Course Structure
The painting course in Villa Le Rêve provides beginners as well as more established artists with an opportunity to improve their creativity and artistic skills in a relaxed atmosphere of this grand old Villa. During the one week-course at Villa "Le Rêve" your tutor, Robert McLean, will encourage each of you to develop your own style at a pace that suits you.

The Villa "Le Rêve" painting holiday includes instruction and workshops as well as inspirational visits to interesting locations in the area. The workshops themselves are adapted to the needs of the group or individual requests and will include: composition, sketching/drawing, mixed media painting, acrylics as well as the noble art of oil painting. You may of course choose to work in any preferred medium.

The approach is informal, creative, relaxed and friendly which all in all promotes a creative atmosphere. Personal attention & individual guidance ensures the understanding and outcome of the course for each attendant.

From the big windows in the ateliers you can enjoy the breathtaking view over Vence and the old cathedral with Antibes, Nice and the azure-blue Mediterranean in the far distance. Just outside the windows are the two gigantic palms that used to inspire Matisse in his last active years of his life, and the air is sweet with the beautiful scent of oranges and olive blossoms.

Pricing
One week painting holiday in Henri Matisse villa	€450 to €925
Included in the price of you holidays is 7 days accommodation with breakfast, bed linen and towels included (changed every Wednesday). Five day intensive painting workshop, studio rental fee, free use of kitchenette, terrace and garden. A 3 course welcome dinner with wine on Saturday evening, and at the end of the workshop vernisage with wine and snacks.

Accommodation
Matisse resided in the villa during the 1940´s, a period of his life during which he made some of his greatest accomplishments: the wall murals and glass mosaics of "Chapelle du Rosiare" situated just across the street from the Villa "Le Rêve".

To live and breathe the atmosphere of Matisses old home is a unique experience. The Villa is not a luxurious house, but then on the other hand how many of the worlds famous painters or artists lived in luxury? The rooms are modestly equipped but nice, clean and comfortable. All rooms in the villa have private showers and a washbasin. The toilets are adjacent or close by.

Breakfast, which is included in the price, is served every morning in the dining room.

Tutor
Your art tutor Robert McLean is a professional, South African born artist formerly of Johannesburg Art College and for the last many years settled in Scandinavia. He is a highly experienced and enthusiastic tutor, who gives time to individual tuition as well as group work and makes room for the trained painter as well as for the beginner.

His works are strongly influenced by the early expressionists such as the "Blau Reiter" movement in the early 20th century with one exception though "the Soul of Africa", which is the "force majeur" in most of his works. He sees himself as a true South African expressionist. With a volcanic and very colourful pastos kept entirely in Franz Marcs spirit, he paints groups of Africa’s majestic Giants in a multitude of colours, nicely arranged and yet spontaneously floating by on the background of colourful African landscapes with the eternal suns burning rays as a centre point. All an expression of his own firm belief in the powers of light, while showing the Africa which still plays such an important part in his life. As an artist, Robert McLean has always respected realism and super realism as wonderful forms of art, though after having mastered these forms for many years, he has now found the freedom to express himself spontaneously and expressionistic.

Location
Vence is located in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur which is ideally situated between the Mediterranean coastline and the Alps. Its location and climate are extremely attractive. Extraordinary scenery combined with a rich historical past of exceptional archaeological and architectural interest, together with a multitude of celebrations and festivals, make it an exciting area to visit.

How to Get to Us
Vence is very close to Nice and Nice International Airport. There is a short aprox. 15 min. drive by car or taxi from Nice Airport to Vence, which is of course the easiest way.

Tthere also is a bus - No. 400 - that goes straight from the Airport to the centre of Vence with 4 scheduled departures on Saturdays. Bus tickets can be purchased online via http://www.nice.aeroport.fr on which the departure times are also shown.