PAINTING HOLIDAYS & ARTISTS RETREAT

31st May - 7th June -   MO TEEUW : Watercolours, Oils and Acrylics

9th - 16th June - CAROLE MASSEY : Portraiture and Landscapes - Watercolours and Pastels LAST FEW PLACES AVAILABLE (due to recent cancellation)

18th - 25th June - SUE SAREEN : Sketching and Watercolours LAST FEW PLACES AVAILABLE (due to recent cancellation)

27th June - 4th July -   LINDA CADDY : Watercolours

4th - 11th September - MIKE WILLDRIDGE : Watercolours

14th - 21st September - DOREEN HUNT : Drawing and Painting

22nd - 29th September -   VARVARA NEIMAN : Drawing and Painting in pleine air

1st - 8th October - DAVID PORTEOUS-BUTLER : Oil Painting with a Palette Knife

17th - 24th October - TBC

The peacefulness and beauty of the surrounding countryside and the flexibility of the accommodation make Manzac the ideal location for specialist courses in any number of activities - painting, photography, writing, language courses, yoga retreats, walking and golfing holidays etc etc.

We would be delighted to welcome anyone who wishes to use Manzac D'en Bas as a location for a specialist course either as an instructor wishing to bring a party of students / clients or as a participant. Please contact us on 00335 61 60 71 17 or by e-mail for further information and our pricing structure for specialist courses.

Specialist courses can take place any time outside the high season, ie during April, May, June, September and October which are often the best times to visit Manzac d’en Bas and the Ariege, as invariably, the weather is cooler and the countryside is at it’s most beautiful. Courses can start and finish on any day of the week, thus enabling participants to take advantage of cheaper mid week flights.

Due to the spacious nature of the accommodation and facilities, course participants are most welcome to bring their husbands / wives / partners with them who can then enjoy a relaxing holiday at Manzac with everything that it and the surrounding area has to offer.

THE NEW STUDIO

To improve the facilities that are available to our artists here at Manzac d'en Bas, we have built a new studio which has been extremely well received by those artists who have used it thus far - it is 50m2, light, spacious and the design is such that it remains cool when it is hot outside and has spectacular views towards the Pyrenees across the rolling countryside in front of Manzac. This is a valuable new asset as it provides, both a place for artists to paint when the weather isn't suitable for painting en pleine air, but also a place in which the art group and keep all their equipment without having to clear it away every evening.

Testimonials for Painting Courses held at Manzac d'en Bas

“We have been planning this trip for over a year and the reality has far surpassed whatever I could imagine! - Much more fun, much better painting, superb food and wine. Great company and conversation. I felt completely at home!” - the course tutor

"The best painting holiday we have been on by far" - Colin

“Thank you so much for a lovely holiday – you’ve looked after us so well, we’ve been able to concentrate on the painting which was so much appreciated. Wonderful place to relax and unwind.” - Sue

“The painting holiday has surpassed all expectation. The food delicious, the wine flowed and the laughter wonderful. I look forward to another time spent with you and your lovely family.” - Gill

"It could have been just another painting week but this one was special." - Geraldine

“Our painting holiday was super and set in such a delightful place. With many thanks to Giles and Louise for being perfect hosts.” - Valerie

"Thank you for all your energy, good spirits, creativity, hospitality, nurturing and support - lovely time with lovely people!" - Annette

"A true get-away-from-it-all and emersion in La France profonde" - Jane

"Difficult to know where to start when describing it as it was all of such a high standard. Giles and Louise are the perfect hosts making everyone welcome and at ease from the moment of arrival. The standard of accommodation and food were faultless and the location in this little known part of France is just delightful." - Colin

"This has to be one of the most relaxing places anywhere. Giles and Louise ... cannot do enough for their guests, definitely going that "one step more" to offer the ultimate service." - Frank

We are really pleased to announce that according to our Tripadvisor entry, Manzac d'en Bas is currently No. 1 in the "Speciality Lodging" category (ie. not a hotel or B&B) in the Midi Pyrenees Region and the Ariège Department of SW France.

We are obviously delighted about this and thank you very much indeed to everyone who has taken the time to give us such kind and generous reviews.

2013 PAINTING HOLIDAY COURSES AT MANZAC D'EN BAS

Here is the list of the painting holiday courses which are currently scheduled for 2013. They represent a selection which we hope will provide something for everyone - different media and different subject specialities.

If you are interested in attending one (or more) of these courses, please contact us for much more information, including prices, on 00335 61 60 71 17 or via e-mail on manzacgites@yahoo.com

PAINTING HOLIDAY PRICES 2013

The prices for Painting Holidays at Manzac d'en Bas in 2013 have been held and are the same as they were in 2012. They are as follows :-

The price per person per week for the Manzac aspects of the holiday (less two visits to local restaurants) - ie. accommodation, food, drink and transport, is €680. If you share a room, then each person will benefit from a 10% discount - a rate of €612 per week.

The tutors fees normally vary between £200 and £300 depending on the tutor - please contact us to confirm individual tutors' rates.

Subject to exchange rate variations, therefore, the all inclusive rate for these holidays should be between £750 and £850.

THE 2013 PAINTING HOLIDAY TUTORS AND DATES

MO TEEUW - Watercolours, Oils and Acrylics

FRIDAY 31st MAY - FRIDAY 7th JUNE 2013

CAROLE MASSEY - Portraiture and Landscapes : Watercolours and Pastels

SUNDAY 9th - SUNDAY 16th JUNE 2013

Carole is delighted to be returning to Manzac for her fourth year to tutor this 6 day course which will be divided between drawing and painting portraits from models in the spacious new studio, and landscape painting in and around the grounds or within a short drive from Manzac.

The course is designed to refresh basic skills whilst providing inspiration to take you in new directions. Through demonstrations and tuition both on a group and individual basis, the emphasis will be on drawing skills, colour mixing and capturing the ‘essence’ whether it be of a model or a mountain.

Carole is a professional artist, popular tutor and demonstrator whose work is in private collections in Europe, the USA and the Far East. She has exhibited at the Mall Galleries with the SWA and is an accomplished all rounder working in watercolour, water soluble pencils, acrylics, pastel, water based oils and mixed media.

As a best-selling author she has published books on "Figures in Watercolour", "Water Soluble Pencils" and "Flowers in Acrylics", each in several languages and her latest book is ”Drawing Masterclass – Portraits”. She is a professional associate of the SAA and is a regular contributor to their "Paint" magazine. She has recently helped launch a new online art tuition website with her flagship videos on portraiture www.arttutor.com/artist/carolemassey

Carole lives in Brittany and you can find more information on her courses there and in the UK on her website www.carolemassey.com.

SUE SAREEN - Sketching and Painting (Watercolours)

TUESDAY 18th JUNE - TUESDAY 25th JUNE 2013

Sue's paintings are figurative, and she paints across a broad range of subject matter. Always in her paintings there is a strong sense of intimacy with the subject matter.

Originally from Merseyside, she studied at Leeds and Liverpool Art Colleges and finally at Nottingham Trent University where she obtained an M.A in Fine Art.

Her work has been exhibited widely and has won many awards. She is also the author of a book on watercolour painting (Batsford Ltd), and has produced two commercial videos. In addition she frequently writes articles for the “Leisure Painter,” and the “Artist” magazines.

As well as pursuing her own work she regularly demonstrates/run courses for Art Societies. She also runs regular classes and workshops on watercolour painting in her Nottingham studio, runs painting breaks in Britain and painting holidays abroad throughout the year.

She is able to teach and respond to all levels of painting experience from beginners to those who are painters in their own right.

For much more information on Sue and some examples of her work, please visit her website.

LINDA CADDY - Watercolours

THURSDAY 27th JUNE - THURSDAY 4th JULY 2013

“During the week we will use a variety of monochrome and coloured media - pencil, graphite, water-soluble charcoal, watercolour pencil, pen and ink as well as Watercolour painting. The emphasis, in both sketching and painting, will be on gaining skills and confidence in techniques and the use of colour.”

Linda Caddy is a trained teacher and has been teaching classes and workshops for several years. Her excellence in Teaching was recognised when she was awarded a special Further Education award for her Art tuition. Linda now runs a large number of sketching and painting days in the Cheshire countryside where she lives, as well as being a regular guest demonstrator at local art clubs. She runs several painting holidays each year in France, Spain and Italy.

MIKE WILLDRIDGE

WEDNESDAY 4th SEPTEMBER - WEDNESDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 2013

DOREEN HUNT - Drawing and Painting

SATURDAY 14th - SATURDAY 21st SEPTEMBER 2013

VARVARA NEIMAN - Drawing and Painting en pleine air

SUNDAY 22nd - SUNDAY 29th SEPTEMBER 2013

Varvara Neiman obtained her MA in Fine Art from the Saint Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts in 1996. She moved to the UK in 1999 and achieved her second higher education degree in teaching from Buckinghamshire University in 2006. She has been teaching for the Bucks Adult Education Authority and East Berkshire College for the last eleven years, is a Friend of the Union of Fine Artists in Saint Petersburg and a member of the Buckinghamshire Art Society.

Varvara started teaching adult education classes in art in 2000. Her weekday one-year education courses include Portraiture, Life Drawing and Watercolour. Varvara also teaches a range of art courses during Easter and Summer Schools as well as on some weekends and she was Artist in Residence at Missenden Abbey in 2006 and 2009. Her students have been nominated for national medal awards by City & Guilds three times.

DAVID PORTEOUS-BUTLER - Oil Painting with a Palette Knife

Tuesday 1st October - Tuesday 8th October 2013

Like his mentor, he has a passion for the vitality of the landscape and changing light around him. Suffolk provides much inspiration and the English countryside is a true love, although he has also worked extensively in Southern Europe including time in France and Italy. Working with a limited palette, he is always faithful to the truth in what he sees.