Watercolor Painting Workshop in the French Alps with Teacher Michael Solovyev, Aug 31-Sept 7, 2024
Painting Workshops.
When quality matters!
When quality matters!
Day 1: Welcome to the Alps
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.
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, you will have time to settle in and enjoy the spa (hot tub, sauna and swimming pool) before our welcome reception and orientation meeting followed by a gourmet dinner.
Days 2-3: Alpine Village: from Wooden Chalets to Flowery Balconies
After a copious breakfast taken on the terrace facing Mont Blanc, you will be ready for a day of painting.
The hotel and the village offer a breathtaking 360 degree view towards Mont-Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe.
We will be painting either from the garden of the hotel or in the village. The vignettes are endless: wooden chalets, baroque church, green pastures and grazing cows.
Day 4: Megeve
Megève was developed in the early 20th century to be a posh resort in a beautiful setting.
We will be painting its mythical square with its cobbled pedestrian zone, its rustic-style alleys and its cozy chalets.
At the end of the day, do not miss the luxury shops. Don’t worry, there are also many affordable places to shop.
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 painting. 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 do have a studio that you can access 24/7 to work on your 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.
About the workshop to the French Alps with Michael Solovyev
The wonderful views and landscapes of the French Alps seem to be just made for watercolor. Complex juicy color transitions, bright sun and all the incredible villages, lakes and mountains are just begging to be caught on the tip of your brush.
But every view, every subject that you want to transfer to your paper requires a different approach. Sometimes it needs the use of a different technique, or a serious change in the set of colors. In other cases, the landscape will require a completely different approach to watercolor. Understanding how to properly build a project to achieve the best result with the least effort is the key to success.
An excellent program of relaxation and enjoyment of the French Alps will be combined with a very rich and informative work in the open air.
Moving from place to place, we will find the right solutions every time to create vibrant and sunny watercolors. I have developed the program of the workshop so that every day will be a discovery for you—not only the incredible beauty of the villages and landscapes, but also new opportunities for watercolor. In addition to the habitual and traditional watercolor techniques, I will introduce you to my personal methods and secrets.
The workshop will be held in a small group of 10-15 max, and I will do my best to bring our communication as close as possible to individual lessons. This means that as you work on each project, you can count on advice and tips from me. And, of course, we will definitely discuss our work in order to find the most interesting and correct ways for future watercolor landscapes.
I am convinced that you will remember this trip precisely because you will get the opportunity to look at the Alps through the prism of watercolor.
Micheal Solovyev's Biography
Born in Russia in 1972, Michael has chosen Montréal as his home since 2011. From there, his works continue to add to the beauty and value of both public and private collections around the world.
He participated in 16 personal and more than 70 group exhibitions in different countries. Michael won numerous awards, including the 1st Award of Excellence on Elected Members Exhibition Society of Canadian Artists in 2019.
He teaches five self-written art courses in the Syn Studio, a prestigious art school in Montreal, as well as private lessons in his own studio and many masterclasses around the world.
In recent years, he represented Canada at many famous watercolor festivals, including Hong Kong, Slovenia, India, Italy, France, Peru, Costa Rica, Mexico, Hungary, and Portugal.
Signature Member – SCA, NEWS, IWS
Daniel Smith Brand Ambassador
Fabriano in Acquarello Canada Country Leader
Professional Associations
- IWS GLOBAL (International Watercolor Society) – Master status
- IWS Canada (Master status)
- SCA (Society of Canadian Artists), Elected Member
- OPA (Oil Painters of America)
- MAU (Moscow Artists Union) Moscow, Russia, Elected Member
- NEWS (North East Watercolor Society), Signature Member
- TWSA (Transparent Watercolor Society of America)
More about Michael Solovyev: http://michaelsolovyev.net
More of Michael Solovyev's Art
Click on any photo to enlarge.
Our Four Star Chalet in the Alps, facing Mt Blanc
T
his beautiful 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.
Bedrooms
All bedrooms have a double bed or two twins with en-suite bathroom.
They all have a television, free WiFi and a desk.
Restaurant in the Chalet
Enjoy the inventive and elegant local cuisine in the cosy dining room overlooking the panorama of the massifs. Indulge in the salad bar or more decadent, the dessert bar!!
Relaxation and Well-being
Take advantage of all the amenities the hotel offers:
Heated outdoor pool
Hot tub and sauna
Gym and table tennis
Relaxation lounges
Massages on request
Pricing Details
The Trip is limited to 13 Participants
Sign up before 1/31/24 and save $200!
All rooms have an ensuite bathroom
Shared room: US$ 3,790 pp (+$200 after 11/30/23)
Shared room with view towards Mont Blanc: US$ 3,965 pp (+$200 after 11/30/23)
Single room: US$ 4,340 (+$200 after 11/30/23)
Single room with view towards Mont Blanc: US$ 4,690 (+$200 after 11/30/23)
Non Painters: Price is the same
Included:
Included:
– Geneva Airport pick-up at 2:30pm and drop-off at 11am
– A welcome reception
– All 7 nights at the hotels
– All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 6 dinners including wine
– All art classes
– Transportation in a comfortable van with A/C
– Use of the hotel spa
– The use of folding chairs
Not Included
– Flights and train to destination
– 3 lunches and 1 dinner
– 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 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 a portion 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