Watercolor Sketching Workshop in the French Alps with Teacher Leslie Fehling
Sept 2-9, 2022
Painting Workshops.
When quality matters!
When quality matters!
Workshop Description
“Come along with me to France for a week of painting the French Alps. All the logistics will be taken care of – all you have to do is relax and enjoy as we sketch Alpine meadows, cobblestoned villages, wooden chalets with flowery boxes and spectacular lakes and mountains .
We’ll also paint in Annecy, known as the Venice of the North, a beautiful medieval city surrounded by canals and mountains. 
We’ll capture these once-in-a-lifetime experiences on the pages of our travel journals.
Our focus throughout the tour will be on illustrated watercolor journaling. You’ll learn how to add style and interest to your sketchbook pages through the use of unique page layouts and borders, and I’ll give you plenty of great ideas for fun new lettering styles that will enhance your sketches. I’ll share my sketching process from start to finish and offer daily demonstrations of techniques for painting the subjects you’ll encounter each day. And you’ll be painting right along with me, since we learn more by doing than by simply observing. The workshop is suitable for all levels, but some experience with drawing and watercolor would be helpful.
Each student will be given a spiral-bound book containing all the information covered in the workshop. The handout ensures that you can relax during the workshop, knowing that even if you can’t absorb it all during our time together, you’ll have complete information that you can refer to for years to come.
My enthusiastic teaching style, thorough instructions, and encouraging one-on-one support guarantee that you’ll learn and grow as an artist during our time together. We’ll be immersing ourselves in the beautiful French Alps and I’m happily anticipating all the sketch-worthy scenes that await us (along with the amazing food and shopping!) Join me in discovering the wonders of France together and creating memorable journals of the delights and surprises that await us.”
Leslie Fehling’s Bio
Leslie is a full-time artist from Prosperity, PA. Sketchbook journaling is her joy and passion, and she loves sharing the fun and accessibility of this form of art in her workshops and classes. She is an accomplished watercolorist who teaches both nationally and internationally, and her work may be found in private and public collections across the US. Check Leslie’s website at www.lesliefehling.com
The Alps is a dream destination for a plein air artist because of the spectacular scenery you will encounter: alpine meadows, cobblestoned villages, waterfalls, glaciated peaks, wildflowers, clean lakes, chalet with flowers from windowboxes…
Some of the highlights of the tour are seeing Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe, from the hotel and visiting Annecy, also called the Venice of the North, a beautiful medieval city surrounded by canals and mountains.
Let us show you these hidden treasures.
Day 1: Welcome to the Alps
We will pick you up at 2:30pm a the Geneva airport and drive you to our beautiful chalet in the Alps. Upon your arrival at the hotel, you will have time to settle in and relax, enjoy the spa (hot tub, sauna and steam room) before our welcome reception and orientation meeting followed by a gourmet dinner.
Days 2, 3 &4: Alpine Village: from Wooden Chalets to Flowery Balconies
The hotel and the village offer a breathtaking 360 degree view towards Mont-Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe.
It will be like stepping back in time: wooden chalets, baroque church, green pastures and grazing cows. We will be painting either from the garden of the hotel or in the village. The vignettes are endless.
Cheese is of course the specialty of the Alps. You will find it in many local specialties like fondue, raclette, tartiflette, etc…
Day 5: Chamonix – The Queen Resort of the Alps
Chamonix, the biggest ski resort in the world, is surrounded by majestic high mountains such as Mont Blanc and glaciers.
Morning will be dedicated to paining. In the afternoon, you will have some free time to take the highest gondola in the world to the top of “L’Aiguille du Midi” at 12,000 ft. A breathtaking view of the Alps and Chamonix down below awaits you. Or you could take a tram to see the “sea of ice” glacier.
If you prefer shopping, or more painting, Chamonix has it all.
Day 6: Annecy or ‘The Little Venice of the Alps’
Annecy is the French show-piece of lakes-and-mountain beauty. The Canal crossing Annecy brings Venice to mind as you stroll along its banks.
Your choice for the painting site will be unlimited: medieval narrow streets, renaissance houses along the canal, the famous old prison (one of the most photographed monuments in France!) or the Annecy lake surrounded by mountains.
We will also have the opportunity to go to the local market in the old Annecy and shop for the numerous wonderful cheeses, sausages, honeys and all local products.
Day 7: Painting at the hotel 
For the last day, we won’t be driving anywhere so that you will be able to finish up some paintings.
We will end the week with a “Show and Tell” and a gourmet dinner with maybe the best sunset on Mont Blanc.
Day 8: Departure
After our last breakfast together, we’ll drive you back to the Geneva airport by 10-10:30 am.
Our Chalet in the Alps, facing Mt Blanc
This chalet, in the heart of Haute-Savoie, boasts stunning views of Mont-Blanc and the Aravis Massif.
The beauty of the panorama, the charm of the cozy wooden interior, the gourmet restaurant, the well-being of the Spa, the comfort and amenities of the wainscoted rooms, all make this unique spot a haven of peace.
The spa has a hot tub, sauna and steam room.
Each bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with flat-screen satellite TV and free WiFi.
There is an outdoor swimming pool, an indoor pool table and a little gym.
Price and What is Included
Dates: Sept 2-9, 2022 – Max: 15 Participants- 2 spots left
Rates: US$3,590 for a double room (+ US$550 for single room).
Non Painters are welcome to join and share the room of a painter. They get a US$ 400 off and will come on excursions with the group, share the meals, etc…
Includes
- Annecy train station or/and specific hotel pick-up and drop-off
- A welcome reception
- All 7 nights at the hotels
- All breakfasts, 3 lunches and all dinners including wine
- All art classes
- Excursions in a comfortable van with A/C
- Entrance to the hotel spa
- The use of folding chairs
Excludes
- Flights and train to destination
- 3 lunches
- Painting supplies
- Tour leader(s) tipping
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 is transferrable. 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 via PayPal