Sketching in Watercolor in Spain with Jane Blundell: May 19-26, 2024
Painting Workshops.
When quality matters!
When quality matters!
Jane Blundell-Spain
Workshop Description
Let’s explore Costa Brava with a sketchbook!
Spending time observing a scene while travelling creates rich memories. When you spend that time sketching the scene, those memories become indelible, and the studies you create are so much more precious than the usual travel snaps we see. We notice the sounds and the smells, hear the conversations. We can record the fresh white buildings, the ancient stone castle, the gardens, the fabulous cliffs, the beach, all the while creating a rich and vivid record in our sketchbooks. Looking at those sketchbooks later, you’ll recall the details of your time spent observing.
Working from life, you’ll learn how to mix accurate colours in watercolour, and how to work with a limited palette to simplify the painting process.
You’ll discover how to sketch and paint whatever you come across – buildings, shells, flowers, the new fruit or vegetables you find on your travels – and how to record them all in your sketchbook in pencil, pen and watercolour. We’ll create some larger double page spreads of larger vistas, as well as smaller studies and sketch collections.
I’ve been sketching all my life, and teaching for over 35 years. I have dozens of sketchbooks filled with not only travel sketches, but also explorations on inks, watercolours, colour mixing and all sorts of art techniques, many of which I share on my blog and website. I have a passion for teaching and look forward to sharing my techniques that will change the way you look at the world while helping you to create a travel sketchbook you’ll treasure.
Jane Blundell's Biography
Jane Blundell is an Australian artist, and a member of the Australian Watercolour Institute, Australia’s oldest watercolour society, and an exhibiting member of the Royal Art Society of NSW. She is active in the international Urban Sketching organisation, for whom she has taught many workshops. She’s participated in many exhibitions, group and solo, and has work in private collections around the world. 
Jane is passionate about watercolour, the remarkable medium which ‘allows the qualities of the pigments to become integral parts of the painting, rather than just to add colour’. She has been working in this medium for over 40 years. Jane’s other love is line and drawing, whether in pencil or ink or even in watercolour. Her website and blog show the vast explorations she has made with this medium, testing most watercolours available in the world and exploring colour missing with an almost scientific thoroughness. Three of Jane’s colour mixes have been released commercially by Daniel Smith.
She has written three reference books on colour and colour mixing in watercolour: ‘Watercolour Mixing Charts’, ‘The Ultimate Mixing Palette: a World of Colours’ and ‘Watercolour Triads’ and runs a number of detailed online courses. Teaching is a passion, and she especially loves on location workshops.
You can find out more about Jane Blundell at https://www.janeblundellart.com/
More Samples of Jane Blundell's Art
Click on any picture to enlarge.
Day 1: Arrival at the Costa Brava
We will pick you up at a specific hotel downtown Barcelona and drive you to our hotel located in one of the most exclusive beaches on the Costa Brava. Upon your arrival at our hotel by the sea, take time to settle in or start enjoying the wonderful white-washed and preserved fisherman village on the beach.
Enjoy the beach in front of the hotel, walk along the pristine seashore, take in the sun from the terrace or have a drink in the Mediterranean breeze.
Before dinner, we will take an easy walk along the shore that offers breathtaking vistas along the way.
In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome reception followed by a delicious dinner.
Days 2-3: Painting One of the Most Beautiful Villages on the Costa Brava
This “little fishing village” is a hidden gem among all other villages along the Northern Costa Brava. This village is made up of endless rocks, cliffs and extremely beautiful beaches.
The parish church lies in the center of the village and is surrounded by numerous small, windy alleys, which lead down to the beach and give this village its picturesque charm.
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Day 4: Flowers, Coves and Sea Views at the Botanical Garden
Ten minutes up the road, lies The Jardi Botanic de Cap Roig. It is considered one of the most important botanical gardens in the Mediterranean.
The most characteristic plant species in the Mediterranean region mix with trees and plants from other continents are a must see and a must paint…
High above the bay, the garden offers stunning views towards the ocean.
In 1927, a Russian Colonel and his English wife began building a castle and a magnificent park. The garden runs down in terraces from the castle to the sea. These ornamental and extremely beautiful gardens contain over 1000 species of plants and flowers from all over the world.
Day 5: Pals, a Unique Preserved Medieval Village
As you walk through the narrow village streets, next to the city walls, towers and churches, you will feel as though you have walked into a new time altogether.
The stone archways, cobblestone streets and wrought balconies adorned with flowers create a welcoming feel in this Romanesque village.
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Day 6: The Surrealistic World of Salvador Dali
For those interested we will go to see the largest surrealistic object in the world created by Dalí, the Dalí Theatre-Museu in the town of Figueres, his birthplace.
We will step inside the surreal world of Salvador Dalí and find a museum like none other. Dalí wanted visitors to see his massive collection as a ‘whole’ work and therefore refused to have his works placed in chronological or subject order.
Inside is a world of fantasy mixed with architecture, paintings and sculptures. It’s a complete surrealistic experience.
Day 7: Painting in the Village
For the last day, we will stay in the village by-the-sea. They are endless vignettes to paint:
cliffs and rocks, boats on the beach, white-washed houses or a magnificent fortress on the beach right in front of the hotel. We will finish our workshop by a “Show and Tell” or ‘Critique” while sipping some sangria before going to the restaurant for our farewell dinner.
Day 8: Departure
It is time to say Hasta Luego!!
After our last breakfast, we will drive you back to Barcelona (either the airport or downtown). We will get to Barcelona around noon so make sure your flight is not before 3pm.
Come and let yourself be carried away by emotions!
For the hotel on the Costa Brava, we have chosen a completely renovated hotel with a breathtaking sea view, overlooking the coves of a hidden and preserved beach.
Enjoy exceptional views of the white-washed fishing village and the blue sea in a comfortable, intimate and relaxed atmosphere.
The village’s narrowing streets and picturesque fishermen’s cottages form an idyllic backdrop to the stunning Mediterranean coast.
You can choose either a standard room (no sea view) with balcony or a superior room with sea view and balcony (see pictures).
Rooms have either two single beds or one double bed. All rooms have an en-suite bathroom, TV, satellite, air conditioning, heating, hairdryer and safety deposit box..
Pricing Details:
The Trip is limited to 15 Participants
Sign up before 11/30 and save $200!
Before Nov 30th: $3,590 for a shared room with ensuite bathroom
After Nov 30th: $3,790 for a shared room with ensuite bathroom
+ $550 for single standard room
+ $900 for a room with breathtaking sea view (The $900 is for the room so if you are sharing a room, the supplement is $450 per person)
Non Painters are welcome to join. Price is the same because you will be taking a painter’s spot.
Included:
Includes
– Pick-up at 1:30pm at a specific hotel downtown Barcelona to go to the Costa Brava
– Drop-off either at the pick-up hotel in Barcelona around 11am or at the the airport around noon
– A welcome reception
– All nights at the hotel on the Costa Brava
– All breakfasts
– 3 lunches
– 5 dinners (including drinks and wine)
– All art classes
– Entrance fees to all sites on the tour
– Transportation every day in a comfortable van
– The use of folding chairs
– A personal chauffeur/tour leader throughout the week
Not Included:
Excludes
– Flights to and from Barcelona
– 3 lunches and 2 dinners
– Painting supplies (we provide folding chairs)
– Tour leader(s) tipping
Cancelation Policy:
| If you cancel the trip: | Cancellation Fee per Person |
|---|---|
| More than 120 days before departure | The $600 deposit is forfeited (however $300 can be transferred to another trip with a departure date within 1 year of cancelation date) |
| 61-120 days before departure | 50% of total cost forfeited |
| 31-60 days before departure | 75% of total cost forfeited |
| 0-30 days before departure | 100% of total cost forfeited |
| If French Escapade cancels | You get a full refund |
To reserve your spot, please complete the form below (one per person) and pay US$ 600 deposit. After receiving your form, we will send you the information for the payment. Note that the deposit is not refundable but $300 is transferrable within one year of cancelation. See our cancelation policy below.
You will be able to pay:
1- By check
2- Via ZELLE, free instant pay, offered by many major US banks
3- By bank transfer
4- By credit card