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Provence Vacation Workshop with Sebastian Thommen
April 25-29, 2025
From our home base in Avignon we will visit and sketch some of the gorgeous hilltop villages of Provence, France: Gordes, Roussillon, Menerbes, Bonnieux, St. Remy and of course, Aix-en-Provence. We will walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh and Cezanne, visit an abbey surrounded by lavender fields and, ifnthere's time, check out the crumbling remains of the home of the Marquis de Sade. In April, the average daytime high-temperature is 20°C (68°F), and the average nighttime low-temperature is 7°C (44.6°F). Because this workshop will involve some walking up and down hill as we are exploring hilltop villages, a basic level of fitness is required (and sensible shoes).
Meet your Instructor Sebastian Thommen
Sebastian Thommen has been painting in watercolour since his early teens. But he pursued a career as a theatre and film actor. In the recent years, he took up painting professionally, and in 2023 was awarded the Silver Award and the Artists Choice Award in the Art in The Open International Plein Air Festival in Wexford.
When to Arrive?
Wednesday April 23, 2025
Welcome to Avignon! Your arrival date is your decision but we suggest you arrive on Wednesday April 23 so that you have time to settle in and possibly to adjust to a new time zone or the vagaries of travel which, as we know, could include a missed or delayed flight. Better to be relaxed at the start of your vacation workshop.
Warm Up Sketch + Welcome Reception
Thursday April 24, 2025
Workshop participants who arrive early are invited to meet in the hotel lobby at 2:00 for a warm up sketch (optional). All tour Participants and nonPainting Companions are invited to a welcome reception at 6pm.
Day 1 Avignon
Friday April 25, 2025
In the morning we will make our way through the winding streets in the historical centre of Avignon as we walk to the location of Workshop #1.
After lunch we will take a guided tour of the Palais des Papes and we will dance sur le pont d'Avignon! Bien sur! The Palais des Papes is one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. In the 14th century, for essentially political reasons, nine popes resided in Avignon and made this city the capital of Christianity.
Day 2 Roussillon + Gordes
Saturday April 26, 2025
Today is our first excursion south to the gorgeous hilltop village of Gordes where we will stop briefly to explore the colourful Tuesday morning market. Then on to Roussillon, a town built atop deposits of ochre that was used to paint so many of the buildings. Here Sebastian will teach Workshop #2.
Afterwards we will visit an ochre factory to learn more about how this pigment is made.
Day 3 Aix-en-Provence
Sunday April 27, 2025
Today we will spend the day in leafy Aix-en-provence, the "city of 1000 fountains". Here we will stroll Cours Mirabeau and see how many hot spring fountains we can spot on our way to where Sebastian will teach Workshop #3.
After lunch we will follow the bronze medallions embedded in the sidewalks that will lead us to the studio of Cezanne.
Day 4 Menerbes + Bonnieux
Monday April 28, 2025
Today we will visit picturesque Bonnieux, a hilltop village in the Luberon mountains. Here Sebastian will teach Workshop #4.
In the afternoon we will visit the picturesque narrow streets of beautiful Menerbes stopping for a wine tasting and a visit to the Corkscrew Museum.
Day 5 Saint-Rémy + Glanum
Tuesday April 29, 2025
On our final day we will visit nearby Saint-Rémy where Sebastian will teach Workshop #5. After lunch we will visit the Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole where Van Gogh stayed for one year after he cut off his ear. On the way home we will stop in at Glanum the Archeological site where can be found the ruins of a Gallic city steeped in Greek and Roman influences built in the 2nd century BC
In the evening we will celebrate an amazing week with a farewell dinner (included).
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ORDER OF EVENTS AND SUBJECTS PROPOSED IN THIS ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Departure
Wednesday April 30, 2025
It's time to say goodbye but you will never forget the friends you made or the skills you learned during this great week! Or extend your stay for a long relaxing holiday!
Recommended Workshop Supply List
For a complete workshop supply list, click HERE.
FAQs
For more information about the workshops content contact Sebastian at seb@sebastianthommen.com.
For more information about this vacation package contact Brenda Murray Studio56Boutique@gmail.com.
Tour Includes
- A welcome reception
- All art classes
- 4 full-day excursions via coach to: Gordes + Roussillon, Menerbes + Bonnieux, Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Rémy
- Admission to the the studio of Cezanne, the Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole, a wine tasting at a vineyard, and the Glanum Archeological site.
- Farewell dinner
Tour Excludes
- Flights to/from
- connecting transportation to/from airport
- Hotel
- Meals (except those listed above)
- Painting supplies
- Tips and gratuities
- Porterage/luggage handling
- Travel insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Items not explicitly specified in the inclusion list
Early Bird Prices in USD
Book now before November 26, 2024 and save $200USD!
$2099.USD $1899.USD Workshop Participant
$1499.USD NonSketcher Companion (such as partner or travelling buddy)
NonWorkshop Participant tickets include the same attractions and meals as the Workshop Participants with the exception of the art classes.
To reserve your spot in this workshop a $500USD nonrefundable deposit is required for Workshop Participants and a $300USD nonrefundable deposit is required for nonWorkshop Participants is due 150 days before the start of the workshop. The remaining balance is due 120 days before the start of the workshop.
To hold your spot in this workshop with your deposit, please scroll to the bottom and click BOOK NOW.
PLEASE READ OUR REFUND POLICY.
Greenlighting a Workshop
Workshops are greenlighted when the minimum number of tickets (10) have been sold. All ticket holders will be notified by email when that happens. Please do not book non-refundable flights or accommodations until after we have greenlighted the workshop.
Accommodations
The Instructor and the Tour Manager have rooms booked at a centrally located hotel inside the old wall just steps from the Pont d'Avignon and the Palais des Papes.
The room rate is €120 for single use and €132 for double use including breakfast plus €2.75 per person per night for city tax.
How to Make A Hotel Reservation
Before making a hotel reservation, the first step is to register for this workshop by clicking the BOOK NOW button below.
After you have registered for this workshop the link to make a reservation will be sent to you.
Workshop participants are not obliged to stay in this hotel. You are welcome to stay in another hotel or Airbnb if you prefer.
Practical Tips
Participants will need to fly into either Paris or Marseille and take a train from there. If flying into Paris, the TGV train leaves from Gare de Lyon. If flying into Marseille, the train leaves from Vitrolles Marseille Airport. Trains can be booked either HERE or HERE.
Travel Tips
Please check HERE for Studio 56 Travel Tips.
Trip Cancellation + Medical Insurance
Trip cancellation insurance is also highly recommended as it covers you in the event you must cancel your trip. And medical insurance is also a must as it covers emergency medical services which may be significantly more expensive than expected when travelling in a foreign country. Please check with your insurance provider. Click HERE for a list of US insurance providers. Some credit card companies may also offer travel insurance if you paid for your trip with that card.
Your Tour Manager
Participants will be accompanied by Studio 56 owner, Brenda Murray. Brenda is a Canadian artist and arts advocate, the founder of Urban Sketchers Waterloo Region and a former Urban Sketchers Board member. A seasoned traveler, Brenda has traveled to Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea (resident for 4 years), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda and the USA (35 states). Brenda will be on hand to assist the instructor and to ensure that everything runs smoothly. She has completed the St. John's Ambulance Emergency First Aid - CPR C - AED training. Learn more about Brenda HERE.
For More Information
Email Studio56Boutique@gmail.com or call Brenda Murray at 519-572-1757.
How to Register for this Workshop
To reserve your spot in this exciting vacation workshop, please click the BOOK NOW button below to make a deposit.
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