Watercolor Painting Workshop in Provence
Instructor: Randy Hale
Sept 22-29, 2026
At a Glance
8-12 Participants
Sign up before 01/31/26 and save $150!
Use the code EARLYBIRD at checkout.
Picture yourself painting by the peaceful banks of the Sorgue river as the cheerful hum of cicadas fills the warm afternoon or strolling through the vibrant Provencal markets where the scent of lavender and freshly baked bread mingles with the colorful bustle of vendors.
Relish the camaraderie of like-minded artists as you savor gourmet meals and sip velvety local wines.
With hands-on instruction, stunning scenery, and a supportive, joyful atmosphere, you’ll leave with not just new skills but cherished memories and a heart full of creative energy.
Workshop Overview
You probably fell in love with making art before a painting holiday occurred to you.
Classroom lessons, online sessions, or time in the studio are typically safe environments in which to learn. But once we venture outdoors to paint, the light can be dramatic, the air is filled with sights, sounds, and smells of nature. While this can all be new, it enriches the painting experience even more.
When we arrive in Provence, my job is to help you capture the nuances of our surroundings with confidence.
Even before departure I’ll provide practical pointers on what to bring, what to leave behind. You’ll discover when we’re together my plein-air workshops are jam-packed with helpful tips. Painting outside sometimes presents a visual overload – so much beauty, so much information. Because our group will be small (10-15 painters) I can show you exactly what to look for as well as how to SEE as an artist. You’ll discover how to filter out minutiae, edit and rearrange – in order to make powerful statements through your art.
In this workshop you will:
- Learn where and how to set up, what to look for, ways to be comfortable while painting.
- Discover how useful sketchbooks can be as planning tools.
- Become quicker and more comfortable drawing. I’ll provide tips on how to achieve accurate shapes, scale, and proportions.
- Learn how make things more important with value contrast.
- Learn key questions to ask yourself before beginning.
- See how having a plan in place before you start ensures better results.
- Discover that planning SLOW allows you to paint FAST – and your brushwork becomes confident, bold, intuitive!
During our week together I will show you how to emphasize only the most important elements, while abandoning less significant ones. You’ll practice creating strong abstract elements within your design that interlock shapes and values. Above all, you’ll discover just how liberating it is to be freed from the need to duplicate exactly what you see…because instead, you’ll focus on creating IMPRESSIONS!
And most important, you’ll return home with a collection of paintings that capture the memories we make – a visual feast – of our week together painting in the magical light of Provence!
Artist Randy Hale
Randy’s career as a professional designer, artist, juror, and workshop instructor found its footings when he discovered watercolor as an undergraduate student in college. He went on to receive advanced training at California’s prestigious Art Center College of Design. He credits much of his success in both commercial design and fine art to the rigorous discipline of this early training. Much of his comfort in teaching and explaining concepts to painters found its roots in those decades spent presenting ideas to clients in sales and marketing.
Randy encourages his students and is energized by their successes. The tips he shares on brush handling, mixing, mark-making are fundamental to painting. But his approach of “less is more” rallies painters to simplify, suggest and imply, letting water do the work to prevent a composition from becoming overworked or too busy with unnecessary detail.
Several decades back, Randy’s involvement with local art groups and societies occupied almost as much time as his career. His early success competing in exhibitions led to teaching a few classes. This soon evolved into a full-time occupation. It wasn’t long before he was traveling to far off locations conducting workshops for other organizations. The camaraderie of these workshops inspired Randy to organize his own painting trips, taking painters to amazing destinations to paint. Over the past decade Randy has taken painters to Italy, Taos, Maine, up into the Rocky Mountains, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. His trips are popular, always sold out. And he’s always planning trips with new destinations.
Randy has served on the Board of Directors for the National Watercolor Society. He has just co-written a book commemorating the legacy of one of the early California Watercolor School painters. He writes a regular blog with relevant commentary on painting. His insightful critiques have led to being called upon to juror art exhibitions throughout the country. His online tutorial sessions these past few years have introduced Randy to a broad international following.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT – from Randy Hale
Dramatic use of light is perhaps the singular element that brings definition to my own work. Good art can be executed in any medium and any style as long it provides a hook that engages the viewer, entertains the eye, suggests a bit of mystery, tells a story, or provokes thought! Regardless of subject, my intent is to imbue it with adequate drama that will hold the viewer’s attention.
Painters seem to find my workshops rewarding because I share so much information on how to produce a successful painting. Not only do I identify these tips, I show painters HOW to execute them. Whether I’m in a studio setting, on camera, or out in the field — you’ll find me showing interested painters how to simplify and edit, what to consider in creating a stronger composition, how to keep things fresh and not overworked, how to vary shapes, soften edges, and when to provide dramatic value contrasts. With watercolor it’s all about achieving rich glowing transparencies. Helping painters realize these results quickly is what makes it all so much fun!
Be sure to subscribe to his newsletter – every month he provides new and relevant content!
Working with French Escapade has been such a wonderful experience
-from their knowledge of the area and choice of hotels, to the thoughtful support provided by their team. Their attention to detail ensures our painters get an incredible holiday. And this allows me to focus all of my attention on our artists. […] A French Escapade adventure is incredibly organized with such thoughtful attention to detail that I highly recommend you join us for a painting holiday you’ll remember forever!
Samples of Randy Hale’s Art
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Welcome
Upon your arrival at our hotel, take time to settle in, enjoy the garden, the swimming pool or explore the village.
In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome reception followed by a gourmet dinner.
Day 2: Painting in the Garden
With the gentle flow of the Sorgue weaving through its lush garden, the hotel provides a peaceful retreat where you can unwind and sketch the serene landscape.
Day 3: Medieval Secret Village
We will spend the morning painting in this little gem, our “Secret Village”! You will find many vignettes such as plaza with picturesque fountains, old flowering houses, cobbled streets with 12th century churches, overlooking valley landscapes.
Enjoy a traditional French picnic as you pause to take in the beautiful surroundings.
Ochre in Roussillon
We will spend the afternoon visiting Roussillon, one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages, that sits on top of the world’s biggest vein of ochre, the reddish pigment which has been used by artists for centuries. If you prefer painting than shopping, you will be inspired by the red houses and the ochre cliffs.
We will also go on an optional walk inside the park, on the Ochre Trail revealing many fantastic rock and cliff formations.
The village has many cute shops with local products and unique reddish potteries.
Day 4: Beautiful Village of Fontaine de Vaucluse
You will find many scenes there for your paintings, between the river, the main plaza and the one hundred year old trees.
We will paint in this village the first and last day.
Day 5: On Van Gogh’s Footsteps in St. Remy de Provence
We will visit the beautiful old monastery of St Paul Mausole with the bedroom where Van Gogh stayed during his very troubled time in 1889-90.
You will be able to paint in the same garden where Vincent painted some of his famous paintings as well right outside, the same olive trees he painted, with the Alpilles mountains as background.
Lunch will be taken in St Remy followed by a painting session in the village.
Day 6: Market and Canals in Isle sur la Sorgue
L’Isle sur la Sorgue is a real paradise for painters and photographers.
Its colors are nature’s green and the bright reflection of the water shines from the several canals running through its center.
In the morning, we will shop the incredible and colorful market: colorful arrays of Provencal fabric, tablecloths, pottery, silk scarves, natural soaps with dozens of scents and of course lavender products.
The afternoon will be dedicated to painting by the river.
Day 7: Painting in the Studio and Farewell Dinner
Food culture is just one of the many facets of French culture to experience. Because food brings people together, we will take many of our meals as a group, in a restaurant or sometimes we will prepare a picnic for the group.
Our French dinners include an entrée, a main course and a dessert. All paired with amazing French wine of course. If you love cheese, you will be in heaven!
Day 8: Departure
You will leave not only with vibrant creations but also with fresh inspiration, creative sparks, and new friendships that will color your artistic journey for years to come. Safe travels!
After our last breakfast together, we’ll drive you to the TGV Avignon train station around 9:30 am.
Accommodations
Beautiful 3-star Hotel in Luberon, the Heart of Provence
This 3-star hotel is housed in an old mill that has been skillfully transformed into a unique place to stay. It offers all the charm of Provence.
With its waterfront setting, the hotel is flanked by the Sorgue, a river that runs through the village and meanders under the garden terraces – the perfect spot to relax and get inspired for your paintings.
The hotel has a living room, breakfast room, outside swimming pool, a hot tub, a riverside terrace bar, a restaurant and a sunny conference room that we will use as our painting studio.
Three Bedroom Categories
All rooms include a private en-suite bathroom, mini-bar, flat-screen TV, air conditioning, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Standard Rooms: 50 sq ft, featuring one double bed and a front-facing view of the hotel overlooking trees.
Superior Rooms: 170 sq ft, with one double bed and a front-facing view of the hotel overlooking trees.
Superior Rooms with Mountain & Garden View: 170 sq ft, available with either two single beds or one double bed, offering views of the garden with mountains in the background (see photo).
Reviews
As a first-timer with French Escapade, I just wanted to let you know how wonderful my experience was in Provence!
As a first-timer with French Escapade, I just wanted to let you know how wonderful my experience was in Provence. Our little hotel was magical with the river embracing its grounds. The choices of villages were perfect – providing variety and lovely painting spots. Our guides, Marie and Heather, worked together seamlessly, providing joyful assistance at every turn. They are a great team! Oh, and the food – loved every restaurant and meal we experienced. We had a delightful group…We were graced with beautiful weather.
My only regret was that the trip seemed too short! Merci from a very pleased customer!
Marie would come and lock her arms in mine!
I just wanted to extend my gratitude for the retreat in Provence! The location was perfect and the 2 guides Heather and Marie were the best! This was a big challenge for me to do something so big and not let my fears and anxieties take over with the language barrier and the travel. I did have some challenges but I overcame them. I was a slow walker up the hills and Marie would come and get me and lock her arms in mine. I felt cared for every step of the way! Heather made sure I got on the right train going back to Paris and didn’t leave my side until she knew I was good! Those two make a great team! They were always happy and even did happy dances!
I felt so well cared for by the 2 guides!
I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful time I have just had in Provence. I felt so well cared for by the 2 guides Marie and Heather. Everything went like clockwork. They seemed to preempt any problems before they occurred. They were always bright and cheery and nothing was too much trouble. I have never been on an organised tour before and it has spoiled me forever now! The accommodation was superb and the food great (even if it was far too much for me!). The activities were excellent and so well organised. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone involved!
FAQs
When and where are the pick up and drop off?
The pickup will be at 2:30pm at the TGV train station in Avignon on day 1. We will pick up the group and drive in a mini van to our hotel located 45 min from the station.
To arrive at the Avignon TGV train station, you have 2 choices:
- you can fly to Paris CDG airport and take a TGV train to Avignon (3 hour ride)
- you can fly to Marseilles and either take a train to Avignon or take a taxi (60 min ride) to either the meeting point or directly to the hotel (50 min ride).
When should I arrive?
What should I bring?
Can you accommodate vegetarians or people with dietary restrictions?
Food allergies and vegetarian diets are catered for if announced in advance. However if you have a very restricted diet or serious allergies, email us before registering for the trip.
Will I get a supply list?
Is there a laundry facility at the hotel or in the village?
Do I need to bring some euros before arriving?
Please take out euros cash from an ATM at the airport. You will need cash for small purchases during the day trips and or tipping the tour leaders and the staff (tipping is customary). There will also be some ATM machines in some of the villages we visit.
Can I opt out of certain activities?
Is the retreat available to guests with low and limited mobility?
Unfortunately, the trip is not well suited for people with low and limited mobility. Although there is an elevator at the hotel, the daily excursions involve walking on uneven, cobbled streets, sometimes uphill.
I have never traveled outside the US. Do I need to speak the language?
Not at all. It is actually the perfect situation to travel with us. Our guides are bilingual and will be with you at all times, from your arrival at the train station till the last day.
Will I fit on the tour if I am traveling solo and don't know anyone?
Yes, we usually get many solo travelers on our tours. For the meals, the group eats together for most lunches and dinners. In addition, our 2 tour leaders are always with the group and will be happy to also go for dinner with participants on the days the meals are not included.
How much painting do we do every day?
A typical day is: painting from 9am till 12:30pm, lunch and free time till 2pm and more painting, maybe in a different location from 2 to 5pm. If some painters get tired after lunch, they can visit the village or take a nap while the others are painting.
There will be one morning without painting because we go to the market and one afternoon to visit and shop in Roussillon. However, you can always opt-out from the activity and paint. It is your vacation so you do what pleases you!
Will I receive a full refund if the retreat is not guaranteed?
Will I get my deposit back if I need to cancel?
Unfortunately the deposit is not refundable, no matter when you cancel. Therefore, we recommend that you insure your deposit right after registering for the trip. You do not need to insure the full trip at that time, just the deposit. Feel free to choose the insurance provider of your choice but this is the one we recommend (they only insure US customers): Travel Insurance Services* Tel. 1-800-937-1387.
Note that participants are required to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might require cancellation or change of travel arrangements. Please review our cancellation policy.
Can you give me the reference of someone who has been on the tour before?
Absolutely. We would be happy to give you contact information of past participants who have agreed to be contacted.
Pricing and Booking
Pricing Details
Superior Rooms with Garden View
Single Superior with View: US $4,890
Shared Superior with View US $4,175
Superior Rooms
Single Superior: US $4,640
No Shared Superior Available
Standard Rooms
Single Standard: US $4,540
No Shared Standard Available
All rooms include a private ensuite bathroom.
Non-painters are welcome at the same price.
How to Book
Payments
- A $600 nonrefundable deposit is due at booking (see cancellation policy below).
- The remaining balance is due 4 months before departure, with flexible payment plans available.
- Pay by credit card (2.9% fee) or ACH/bank transfer (no fee) through our secure system.
Insurance Required
- Participants must purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance to cover any changes or cancellations. You may choose any provider, though we recommend (for U.S. customers): Travel Insurance Services (1-800-937-1387).
- If you have a pre-existing condition or want “cancel for any reason” coverage, purchase insurance within 21 days of registration.
- Standard health coverage can be purchased at any time.
Sign up before 1/31/26 and save $150!
Use the code EARLYBIRD at checkout.
Price includes
- Avignon TGV station pick-up at 2:30pm and drop-off at 9:30am
- A welcome reception
- All 7 nights at the hotel
- All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners including wine
- All art classes
- Transportation in a comfortable van with A/C
- The use of folding chairs
- Two tour leaders throughout
Price excludes
- Flight and train to France
- 3 lunches and 3 dinners
- Painting supplies
- Required Travel Insurance
- Tour leader(s) tipping
Cancellation Policy
| If you cancel: | Cancellation Fee per Person |
|---|---|
| more than 120 days before departure | the $600 deposit is forfeited |
| 61-120 days before departure | 50% of total cost forfeited |
| 31-60 days before departure | 75% of total cost forfeited |
| 0-30 days before departure | 100% of total cost forfeited |
| If French Escapade cancels | you get a full refund |