Live at Thabisile - the place of joy and happiness - an "Out of Africa" lodge, and enjoy the breath-taking sunsets and the sounds of birds singing in the valley, see and hear the night come to life. Go bushwalking right outside your door and get inspired by the magic African wildlife, zebras, wildebeests, impalas, baboons or some of 240 other species living in the conservatory. Awesome surroundings and wonderful service will provide the optimal base for a perfect artistic experience.

The art workshop at the Thabisile lodge is tutored by Robert McLean a well known South African Artist, formerly of Johannesburg Art School, an expert in oil and mixed media and through many years a highly experienced tutor at Henri Matisse´s villa Le Rêve in France.

The painting holiday in South Africa offers instruction and workshops under the blue African sky directly in the bushveld. The workshops 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. The participants may of course choose to work in any medium preferred. The approach is informal, creative, relaxed and friendly which all in all promotes a creative atmosphere.

The painting workshop at Thabisile provides beginners as well as more established artists
with an opportunity to improve their creativity and artistic skills in a relaxed "Out of Africa" atmosphere. During the 5 days workshop your tutor Robert McLean will encourage each of you to develop your own style at a pace that suits you. Personal attention & individual guidance ensures the understanding and outcome of the course for each attendant.

The duration of the painting course is 5 days all in all approximately 25 hours of instruction, one of the days with beautiful native Ndebele women as models.

Pricing in Euros
Painting holiday South Africa	€950 to €1,050
The price includes: 5 days intensive paintingworkshop including Ndebele models 1 day(see more under "paintingworkshop"), 10 days accomodation in a doubleroom (see more under "accomodation") with all meals included, use of tea kitchen with fridge, coffemashine, waterboiler, coffee/tea,etc. Service (making of beds, clean towels, service at meals etc.), tTransport from/to Johannesburg airport on arrival/departure - Sunday/Wednesday, winetasting, zuludancers Saturday night & elephantriding.

Accommodation
The lodge "Thabisile"/the place of joy and happiness is situated in the heart of Gauteng, Dinokeng ‘a place of rivers’, and Leeuwkloof valley, 1 hours drive north of Pretoria.

It is a game lodge surrounded by wildlife roaming in a 400 hectare game reserve. Wake up in the morning to zebras grazing peacefully under your bedroom window. Wander over to the pond or lay by the pool and enjoy a sunset drink overlooking the valley and into the bush watching the animals graze while listening to the sounds of birds singing in the valley. See and hear the African night come to life. At Thabisile you can experience nature even though you are close to many other enriching activities such as the nearby diamond town Cullinan and experience ‘All of Africa in a day’.

The Thabisile lodge was in old times a farm house which was originally built by the Italian Prisoners’ of War. It has since been converted into 5 units:

1. Antelope (interlinked with Bushbaby)
2. Bushbaby (interlinked with Antelope)
3. Cameleon
4. Duiker
5. Flycatcher

All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom with shower. They are very tastefully decorated and the beds are luxurious, made with crisp white percale cotton linen, with feather duvets and pillows.
They units are equipped with fire wood (not suitable for bbq), fans, heaters, hot water bottles, mosquito cream, mosquito nets, bath towel, hand towel, torch, paraffin lamps, candles, matches, salt & pepper, oil, vinegar, Tea, Nescafé, Ricoffee and Cremora.

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 where he has had numerous exhibitions and taught in art clubs and art shools. 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
"Out of Africa" right outside your door: Over 240 grazers and other animals lives in the conservancy, amongst them: Kudu, zebra, blesbuck, impala, wildebeest, eland, waterbuck, duiker, steenbuck, warthog, porcupine, jackal, caracal, mongoose, vervet monkey, bushbaby, baboon, reptiles, snakes, frogs, and tortoises plus 200 species of birds sighted in the area.

Thabisile Game Lodge is part of the Dinokeng development currently under way in North Eastern Gauteng. Combining the rich cultural and historical heritage of the area’s different peoples in an expansive Game Reserve which will boast the big five – lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard – will establish Dinokeng as a premier tourist destination in the not too distant future.
Out of the Conservancy

Within the Dinokeng area (Dinokeng meaning "a place of rivers", 280 000 hectare new eco tourist destination of which 180 000 hectares is game reserve.

How to Get to Us
Your painting holiday in South Africa includes transport from and back to Johannesburg International Airport. This is based on arrival on Saturday September 29th and departure on Wednesday October 10th. Of course, you are welcome to arrive early or leave later and consequently make your own arrangements for transport to or from the Game Lodge.