Art Safari are delighted to be venturing to Southern Italy for the first time in October  with artist James Willis. We begin our painting days in Matera – the European Capital of Culture for 2019.  We stay for four nights at a boutique hotel in Sasso Barisano, in the historic heart of Matera.  This is a fantastic location for exploring and painting  the elegant architecture of this fascinating city, and visiting the ancient cave dwellings and rock churches carved into the Gravina Gorge.  James will take you to his favourite painting locations. In Puglia we are in the countryside at a stone Masseria (fortified farmhouse) for 5 nights, pale golden dry-stone walls shelter tranquil gardens and an inviting swimming pool.  With James’s guidance and contagious enthusiasm, sketchbooks will fill with views of white-washed hill-top towns, olive groves, vineyards, orchards and Trulli – traditional dry-stone huts with conical beehive roofs.  We visit a charming harbour to paint the ultramarine inshore octopus fishing boats in the Adriatic seaport of Monopoli. Tour cost: from £2507 per person sharing excl. flights (double bed only) Single room supplement: £300  Call 01394 382235 to book your place.

Printing is exciting, totally involving and so very satisfying!  Come and learn all about simple print techniques and be amazed at how you can print a mini-edition of your work on this three-day course with artist Mary-Anne Bartlett at the Art Safari Studio in Woodbridge.

Mary-Anne will guide you through the process of printing with simplicity and style.  Working in woodcut, lino and monotype, you learn how to simplify your image and separate your colours to make both monochrome prints as well as layering different colours.  The design and cutting process is an exciting puzzle which will unfold in clear stages until you are ready to print – and then the magic becomes more and more intense as the print takes form.

Bring strong images from your sketchbook or paintings to work from and to create your own unique multiples.  You might have an image from an Art Safari sketchbook from around the world, a design that you want to develop, or simply a sketch of flowers in your garden that is just waiting to make it into print.

In the evenings we like to go out to nearby restaurants – optional/not included.

Cost £285 inc VAT for your tuition, and includes printing materials for workshop use, tea/coffee/cake

Call 01394 382235 to book your place.

Join artist and explorer Mary-Anne Bartlett on her third Art Safari to Japan.

We travel to Japan during the ‘autumn-leaves-viewing’ months.  Colours range from brilliant yellow, to lime greens, to reds, oranges, pinks and magentas.  Moss gardens and chrysanthemums take on extra brilliance.  In many ways more colourful than the blossom of Spring at this time, Japan is also less crowded.

On this Art Safari adventure we explore beautiful areas of Japan, stopping to paint the temples and sketch the gardens of Kyoto, sweeping landscapes of the snow peaked valleys of the Japanese Alps, and curious snow monkeys bathing in hot springs. 

 The November light is amazing for painting Fuji, as shafts of light cross its volcanic skirts, and also for the rest of the country, it’s crisp, bright and extraordinarily colourful.

Tour cost: from £4784 per person sharing excl. flights

Single room supplement: £662 

Call 01394 382235 to book your place.

This Art Safari is packed full of visual treats and new experiences.  Artist and India traveller Maxine Relton will guide you through a landscape of romantic water palaces, imposing hilltop forts, ornately decorated temples, tribal villages, and flamboyant streets and markets.  She will take you off the beaten track and introduce you to people, artists and organisations that will give you a taste for the real spirit of this inspiring and vibrant country.  Along the way you will learn the exciting art of vivid, rapid sketching and create a sketchbook of wonderful memories.

The majority of our time is spent in small heritage hotels where you’ll experience a more authentic taste of Rajasthan.  These hotels combine modern comforts with old world charm and showcase the beautiful architectural and decorative features of these bygone palatial residences.  Often, you’ll be hosted by maharajas and maharanis!

Tour cost: from £3395 per person sharing (excl. flights)

Single room supplement: £1138

Internal flights from/to Mumbai £300 (not included)

Call 01394 382235 to book your place.