Studio Watercolor Painting Workshop with David Daniels, May 8-15, 2025

Workshop Description

Watercolor paintings can be so much more than a checklist of watercolor techniques. David goes beyond paint application basics and shows how to construct strong, vibrant, personality-filled paintings. David firmly believes that planning does not destroy creativity, but creates opportunity.

Daily one-on-one critiques and demos will be vital to helping you find your watercolor voice.

We will paint in the studio and take some excursions to villages to photograph and gather materials for our paintings.

You will learn:

• how to find the essence of your subject matter
• how to construct compelling compositions
• to see shapes, not objects
• how to create a color strategy
• how to use frisket to achieve batik-like effects
• the importance of value patterns in your work
• how to paint loosely while staying true to your subject matter

David Daniels' Biography

David earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant Michigan. From a young age he loved nature, and looked to it for what he still considers an “inexhaustible supply of ideas.” This fascination with nature led to his formal training in botany and biology. Although he knows his paintings would never be considered photorealistic, his scientific studies continue to influence his work. He makes great efforts to represent his subjects as anatomically and botanically correct.

In 1982 he earned a Master of Art degree, again from Central Michigan University. After 15 years of teaching in the Michigan public school system, he moved to Washington, D.C., to pursue an art career.

David’s work has been selected numerous times for solo exhibitions in Michigan and the Washington, D.C. metro area, and his paintings are in many private and public collections around the world, including the National Institutes of Health. He has been the recipient of Best of Show awards from organizations such as the Capitol Hill Art League and the Washington Watercolor Association, and was inducted into Who’s Who in American Art in 2005. In addition to being a full-time artist, he teaches watercolor painting at the Smithsonian Institution, Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland.

David’s website: https://mrwatercolor.com/

More Samples of David's Art

Click on any picture to enlarge.

Arrival and Welcome

Prov-day7-village

We will pick you up at the TGV Avignon train station at 3:30pm.

Upon your arrival at our hotel, take time to settle in, enjoy the swimming pool or explore the village.

In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome reception followed by a gourmet dinner.

Painting in the Garden or in the studio

The hotel has a nice garden and a studio. It is also located inside a very cute village of the Luberon so easy access to restaurants, shops and many vistas.

Every day, we will paint half a day in the studio and then go to nearby villages on excursions for cultural immersions, some sketching and photographing giving you inspiration for your paintings the next day in the studio.

Fontaine de Vaucluse

The main beauty of Fontaine de Vaucluse is the river Sorgue on which it sits. The river has a fantastic green colour, very striking with the blue sky above. The village of Fontaine de Vaucluse starts after the rapids where the wondrous green river calms itself.

You will find many scenes there for your future paintings, between the river, the main plaza and the one hundred year old trees. We will take many pictures and go back to the studio to paint from them.

Visit of Van Gogh's bedroom 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. This is now a nursing home that has a permanent exhibition of paintings made by the patients and beautiful reproductions of some of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings.

You will enjoy the wonderful landscape that inspired the great impressionist with the same olive trees Van Gogh painted and the Alpilles mountains as background.

Ochre Village of Roussillon

Prov-day2-roussillonprov-day2-roussillon2Roussillon, one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages, sits on top of the world’s biggest vein of ochre, the reddish pigment which has been used by artists for centuries. Paint red houses, ochre trails, cafes, what ever inspires you.

At the end of the day, we will take a walk inside the park, on the Ochre Trail revealing many fantastic rock and cliff formations.

You will also have time for shopping: don’t miss out on the unique reddish potteries.

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 market is an endless source of inspiration for your paintings back in the studio.

Gourmet French Food

French cuisine. The mouth-watering gastronomical wonder.

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 also be in heaven.

Departure (Day 8)

It is time to say: “au revoir” but not “adieu” because you will be back. We just know it.

After our last breakfast together, we’ll drive you to the TGV Avignon train station around 9:30 am.

Beautiful 3-star hotel in Luberon, the heart of Provence

We will be staying in the heart of the village of Fontaine de Vaucluse. Our hotel used to be an old mill that has been restored with a lot of Provencal charm. A little river meanders through the garden, surrounded by impressive mountains. The hotel is centrally located, at walking distance (2 min) to restaurants and shops.

The hotel has a living room, breakfast room, outside swimming pool, a hot tub, a riverside terrace bar and a sunny conference room that we will use as our painting studio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each bedroom has en-suite bathroom, mini-bar, flat screen TV, air-conditioning and free wifi.

The hotel has two categories of rooms:

Standard rooms: 150 sq ft, one double bed and view towards the back of the hotel (trees, see picture below).

 

Superior rooms (only 3 twins with 2 single beds and 2 singles with one double bed) : 170 sq ft, 2 single beds or 1 double bed with view towards the mountains and the garden of the hotel.

Tell us your preference and we will do our best to accommodate you.

 

 

 

Pricing Details:

The trip is limited to 12 participants

Save $200 before Nov 30th!

Click here to see the difference between standard and superior rooms

Standard rooms:

Double or twin room: US$ 3,790 pp (After Nov 30: +$200). Only one standard twin room available (the other twins are superior rooms)

Single room: US$ 4,340 (one double bed). (After Nov 30: +$200).

Superior rooms:

Shared room (twins or doubles): US$ 3,965 pp (After Nov 30: +$200).

Single room: US$ 4,690 -(one double bed). (After Nov 30: +$200).

Non Painters: Price is the same because non painters take the spot of a painter in the van.

Included:

Included:

– Avignon TGV train station pick up on day 1 at
3:30pm and drop off on day 8 at 10:30am
– A welcome reception
– All breakfasts,
– 3 lunches (picnics)
– 4 dinners (incl. drinks and wine)
– All nights at the villa-hotel
– All art classes
– Entrance fees to all sites on the tour
– Transportation in a comfortable van with A/C
– The use of folding chairs
– A personal bilingual chauffeur/guide throughout
– A free Paris planner for a self guided visit in Paris
if you decide to extend your trip: suggestions of hotels,
restaurants and places to visit.

Not included:

Not Included:

– Flights to and from France
– Trains to/from Avignon
– 3 lunches and 3 dinners
– Painting supplies
– Required travel insurance
– Tour leader(s) tipping

Cancelation Policy

If you cancel the trip:Cancellation Fee per Person
More than 120 days before departureThe $600 deposit is forfeited
(however $300 can be transferred to another trip with a departure date within 1 year of cancelation date)
61-120 days before departure50% of total cost forfeited
31-60 days before departure75% of total cost forfeited
0-30 days before departure100% of total cost forfeited
If French Escapade cancels You get a full refund

How to Book

1Fill out the reservation form below. You will receive an email with information on how to pay your deposit. You can pay either by check, ZELLE, credit card (using paypal) or bank transfer.

2Send us a $600 deposit within one week . The deposit is not refundable but $300 is transferrable to a future trip. See our Cancelation Policy in the registration form.

3The remaining balance is due 4 months before departure.

Reservation Form

French Escapade LLC | 2389 Blackpool Place | San Leandro, CA 94577 | 510-483-5713 | contact@frenchescapade.com
California Seller of Travel Licence-CST #: 2091909-40
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