Painting Courses | The Canard Sauvage

PAINTING COURSE AT THE CANARD SAUVAGE

Thursday, June 12 to Wednesday, June 18, 2025

We are offering a six-night stay in our French country house, which sits at the top of a steeply-wooded hill in the tiny hamlet of Peyralade in the rural department of the Tarn et Garonne. The house is large and comfortable, filled with colorful art work by your host Lizzie Wallace.

There is a pool and shady terraces to relax and eat delicious food and drink local wine, prepared by Lizzie who is a renowned foodie and cook. There is also a sparkling lake for those who like to wild swim!

We invite you to set free your creativity and spend five full days oil painting and drawing, guided by our brilliant professional artist-tutor William Wyndham – learning new skills, meeting new people and producing art work to take home.

Click the following links to learn more about:

what to expect on the course | schedule details | William Wyndham

We positively encourage beginners and create a fun, lively and supportive atmosphere, with small groups of up to eight people. This course is a fabulous opportunity to have a productive and relaxing time. Talented artist William Wyndham will be guiding you gently and expertly in the studio and on location in the beautiful Bastide towns and stunning countryside.

We want our guests to have a relaxed and fulfilling stay at The Canard Savage, at the same time improving their creative skills.

Accommodation

Course prices vary depending on room chosen. If you opt to share, this will bring the cost down. Rooms available include a twin room with en suite (can be shared or not); a shared dorm or a large master suite with bath (perfect for couples.) Please click here to view the rooms.

Six nights in our beautiful French house
All meals and wine inc coffee and teas throughout the day
Daily tuition with William Wyndham
Oil paint and all other art materials included
Outings to local villages and cafes to paint and sketch
Pool and wild swimming in the lake
Scheduled minibus transfer from/to Toulouse airport
Please note: air fares and train fares not included

ABOUT

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WHAT TO EXPECT

Painter William Wyndham will lead the course, focusing on approaches to still life and landscape painting, and the possibilities of combining the two.

The week will begin with a focus on observational drawing as a way of engaging with landscape, and the rhythms within nature.

This will be followed by a study of traditional oil colour mixing techniques within the studio environment from still life. These techniques will then be applied to ‘en plain air’ painting in the iconic Occitan landscape.

Finally, you will explore methods of painting still life set within landscape, in reference to discussions on great artists in that particular tradition.

The aim of the week will be to use these formal techniques as a channel for the development of your own visionary and poetic responses to the external world, resulting in grounded yet unique artworks.

There will be lots of opportunity for discussion of your work as it develops along the way, and plenty of one to one tuition and support whenever needed.

The course offers a very rare and valuable opportunity to develop your own approach to oil painting within stunning surroundings that have inspired great art for centuries, not to mention with luxurious lodgings and plenty of delicious food!

All levels of experience welcome, including beginners.

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SCHEDULE

Day One: Arrival

When you arrive at The Canard Sauvage, you will have time to settle into your room, then meet the group and your tutor William Wyndham for drinks in the garden. This will be a chance to get to know everyone, followed by a delicious three-course supper with local wine and cheese.

Day Two to Day Six: Painting with William Wyndham

William Wyndham will be your art tutor during your stay. Depending on the weather, you will be doing a mix of oil painting and drawing – still life and plein air in inspiring surroundings.

Day Seven: Departure

After breakfast, the shuttle will leave for Toulouse airport.

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8.30 am / 9.30 am : BREAKFAST

Your day will start with a leisurely French breakfast and coffee.

10 am / 1 pm : PAINTING

1:30 pm / 2:30 pm : LUNCH

Lunch will be served every day in the cosy kitchen, or on the terrace by the pool, weather permitting!

2:30 pm / 5 pm : PAINTING

Once you have finished painting for the day at 5:00pm, there will be a group discussion.

7 pm : APÉRITIF & EVENING MEAL

Apéritifs… will be served every evening at 7pm followed by a delicious three course supper with wine at 8pm.