August 6-10, 2026

Explore the cobbled streets of old Quebec City, Canada and learn new skills with Virginia pastel workshop instructor, Bryan Jernigan! During this artist retreat we will take 5 art classes and we will discover one of the oldest cities in North America. This workshop vacation is equal parts art class and cultural experience. 

Click HERE to download or print the brochure.

Meet Bryan Jernigan

Bryan studied studio art at Oklahoma State University. He continued his studies at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa where he received a Masters in Arts degree. Jernigan is an internationally collected, award-winning artist who works in pastel, acrylic and oil. He has been working in pastel for 15 years. He regularly offers workshops and classes and his work is held by public and private companies and individuals in the U.S., France, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Japan. Visit his website at www.bryanjernigan.com for more information.

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About Quebec City

Founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will enjoy a taste of Quebecois food and culture. At the beginning of August the average daytime high temperature is 78°F (25°C) and the average night-time low temperature is 61°F (16°C)--perfect weather for our art vacation! You can expect to see and paint lush parks, medieval towers, fountains, a chateau, charming streets, a vineyard and more!

Warm up Sketch + Welcome Reception

Wednesday Aug 5, 2026

Welcome to Quebec City! Workshop participants who arrive early are invited to meet in the hotel lobby at 2:00 for a warm up sketch (optional). Bryan will not be teaching. This is just your opportunity to dust the cobwebs off your art materials:).

All tour participants and nonPainting Companions are invited to a welcome reception at 6pm.  

Below is our proposed itinerary.

Day 1 An Historical Walking Tour + Workshop #1

Thursday August 6, 2026

After breakfast, we will enjoy an historical walking tour with a guide in period costume who will lead us through 400 years of exciting history as we wander the birthplace of French civilization in North America.

Day 2 Workshop #2 + a Museum Visit

Friday August 7, 2026

In the morning we will explore some of the cobbled streets near our hotel as we walk to the location of Workshop #2. 

After lunch we will learn more about Quebecois culture with a visit to the Musee de la Civilisation in lower town.

Day 3 Workshop #3 + Afternoon High Tea and Sketch

Saturday August 8, 2026

Today we will make our way to our sketching location just a short walk from the hotel where Bryan will teach Workshop #3.

Day 4 Workshop #4 + An Art Gallery Crawl

Sunday August 9, 2026

Today we will walk a short distance to our sketching location where Bryan will teach Workshop #4 in the morning.

After lunch we will enjoy a Walking Tour of some of the many charming little contemporary art galleries in the old town.        

Day 5 Excursion to Isle d'Orlean + Workshop #5

Monday August 10, 2026 

Today we will travel by private coach to a gorgeous winery on Isle d'Orlean. Here surrounded by lush vegetation and with an amazing view of the St. Lawrence River, Bryan will teach Workshop #5.  

Departure

Tuesday August 11, 2026

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!  

PLEASE NOTE: THE ORDER OF EVENTS AND SUBJECTS PROPOSED IN THIS ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Recommended Workshop Supply List

FAQs

Click HERE for answers to frequently asked questions.

For more information about this vacation package contact Brenda Murray Studio56Boutique@gmail.com.

Tour Includes

• A welcome reception
• All art classes
• Admission to attractions listed above including Afternoon tea + wine tasting
• Farewell dinner

Tour Excludes

• Flights to/from
• Hotel
• airport pick-up and drop-off
• Meals (except those listed above)
• Painting supplies
• Porterage/luggage handling
• Travel insurance
• Expenses of a personal nature
• Items not explicitly specified in the inclusion list

Ticket price in USD

Save money by taking advantage of the Early Bird discount!

*NonPainter Companion 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. The remaining balance is due 120 days before the start of the workshop (April 8, 2026).

To make a 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 Artist and the Tour Manager will be staying at a charming 3-star 53-room hotel in the centre of old Quebec City.

Accommodation for this workshop will be booked "convention style" because hotels in Quebec City do not offer group rates during high season. However, rooms booked via their hotel website will get an automatic 10% discount. The room rate starts at $279 CANADIAN DOLLARS/night including taxes and breakfast.

Please click HERE to use this currency converter to figure out what the rate is in your currency.

Their cancellation policy: Cancellation is permitted up to 24 hours prior arrival. Beyond this deadline, one night plus taxes will be charged on your credit card.

You are not obligated to stay in this hotel. You can stay in any nearby hotel or Airbnb if you wish however, the group will meet in this hotel lobby every morning to start our day together.

How to Make A Hotel Reservation

Before making a hotel reservation, please click the BOOK NOW button below to ensure you have a spot in this workshop.

After you have secured your spot in this workshop you will be sent more information about the hotel with instructions for how to book a room.

Pedestrian Friendly?

For military purposes, old Quebec City was founded on top of a plateau that overlooks the St. Lawrence River and has an upper town and lower town accessed on foot by stairs and a funiculair. There are some cobbled streets and uneven streets in Lower Town that may be troublesome for people with reduced mobility.

Do I need to speak French to enjoy my vacation?

No it's not necessary. Most people in the service industries in Quebec City speak English.

Travel + Medical Insurance

Travel insurance is also highly recommended as it covers you in the event you must cancel your trip and 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.

Travel Tips

 Please check HERE for Studio 56 Travel Tips.

Covid-19 Vaccinations

The instructor and tour manager are fully vaccinated against covid-19. This tour will be following all locally recommended protocols. Please check the covid protocols required for Canada by clicking HERE and check back close to the date of departure as the protocols may change. 

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, Colombia, Cuba, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea (lived there for 4 years), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, UK, 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 (00)1-519-572-1757.

Bring a Friend and Get a Discount

Here's how it works. You and your sketching buddy register for the workshop with your deposits. Then send us an email and tell us you are registering with a sketching buddy. You will each be rebated $50USD after the start of the workshop if the workshop sells out with 15 participants.

The small print: This discount code cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount code and it can only be applied to 2 Workshop participant tickets if the workshop has sold out with 15 full participants. 

How to Register for this Workshop

To register, a $500 nonrefundable deposit is required. The remaining balance (less the deposit) will be due April 8, 2026. After you click the BOOK NOW button below and pay the balance, we will be in touch with next steps.