Travel diary - watercolor winter course in the Écrins
Duration : 2 days
France, Southern Alps
Level : easy
from 164 € / p. from 1 to 10 persons
Infos & Booking
Description
I offer you a travel diary and watercolor course in the south of the Écrins massif, during which easy hikes will be enhanced with sketch/watercolor breaks.
The course takes place in Freissinières, a village located in the Écrins National Park and far from the ski resorts, whose valley offers a preserved, peaceful, varied, majestic and exotic setting, in the heart of the mountains.
Painting snow and white in general with watercolor remains a challenge for many watercolorists. I suggest you take advantage of the Freissinières valley to get there.
Due to the polar cold likely to invade the valley at this time of year, the course will take place at least partly indoors (unlimited hot chocolate and tea in the workshop). This all-levels course is aimed at nature lovers looking for a change of scenery.
During easy hikes, here are the objectives that we will aim for in terms of drawing and watercolor:
- Relax.
- Detach yourself from the result
- Learn to draw quickly.
- Synthesize and simplify a landscape.
- Learn to select your colors carefully and give light to your drawing.
- Tame white with watercolor.
- And above all: have fun!
Here is the watercolor equipment that I recommend you start with the activity:
- A black pen "Uni-Pin" type, size 0,2.
- A Winsor and Newton wash brush size 0.
- A notebook, like a travel notebook. I recommend a paper between 200 grams and 300 grams. Preferably 300 grams if you are a beginner.
- A 50 cl cup and water.
- A light plastic watercolor box such as the Winsor and Newton sketcher or another brand with 12 half-pipes. The boxes normally contain the following colors: lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, pale cadmium red, crimson alizarin, ultramarine, deep blue, emerald green, bladder green, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, burnt umber, Chinese white. White in watercolor is useless! If you can, replace it with any other color you like. I recommend either a light turquoise or an English green, two bright colors that will allow you to easily "boost" your watercolors.
- Possibly masking tape which does not tear the watercolor paper.
- A foldable stool if you don't want to sit on the floor.
If this topic interests you, I also offer:
- a travel diary and watercolor course in the Calanques of Marseille,
- a travel diary and watercolor autumn course in Freissinières
- and a hiking and watercolor trip to Dormillouse in the Écrins.
Program
- Start of the day at 9.30am.
- Beginner level hikes.
- Drawing and painting in magnificent landscapes.
In case of bad weather or polar cold, the course is provided indoors. - Return and finish around 4pm.
The price includes
- Supervision by the mountain leader.
The price does not include
- Return transport to the village of Freissinières, about 30 minutes drive from Briançon and 1 hour from Gap.
- Accessible by train from Paris or Marseille: L'Argentière-la-Bessée stop.
- Watercolor equipment.
- Accommodation.
- Catering.
- Picnics.
- Drinks.
- Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".
Accommodation
- At the convenience of the participants.
- There are several lodges and hotels in the village of Fressinières.