tours
Painting

….THE LESVOS EXPERIENCE

The island of Lesvos and its coastline provides a wide variety of scenes and landscapes for the painter – ancient monuments, archaeological sites, meadows, olive groves, marshes, reed beds, mountains, valleys, colourful street life, marinas and picturesque harbours.

Marsh harriers skim by the hillsides; white storks which nest on the tall chimneys of old olive presses, scour the fields for butterflies and insects; nightingales and warblers echo amongst the thickets. At the edge of villages the olive groves overflow with wild flowers and orchids.

Small and romantic villages and towns, rich in architecture are backed by views of open countryside or sea. Scenes of village life and occupations are reminiscent of farming landscapes of many years ago. On many smallholdings, the horse is still used to pull plough and rake and goats and sheep are milked in the open fields by hand. Farmers on donkeys going up or down steep inclines are a common sight. These scenes are worth capturing before they are lost forever. Blue summer skies over the variable landscape play their part in the paintings as the weather is warm and settled by this time.

HIGHLIGHTS

Coastal Scenery

A session at the sandy beach of Vatera, kissed by the blue Aegean and backed by the green hilltops and red roofed houses will provide an excellent tranquil landscape for your paint brushes, as well as an opportunity for swimming

Agios Focas Harbour

A morning will be dedicated to painting at the picturesque boat harbour of Agios Focas, with its traditional taverna at the quayside which is backed by the imposing rock promontory with the chapel of Agios Focas and the archaeological site of the Temple of Dionysos.

Skala Polichnitos

A fishermen’s village with a variety of life cameos to capture your imagination and motivate your paint brush.

Agiasos
There are three away days during your stay, including a day at Agiasos, the old mountain village, clinging to the sides of mountain Olympos, with its narrow cobbled streets, quaint shops, little churches doted all around and cameos of village life to inspire you.

Molyvos & Petra

The week will not be complete if a day was not spend in these two picturesque towns with the variety of themes to capture the imagination: the castle, the stone houses and narrow cobbled streets, the harbour, the beach lined up with little tavernas, the church of Panagia of the Sweet Kisses atop the rock are just some of them.

Painting & Ouzo Tasting

A visit to the coastal town of Plomari, is one of the highlights of the week. It will not only provide an opportunity to paint but an opportunity for ouzo tasting as well! - plus a visit to the ouzo museum and shop for the chance to stock up with some good ouzo, in readiness for the return home. Returning to Vatera coastally in the late afternoon will present you with the most amazing awe-inspiring sunset – a ball of fire, sinking into and lighting up, the sea, to admire and paint.

During this holiday there is plenty of time to relax, explore, sketch and paint the local scenes.
At the end of the course, there will be a short group discussion, where we look at the work, progress is reviewed and one can learn from each other.

Materials to bring:

Sturdy outdoor easel for landscape and other outdoor painting
Light folding stool
Large sketch pads / ready primed painting boards
Any painting materials you can bring (favourite brushes, extra Liquin, extra paints)

Basic range of paints
Basic brushes
Sketching paper / books

Painting mediums (watercolours, water soluble pencils and crayons, a pen and ink etc ) a water bottle,

A folding tripod stool would make life easier for you, a sun hat is essential, walking shoes or boots, sun cream and a walking stick are advisable.

ACCOMMODATION

Our base is the comfortable small apartments hotel “ MADONNA” in the charming seaside resort of Vatera. The rooms are overlooking the 8 km long beach and the Aegean Sea with private sea view balconies and a scenic terrace bar for breakfast and evening drinks. The terrace can also be used as a base to work from. See the HOTEL DETAILS for photographs for view of rooms and location.

Breakfast is between 8.30am and 9.30am. There will be an optional slot before breakfast for early painting sessions in local spots or terrace  – or you may just want to have a lie-in!

The course programme will start soon after breakfast with a short discussion on the day’s programme and a resume of the previous days experience. The primary aim is to help you interpret the landscape and images around you in your own language of art.

THE PROGRAMME

It focuses on directing a small group of like-minded people with the expert guidance of our leader, Peter Swayne, to paint, sketch and draw the plethora of

subjects to be found in the Lesvian countryside. It is an ideal holiday for anyone who wants to paint, relax and enjoy themselves in this beautiful and tranquil island.

Seven days are barely long enough to do justice to this enchanted island. Therefore each participant is encouraged to get the best out of their chosen media and equipment and to keep an ongoing sketchbook to create a keepsake of views to live long in the memory.

We will provide you with the space to enjoy this experience without worrying about too many practicalities. The course is there for you to use in your own way and at your own pace. It will include some trips away from Vatera to notable locations of the island. The course is aimed at all levels of experience. The main theme will be one of exploring ways to record the experience in your own individual way. There will be lots of help and guidance to do this, if required.

Course hours for every day are 4 - 5 hours, excluding breaks, starting at 9.30 am. If you wish to keep painting or drawing after the course hours - because you simply can't stop, you are welcome to do so.

We will be breaking for lunch at about 1.30 pm until 3.30 pm, leaving plenty of time for a swim at a nearby beach, a stroll in the shops or whatever you choose. We will return to base by 6 pm. The evening meal is arranged from 8.30pm on wards at a traditional taverna in Vatera, though the bar at MADONNA will be open beforehand if you would like an aperitif.

The evenings – apart from meal times, are yours to do whatever pleases you, whether that is taking a stroll by the sea, or simply spending time with friends. One thing is sure, whatever your choice, the magical sky filled with billions of stars will inspire you!

COURSE LEADER

Peter Swayne is a recognised artist and has been visiting Lesvos for many years. He is particularly interested in the interpretation of the landscape and has the right qualities to lead our workshop and to give you the opportunity to get to know the “true” Lesvos. He will lead you to his favourite locations, sketchbook in hand. His love of the landscape, birds and people of Lesvos is infectious.

THE GROUP

The painting holidays are open to anyone with curiosity about the natural world, the culture and traditions of the island. No previous knowledge or qualifications are necessary, nor are the tours physically strenuous. The groups will consist of either 4  persons at a minimum and 7 persons at maximum with a wide range of age, experience and interests. Our leader provides high calibre guidance at a variety of levels in a friendly and informal atmosphere.

DATES             

26^th of May – 2^nd of June 2005 &

                             2^nd of June -  9^th of June 2005

PRICES

OR

PLEASE NOTE: Non-painting partners can be included at the same accommodation within those dates at a Reduced Rate by arrangement.

Prices include:

·         Airport Transfers

·         All Transport costs during the week

·         Modern accommodation (twin sharing)

·         Full Board (with pic nic lunches & afternoon tea & biscuits)

·         Driver/expert guide

Prices DO NOT include:

• Air fares to Lesvos
• Insurance
• Beverages & Alcoholic drinks with the evening meals
• Tips
• Expenses of personal nature
• Entry fees to Museums

PAYMENTS CAN BE MADE ONLY BY:

• Credit Card (Visa or Master)
• Direct Payment into a GB£ UK Bank Account
• IBAN SWIFT Transfer to a EURO Greek Account

THE FLIGHTS (Direct or Olympic Airways) CAN BE ARRANGED WITH:

GREECE & CYPRUS Travel Centre

44 Birbingham Road

Sutton Coldfield B72 1QQ

Tel. 0121 355 6955

E-mail: skyfare@greece-cyprus.co.uk

ASK For MANOLIS

KEEP VISITING THIS SITE..
MAKE IT A FAVOURITE..
WE ARE WORKING ON MANY NEW & EXITING TOURS
FOR 2006!
e.g. Birdwatching in new destinations
 (other than LESVOS)