The adverts for painting holidays are very tempting and the destinations can be very exotic. You should return home with a brimming sketchbook and renewed enthusiasm. But with so many to choose from, how do you decide which one is most suitable for you?
Be An Informed Participant
Don't hesitate to ask questions about the course before booking. A good tutor will be happy to answer queries and put you in contact with previous students. Don't rely on vague information, such as "comfortable setting." Does it cover a variety or only one medium? How many people have booked (you don't want to be the only participant)? Can you buy art supplies or do you need to take everything?Who's the Painting Tutor?
A successful artist doesn't necessarily make a great teacher. A good art tutor will have empathy for your needs, aspirations, and method of working. Choose a tutor whose work you like and find inspiring, but don't expect them to turn you into a clone of themselves. Find out whether they run a structured course with demonstrations, group tuition and critiques, or informal, individual tuition, or a mixture.What Do I Take?
List what art materials you usually use and trim it to the essentials. If you're walking around, pack your supplies in a small backpack. Take something to sit on, such as a cushion, jersey, or small fold-up chair. A sketchbook with a stiff cover eliminates the need for a drawing board, while a
water brush eliminates the need for a water container (though remember to carry some water to drink). Short field brushes are far easier to pack than regular-sized ones. If you're flying somewhere, remember to check the latest rules about what you can take onboard.
Center-Based or Travel-Based Painting Holiday?
It's stimulating traveling to an exotic place, but consider how much time will be spent traveling, how tiring it'll be, and what the accommodation is. Can you spend an hour or two on a painting or will you spend most of your time sketching? If you're a creature-comforts person, consider a center-based course where the emphasis is on new skills in a relaxing environment rather than new subjects.But I'm Still a Beginner...
Don't let this put you off. Everyone was once a beginner. Some courses have people with different levels of skill, others are advanced courses. Speak to the tutor to find out exactly what the course covers and whether they've the patience for beginners. Don't expect a course to turn you into an expert overnight, but you should learn a great deal, both from the tutor and the other participants.Research the Location
Part of enjoying a painting holiday is not getting hit with horrible surprises, so if you're not sure of what to expect of a particular country or destination, do a bit of research.
About.com's Travel section will give you answers to all sorts of questions.
