Painting Workshops in South Africa 2005

I'd just had an email asking me if I knew of any watercolour workshops in South Africa -- priced so a local could afford it -- when the autumn copy of the Watercolour Society of SA's magazine, Aquarelle, arrived in the post . In it were quite a few adverts for art workshops, which not only gave me an answer to that email but also answered my own ponderings about why it seemed there were so few painting workshops compared to the UK and USA. It seems they're just not widely promoted. So I decided to list the ones I know about.

My hope is that once people realise there are some workshops going on, it'll encourage people to go, both South Africans looking for a creative break and visitors to the country. (The current exchange rate is about six rands to a dollar, eight to a Euro, and 11,5 to a pound.) If you know of any other workshops, email me the details and I'll add them to the list.

Molweni Creative Escape
Who: Tony Grogan, artist , cartoonist and illustrator.
Where: Molweni Private Game Reserve, near Grahamstown.
When: 22 to 28 May 2005 and 16 to 22 October 2005.
Cost: R5000.
Details: www.molweni.com, info@molweni.com, 046-684-0261.

Bushwillows Farm
Who: Richard Rennie and Bill McGill
Where: Bushwillows farm, outskirts of Rustenberg
When: 9 to 13 May, 20 to 24 June, 22 to 26 August, 12 to 16 September, 17 to 21 October, 7 to 11 November 2005
Focus: Wildlife and birds in nearby Kgswane Reserve. Cost: R1900 B&B
Details: Bill 014-537-2333, Richard 082-771-0396

Sue Weyers Watercolour Getaway
Who: With Paul Botes
Where: Kei Mouth, Wild Coast
When: 12 to 19 June 2005
Cost: R1700
Details: 012-460-9870

Magalies Park
Who: Barbara Poultney
When: 13 to 15 May
Details: 011-803-1753

Longbeach Painting Holidays
Who: Valerie Pole
Where: Cape Town
When: 6 to 10 June, 4 to 8 July, 15 to 19 August, 24 to 28 October, 21 to 25 November 2005
Venue: www.theteamhouse.com
Details: 072-757-6275, valeriepole@yahoo.com

Art Place
Where: 144 Milner Ave, Rooseveldt Park
What: Watercolour workshops
Details: 011-888-9120

Dale Elliot
Where: Villiersdorp
What: Three-day watercolour and oil/acrylics workshops, 15 times a year.
Details: 028-840-2927, dale@daleelliott.co.za, www.daleelliott.co.za

The Ivy Gallery Art School
Who/What: Painting Buildings with Sue Kemp, 29 June to 2 July
Who/What: Painting Flowers with Zanne Bezuidenhout, 28 September to 1 October
Where: Kyalami, Midrand
Cost: R400
Details: Sue Kemp 011-702-1267

Marion Townsend
Where: Sunnyside Guest Farm, Clarens
When: 8 to 13 May, 9 to 14 October, 6 to 11 November
Details: 031-903-8896, townsendm@mweb.co.za

Mike Edwards Studios
Where/When: Namaqualand 18 August to 2 September.
Also weekly drawing and painting meetings R80 for a four-hour session, and workshop crits R500 for a three-hour session.
Details: 011-659-2917, michael@lagallery.co.za, www.lagallery.co.za

The Stables Art Retreat
Where: Tantivvey Guest Farm, George
Details: Lita 044-870-7694, email rolita@telkomsa.net

Melanie West Art Studio
Where: Highlands North, Johannesburg
What: Art classes for adults
Details: 011-440-1473

Meerkat Magic: Art on the Wildside
Where: De Zeekoe Guest Farm, Oudtshoorn
Cost: R1800 for two days
Details: Estelle Mc Ilrath, 072-716-64 19, www.meerkatmagic.com

The Paint Basket
Who: Dennis and Nolan Clark
Where/When: 13 to 19 May, Manyane Reserve, 17 to 23 June Leopard Lodge
Details: 011-893-1272, www.paintbasket.co.za

For information about membership of the Watercolour Society of South Africa (WSSA), phone 011-465-7934 or check out www.wssa.org.za. To advertise in the society's quarterly magazine, contact Anne Jonker on 011-464-1949.