plan your village art experience . . .

Looking down at Jouques from the hilltop above the old village
I felt fully supported in every moment of the experience and so appreciated Jean-Louis as a collaborator and teacher. At the end of the day I had learned so much, had such a good time and LOVE LOVE my painting! All in all this was a fantastic addition to my Provençal holiday and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic art experience. I consider myself an enthusiastic beginner but JL’s teaching skills and considerable talent would lend themselves to anyone at any level of artistic experience.

Deb

Professional
Jean-Louis is a very talented artist and a great teacher of both theory and practice. The working studio is a short walk from breathtaking views of the Provence landscape. The workshop was tailored to my exact needs and Jean-Louis is very generous in passing on his deep and extensive experience across a wide range of styles and media. While I have been painting for many years, I came away a better artist from my short time there.

Steven

Professional
Jean-Louis is a skilled and patient teacher as well as a brilliant guide to the village. It was a delight having a bilingual cicero with personal relationships in the village, who also spoke perfect English. Jouques is such a charming village - small and friendly, and after just under a week it really felt like home.

Zakia

Professional
Jean Louis Diaz

I’m Jean-Louis, a French-Australian visual artist. I live and work close to Aix-en-Provence in the beautiful and historic village of Jouques.

The village abounds with architectural features and quaint streets, with walking trails into the picturesque forest and rural surroundings at our doorstep. In the warm light of Provence inspiration is all around.

Stay with us and fully experience our village life for a few days.

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RETREATS in 2023 – 4 days + 5 nights

JUNE:
nights of 12th–16th (one room still available)
nights of 19th–23rd
(nights of 26th–30th, fully booked)
JULY:
(nights of 3rd–7th, fully booked)
nights of 10th–14th
nights of 24th–28th
AUGUST:
nights of 7th–11th
nights of 14th–18th
nights of 21st–25th
SEPTEMBER:
one Retreat only in late September, dates to be advised
OCTOBER:
possibility of one Retreat in October, dates to be advise
art workshop en-pein-air in provence

Our one-day workshop:

A slice of Jouques €200 or €180/person 2+ participants 

Water-based media only. Some drawing experience is recommended.

In the morning we will explore the historic village of Jouques, then draw and document some of its distinctive features.

After lunch we’ll reconvene in the atelier for a demonstration of painting techniques (water-colours + acrylic), then you will compose and paint your very own ‘slice of Jouques’.

Click here to book our one-day workshop online via AirBnB, or simply hit the ‘contact us’ button below.

We aim to:

  • improve your confidence and technical knowledge
  • fuel your passion to pursue your art practice

We assure you of:

  • an authentic and unique experience
  • warm hospitality and quality accommodation
  • time in a beautiful, historic village
  • space to relax and de-stress

Workshops and Retreats: general info

On enquiry, we’ll send you detailed information about the workshop and/or our retreats:

  • all prices and inclusions
  • materials to be supplied
  • what you may want to bring
  • meal options in the village
  • transport and parking options

We’ll also ask you about your artistic skill-base so we can customise our program to suit your specific needs.

Our five night residential retreats:

Art in Provence
Inclusive of 4 days tuition + 5 nights accommodation.

Water-based media. Drawing and painting experience is essential.

This art retreat in Provence will fuel your passion for painting, whilst building your knowledge-base from day to day.

You will be given specific tuition on colour theory, drawing and painting techniques. In the mornings we explore the village and forest of Jouques whilst capturing its many facets with plein-air drawing.

Later you will extend your morning sketches and observations into original artworks. Having access to the atelier in the evening will allow you to relax and contemplate your achievement – over a glass of local rosé if you like!

Encaustic comes alive!
Inclusive of 4 days tuition + 5 nights accommodation.

Cold-encaustic medium with oil paint and odourless solvents. Drawing and painting experience is essential.

This unique art retreat will enable you to discover or extend your knowledge of cold-encaustic oil painting, whilst being immersed in village life.

This ancient method of painting predates renaissance oil painting and will reveal its versatility in contemporary painting. All technical aspects of the medium will be covered, along with specific tuition on drawing and painting.

We will explore and draw the village and surrounds of Jouques with the view to interpreting these sketches and observations into your own, original paintings.

Your skill base will grow from day to day and reviewing your work in the evenings will be very rewarding.

art-workshop-provence-artelier-provence-1

Contact us for prices of our four-day Retreats

More about 'Encaustic comes alive!'

Recap the basics of painting with oils, then add cold-encaustic medium and be amazed! Learn the advantages of working with this fast-drying and versatile medium, plus loads of techniques, tips and tricks.

This retreat aims to introduce (or consolidate) the many facets of using oil paints with cold-encaustic medium.

Offered as a four-day, five-night residential retreat only.

Jean-Louis is an accomplished artist with a passion for colour and luminosity – he has loads of art-teaching experience which enables him to share his wealth of knowledge in our programs.