own finished paintings.
Each concept is introduced step by step, demonstrated clearly, and immediately applied through guided exercises and personal projects. You’ll receive individual feedback and one-to-one guidance throughout, allowing you to progress at your own pace.
An Immersive Artistic Experience
By the end of the workshop, colour will feel more natural, controllable, and expressive — and you will have a deeper connection to both your own painting process and the artistic heritage of southern France.
Workshop date: Planned for Autumn 2026
Location: St-Paul-de-Vence, France
Duration: Monday to Friday with Wednesday free to explore or paint further
Accommodation: You will be provided with a list of possible accommodation options (not included in the price)
If you would like to be notified when the workshop launches, please email:
andrewkinmont@hotmail.co.uk
Andrew Kinmont 