Watercolor Painting Workshops in the French Alps with Teacher Shari Blaukopf, June 4-11 and June 11-18, 2025
Painting Workshops.
When quality matters!
When quality matters!
About the workshop to the French Alps with Shari Blaukopf
There’s a bookshelf in my studio that holds more than 30 travel sketchbooks. Every time I browse through them, memories of a specific place come flooding back — and not just the sights. Sounds, scents and flavours, snippets of conversations with a farmer, the taste of my morning coffee and brioche — it’s all still there, fresh in my mind, the moment I crack open a sketchbook.
That’s what I love best about travel sketching. How the act of putting pencil and paint to paper enriches the total experience, and preserves it forever.
Come sketch with me in the French Alps !
Whenever I arrive at a new place, I immediately ask myself: What colours and shapes best define its architecture? What about its flowers, plants and trees? Where do people gather? What make this place special, worth capturing in my sketchbook?
Join me in the Alps, where we’ll answer these questions. Where we’ll capture this historic region’s beauty and character in our sketchbooks. And where I’ll share my techniques for painting the mountains, the green pastures, the lake in Annecy, the people on the market in Annecy, the chalets of nearby villages and all the atmosphere of the region.
I’ve designed this workshop to give you confidence sketching wherever you happen to be, whether it’s a quiet street in a small village or a shadowed garden in the gathering dusk. As we work spontaneously, I’ll show you how to keep your watercolour sketches loose, fresh and vibrant. 
We’ll begin each day with a short demo and end with a review, leaving plenty of in-between time to work on your own sketches. As part of a small group, you’ll get plenty of individual attention and feedback, as we work on value studies, vignettes and composition — the essentials to simplifying a scene and capturing its essence. Most important, we’ll make sure to have fun as we sketch, recording our daily impressions as we move from café to hilltop, from lake to pasture to market. At the end of the week, my goal is that you’ll return home with a fat book filled with fresh, colourful sketches — and memories.
Shari Blaukopf's Biography
Shari Blaukopf is a Montreal-based workshop instructor, watercolor painter and sketch blogger.She loves to teach, travel and fill sketchbooks with her observations —skills she’s channeled into creating online sketching courses at Learn.shariblaukopf.com
Shari is also the author of The Urban Sketching Handbook: Working with Color.She’s been active in the Urban Sketchers community since 2012 and has given many watercolor workshops both on her own and internationally through the Urban Sketchers Workshop Program. Her watercolors are in corporate, government and private collections in North America and abroad, and she’s a signature member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour.
You can follow her sketches on her blog at shariblaukopf.com or on Instagram @sharisketcher.
More of Shari's Art
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.
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 11/30/24 and save $200!
All rooms have an ensuite bathroom
Shared room: US$ 3,790 pp (+$200 after 11/30/24)
Shared room with view towards Mont Blanc: US$ 3,965 pp (+$200 after 11/30/24)
Single room: US$ 4,340 (+$200 after 11/30/24)
Single room with view towards Mont Blanc: US$ 4,690 (+$200 after 11/30/24)
Non Painters: Price is the same
View from standard room
View towards Mt Blanc
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
Not Included:
– Flights and train to destination
– 3 lunches and 1 dinner
– Painting supplies
– Required Travel Insurance
– Tour leader(s) tipping
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
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 |
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.