Testimonials from Some of Our Teachers

“No one comes close when you compare what French Escapade offers!”

No one comes close when you compare what Jackie offers her guests and her instructors. I’ve got it good and I know it!!!

I had the most amazing experience working with French Escapade. Never before have I experienced such a high level of attention to detail. Everything was handled beautifully and seamlessly from the moment I arrived. You name it and it was perfect!

Jackie is outstanding at communicating and laying out the plan for the day making my job is easier. She is the best tour leader, host and guide. Thank you for the best experience I’ve ever had teaching in Europe!

“French Escapade is the gold standard!”

There’s a reason I’ve taught almost a dozen workshops over the years with French Escapade — they are the gold standard. Jackie and Valerie think of everything, and I think that’s what sets them apart from others. And what keeps my students coming back again and again.

It goes without saying that our painting locations are always stunning, accommodations are perfect and food is delicious. But they also make it really fun for everyone, and for me too. It’s an absolute joy to teach with them.

Flawless organization!

Flawless organization, fabulous food and wine, amazing painting locations, and beautiful, upscale hotels – these are just a few of the reasons why I and my students keep returning year after year to travel with French Escapade. Jackie and Valerie are simply the best at what they do! Their tours offer the perfect mix of painting instruction, sightseeing, and free time to explore on your own. From the moment the workshop begins, we feel welcomed, cared for, and gently led from one wonderful experience to another. It’s more like traveling with a friend than being a tourist.

Having organized quite a few painting retreats of my own over the years, I know how much time, energy, and commitment it requires to put together a great itinerary and make sure all the details of lodging, meals, transportation, and site selection are taken care of. I love being a French Escapade instructor because they do it all for me!  All I have to do is relax, teach, and give my students the one-on-one time they need to feel successful with their sketching. This is the way travel should be! Easy, fun, and filled with laughter, learning, great food, new friendships, and exciting new places.

“Always an inspiring & seamless watercolor painting experience with French Escapade”

After working with French Escapade for nearly a decade, I can share that French Escapade consistently delivers the magic of providing immersive, enriching experiences that blend art, culture, and community in stunning locations. Each artful journey offers a thoughtfully crafted itinerary, designed to be comfortable, let us enjoy our surroundings and calmly capture the essence of beautiful places. With French Escapade handling all the logistics you can focus purely on painting and making new friends, while as instructors, Theresa Goesling and I can truly focus on helping each artist progress in their watercolors.

French Escapade has a way of creating not just workshops, but memorable life experiences that blend artistry with the joy of discovering inspiring settings. If you’re looking to broaden your artistic horizons in a way that’s creatively, culturally and personally fulfilling, French Escapade is an experience I highly recommend.

“I was deeply impressed.”

I have been invited to instruct a plein air painting workshop in Costa Brava, Spain through French Escapade. I was deeply impressed by how smoothly and efficiently the workshop went, and the all around high level of professionalism Jackie Grandchamps provided. There was a clear and well organized itinerary that any painting teacher needs for a perfect painting workshop.

I found I could fully focus on the task at hand, be it painting demos for the group or personalized one on one instruction, without having to worry about navigating the logistics and locations of a foreign locale.

Jackie also had the inside scoop on all the wonderful hidden locations and a thorough knowledge of the local haunts not viewed by most tour groups. Thanks so much Jackie! Looking forward to working with you again!

“Each tour was run impeccably!”

On each trip everyone in my group loved the well-researched, tried-and-true itinerary Jackie put together for us. No wonder! She knows how to satisfy our inquisitive minds for European life & culture and our appetite for great food & wine, too!  Also for painting she showed us perfect locations so we all felt it was worth traveling to immerse ourselves in the scenes to soak up the charm and atmosphere of the Old World.

From the beginning to the end, each tour was run impeccably by Jackie and her team to make it an unforgettable experience the participants will cherish forever.

“They make you feel like a guest!”

What sets French Escapade apart from all the other painting trips I have taken is the pace is so relaxed. It is like being part of a French family, not at all like being a tourist running from place to place, packing and un-packing.

On every trip, my students and I enjoyed the perfect painting trip, when we traveled with French Escapade.  In all my seven trips with French Escapade, Jackie and her staff planned and executed every detail to perfection, avoiding the crowds and finding the special out of the way locations.

The French Escapade philosophy to make us feel like guests, not tourists never fails to make for wonderful memories to cherish forever.

2018 will be my eigth French Escapade tour as an art teacher, so that gives an idea of how enjoyable these trips are.

“Eight workshops of pure joy”

Being an art teacher, I really appreciate the planning and organization that Jackie does to make everything (EVERYTHING) run smoothly. It takes a huge burden off my shoulders so I can devote all my energies to my students. And it shows.

Consistently, in the 8 tours I have done for French Escapade, there has not been one complaint. Well, maybe too much good food, laughter and fun!