Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Poppy Time!

You've seen them in photos and paintings: those shimmering fields full of glorious red poppies in Provence. (They're so gorgeous they actually stop traffic; people see them, pull over and spring from their cars, cameras and sketchbooks in hand.) Well here's your chance to experience them firsthand, with a well-known, fully bilingual artist/instructor as your guide. Oregon-based watercolor painter Jacqueline Newbold has two spaces left  in her spring "Paint the South of France" workshop, May 9th to 19th, and it's timed perfectly to coincide with the blooming of the coquelicot. Not so into poppies? No worries--the itinerary features many of the most-popular sites in the region such as the 11th-century clinic where Van Gogh painted 143 canvasses, the ancient hilltop village of Les Baux, the Luberon region, Isle sur le Sorgue, vineyards, markets and more. All skill and experience levels are welcome. The price ($2,650) includes 10 nights lodging at the Hotel du Soleil in St. Remy, breakfasts and lunches, watercolor demos, mixed media and watercolor journaling techniques, critiques and local transportation.  Jacqueline's website is here and all the trip info is here. To learn more and see more of her work, here's her blog, here's her Esty shop and here's her email

Painting: Newbold's "Coquelicots de Provence" (watercolor, 20” x 24”)

8 comments:

  1. On such a soggy day in Provence, I'm having a hard time believing poppies and spring are coming. But they are. Thanks for the reminder.

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  2. Looking forward to the season. One usually hears only about the lavender hear in Provence. Can't wait to see what nature will do with the poppies.

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  3. Julie: thanks for the info on this tour. (I love the watercolour, by the way.) Coincidentally, we are just today announcing the dates of our 2011 culinary tours of Paris and Provence, and have posted the info on our site, www,paristoprovence.ca. I'm so excited!

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  4. I would be one of those typical tourists - jumping out of the car my camera at the ready - I think of all the paintings I have seen of Provence, sunflowers and poppies are the ones I love with a passion. such vibrant colourings.
    Coquelicots et tournesols magnifique!

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  5. Love this post!! What a gorgeous painting! I wish I could go on this trip! I've been to Provence and stayed at the Hotel du Soleil in St. Remy where Jacqueline and her group is staying -- it is such a cute hotel you should add it to your list.

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  6. Sounds like a fabulus trip!!!!In Texas we will be experiencing our annual wildflowers, which blanket the countryside in south central Texas coinciding with Antiques week. Too bad all these wildflowers decide to put on the show at the same time! Beautiful watercolor by the way... Maryanne xo

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  7. Thank you Julie for such a wonderful post! You have such interesting readers from all parts of the world. It is fun to see what they say. And thank you for the nice compliments on my painting!

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  8. What a great opportunity but alas I live thousands of miles away :(

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