Paint the French Riviera
Sketchbook Art Vacation with Jennifer Orkin Lewis (also known as August Wren) Book Now
Sun, Fun, Arting, and Lots of Good Times
Dates: June 21-27, 2021
Duration: 6 nights
Location: Nice, France
Cost: from $3195 based on double occupancy
Single Supplement: from $595
The basis of the 6-day sketchbook art vacation in France will be sketching and painting on location in and around beautiful Nice and the Riviera. Basic drawing and loose, intuitive watercolor will be taught. This will become the heart of our travel journals.
Inspired by this coastal paradise, we’ll draw small landscapes, flowers, unique architecture, and farmers market treasures. Your sketchbook travel journal will be completely infused with a moment-in-time sense of place. In short, bursting with color, pattern, and nature – each page is a memory of our week together on the dazzling French Riviera.
Learn more about Jennifer and view her sketchbook art journal on her Artist Page.
Sketchbook Art Vacation in France
Sunset from Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Cap Ferrat, France
For over a century the gorgeous French Riviera has inspired some of the world’s most famous modern artists. First attracted by sparkling blue water and scenic streets, the perpetually mild climate and beautiful light became a reason to stay. Picasso, Monet, Cezanne, Matisse, Munch and Chagall (to name a few) all called this sunny region home. The spirit of these artists serve as inspiration for creating your keepsake travel journals with Jennifer Orkin Lewis in Nice, France.
The week together will focus on collecting inspiration and making content for your travel journal. You will visit beautiful locales on the French Riviera using the regional train. We will have wonderful food and lots of laughter along the way. There is some walking to get from one place to another, but the included walks will be short (less than 45 minutes) and most are optional.
- Art Program 85%
- Sight Seeing 80%
- Walking 65%
- Fun! 100%
View of the Promenade from Cap Martin, Carnoles, France
What’s Included: Sketchbook Art Vacation in France
- Daily Sketchbook Art Vacation in France classes with Jennifer Orkin Lewis
- Six nights at our centrally located 4-star hotel in Nice, France minutes to the beach
- Full hot & cold buffet breakfast daily
- Welcome dinner
- Gelato Break
- Snack of a niçoise specialty
- Farewell dinner
- One-week unlimited use TER regional train pass along between Cannes and Menton
- Visit the towns of Menton, St. Jean, Villefranche Sur Mer, Antibes, and Cannes
- Visit to Cours Saleya flower market (or Monday antique market)
- Admission to Villa Ephrussi
- Visit to Antibes’ Marche Provencal
- Ferry trip to the Lerin Islands
- Guided walks along the coastal sentiers (paths) of the Cote d’Azur (optional)
- Absinthe museum experience (optional)
- All maps, train schedules, and daily customized itineraries
- Your English speaking guide
- All hotel taxes, fees & service charges
- Fully hosted and escorted
- All hotel taxes and service fees
Highlights: Sketchbook Art Vacation in France
1. Small group classes
With a maximum class size of 14, you can expect quality time with Jennifer as well as your friendly, like-minded classmates.
2. Daily guided excursions
Discover the colorful coastal villages, markets, great food, and scenic views of the French Riviera
3. On-site classes
With loose and intuitive style, Jennifer will teach how to use color and pattern to fill your travel journal on location, inspired by what you see.
Example Itinerary: Sketchbook Art Vacation in France…
Actual daily schedules may differ.
Day 1
We will gather at our charming hotel in central Nice, France just blocks from the Promenade des Anglais. After a meet-and-greet and program overview, we will have an orientation walk to get to know the neighborhood.
Our first day comes to an end with a delicious welcome dinner of traditional French specialties.
Day 2
We start the morning with a short stroll to Nice’s old town and famous weekly antique market. Of course we’ll stop at our favorite family-run cafe for a traditional niçoise snack. After free time to shop, have lunch, or explore more of old Nice, we will gather at the hotel for the first sketchbook art vacation class with Jennifer.
Day 3
After breakfast we’ll gather for a morning class with Jennifer on the sunny hotel patio. Later, a short train ride brings us to Beaulieu Sur Mer. We will enjoy a serene stroll along landscaped coastal paths and past handsome French villas to St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. The villa enjoys incredible views of the riviera from it’s private gardens.
Day 4
Start the day with Jennifer building your journal from found treasures. Afterward, the day’s excursion takes us to the lovely city of Menton on the French/Italian border. We will wander it’s lemon-lined avenue, charming historic center, and sunny harbor. Some may want to visit Italy or Monaco on this day. Both are easily reached by train.
Day 5
Today we truly experience the Riviera like the locals. After shopping at the bountiful Marché Forville open market in Cannes, we will take a short ferry to Île Saint-Honorat. There on the quiet coast of an island sanctuary we will enjoy a picnic of the season’s best offerings. At the end of the day the hotel welcomes us for another sketchbook art vacation class with Jennifer.
Day 6
On our last full day we will explore the port town of Antibes. We will tour the beautiful harbor and inspiring public art before entering the historic city center. You can wander its winding alleys, discover artisan boutiques, and visit the Picasso Museum.
There will be time in the studio to finish up your travel journals before meeting for a convivial show-and-tell aperitivo and farewell dinner.
Day 7
After a delicous breakfast shared together, we bid farewell to our artists’ retreat until the next time.
A full week of leisurely sightseeing and cultivating creativity
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