Fantastic Greek art holiday - Kefalonia

link to our art holiday website.... www.artholistay.co.uk

An incredible opportunity has arisen for all of you budding artists out there. I have teamed up with a friend who is living on Kefalonia, one of the most stunning Greek islands. Together we have put together an art course that includes staying in apartments near the coast at Koumaros Lassi. One of the many amazing locations on the island is the renowned beach of Makris Gialos in Kefalonia where the film, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin was shot. The area is of outstanding beauty with a variety of interesting features such as castles, caves and underground lakes that will stimulate your creative taste-buds. The many places of interest will also appeal to partners of artists as alternative options will be available for sightseeing, entertainment or just relaxation. Flights and travel insurance are not included but there will be advice given for flights to Kefalonia. The following will be included in the price.

2013 programme in the process of being updated. Keep posted....

A PACKED AND VARIED PROGRAMME:- Full step-by-step demonstrations

One-to-one tutoring by professional international artist Gavin Mayhew, focusing on topics such as perspective, composition, texture, creativity, tone

A flexible programme – work with as many mediums as you wish, from oil and watercolour, to charcoal and pastels

Excursions for painting and sight-seeing

A variety of subjects from landscapes, seascapes to village and harbour scenes, ruins and markets

Relax and enjoy beautiful views from the sunny terraces or a swim in the sea (only 8 minutes walk from the apartments)

Expert, professional tuition during the course

Free welcome pack

Exhibition of your paintings in our online gallery

Includes all transfers on Kefalonia

We are now perparing our third year of art courses in Kefalonia and the standard of the holiday and the artwork produced is at a fantastic high standard that offers a relaxing and productive holiday as the reviews below testify:-

Reviews... 2010 - 2011.

"I had one of the best holidays of my life. We had so much fun, laughed a great deal and in general had a ball! At the same time I learnt such a lot, my painting improved, my confidence in both sketching and painting grew, and Gavin's demonstrations were both extremely useful and inspiring."
Kefalonia June, 2010

"I felt like an 18 year old again."
Kefalonia June, 2010
Margaret

"Kefalonia was an inspirational location for sketching and painting. I picked up good painting techniques to carry on improving my painting at home. Thoroughly enjoyable, fun and sociable holiday - highly recommended"
Kefalonia June, 2010

"I laughed so much that I felt like I'd had a face-lift."
Kefalonia June, 2010
Catherine

"Fantastic painting holiday, I achieved more than I had hoped for. This was made possible by Gavin's highly entertaining, but effective teaching and I would highly recommend this course."

And from the photographer in the group:-
"Kefalonia is a very welcoming island with friendly hospitable people and good food and drink. We were taken all over the island which provided endless and varied opportunities for creative photography covering a wide range of subjects - village and town life, landscape, people, nature, architecture etc."

Kefalonia 2011
"We had a wonderful week at Raymondos, in a beautiful setting. Gavin and Jeff took us to some great locations to sketch and photograph. We enjoyed excellent tutorials from Gavin in the outdoor studio. All this was carried out in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The welcome meze and subsequent breakfast provided by Jeff and Sue were delicious. Highly recommended. Thank you all."
Sheila, Hartlepool

"Gavin encouraged everyone to try and move away from the familar and try something new. The results surprised us all and we went away determined to be more adventurous with our art. It was fun, relaxing and productive. The hospitality shown by the team was outstanding. Will definitely be returning."
Denise, York

"Once again I had a wonderful time; having been for a week in 2010 I stayed for 12 days in 2011! My painting and sketching improved a lot under Gavin's positive tuition and at the same time I had enormous fun. Count me in again for next year."
Leslie, Tow Law, Co. Durham

"This was my second time with Hellas Art Holidays and it was just as enjoyable as the first time."
Catherine, Wolsingham, Co. Durham

"What a fabulous experience. Sue, Jeff and Gavin, are great people who made the art holiday fun. I felt welcomed as soon as I arrived at the airport. I booked the holiday as a recently bereaved woman, somewhat needing a bit of time and space. I found the week to be very therapeutic. We soon bonded as a group, coming from different backgrounds, with different life experiences, and with the love of splashing a bit of paint around. I learnt a lot not only about different painting techniques, but how great it is to be able to talk and laugh about stuff .........I would recommend this week to any one. If you love to paint and feel like you could do with recharging your batteries, this is the holiday for you. I will most definitely be back."
Nicky Hatton, Deal in Kent

"If it is a holiday with painting you want then this is for you.
Enjoyable company, great painting and brilliant hosts and teacher in Jeff & Sue & Gavin."
Carole. Hartlepool

"Good company, good food, beautiful surroundings - the perfect
environment for a complete beginner to 'have a go'. The Hellas Art
Experience has given me the confidence to consider starting a class and
to see where it might take me.
Thank you Gavin for being a patient tutor and to Jeff and Sue for being
wonderful hosts."
Chris Tennick, Wolsingham

I have had over 30 years experience of teaching art as well as being a professional artist. I teach many techniques using most mediums and I firmly believe in giving constructive advice where necessary as well as encouraging artists to improve and progress with their art using stimuli from life and nature as well as promoting creativity in a relaxed and enjoyable way.

Hellas Art Holidays
Kefalonia
Course Programme:

Day 1. Transfers from Kefalonia airport to Villa Angelos.
Due to different arrival times of clients, we will hold an evening get-together once everyone has arrived. This will include a “meze” (a selection of Greek foods) and wine (or other drinks if you prefer).We understand that you may want to go off to the local tavernas instead and have a look around the area, and that is entirely your prerogative.

Day 2. Morning: Looking for colours: Finding and sketching a colourful subject within the Villa’s grounds; Subject matter: This will be in the grounds of the villa and the adjacent area – the nearest beach and coves are within ten minutes walk.
Afternoon: Transferring sketches to canvas/paper in studio space. (We will have indoor and outdoor studio space).

Day 3. Morning: Field trip: Looking for subjects: the importance of the sketch pad (quick, loose sketching); Use of camera; What to look for - interesting subject, composition, colour, tone and contrast We will take in an appropriate location – your input and suggestions for subject matter are welcome.
Afternoon: Studio work including demonstration on colour mixing-relative, contrast, harmonising, palette mixing and application from morning’s sketching.

Day 4. Optional island tour: We are offering this based on our experience last year when participants expressed a wish to see more of the island. We will travel by car or mini-bus, depending on numbers, and will take in all the major attractions on the island, with time out for refreshments, sightseeing and swimming if required. On our return we will have a barbecue at Villa Angelos provided by our host, “Dr” Panos and his delightful family. The barbecue is included in your original holiday payment.

Day 5. Morning: Looking for people and places: Trip into Argostoli town- markets, harbour, street scenes. Use of sketch pad and camera.
Afternoon: Demonstration on simplifying ideas from sketches.

Day 6. Morning and afternoon: Looking for the unusual: Field trip to Assos; How to look at Assos (its people, its buildings, its harbour) in a different way.

Day7. Final group session: Including celebration of work with a communal mural and revue of work.

Day 8. Goodbyes and transfers to airport.

The above schedule is for guidance and will be flexible enough to accommodate individual wishes. If you have specific themes, styles and subjects on which you would like to concentrate, please let us know. Field trips may “eat into” the day as some of the locations are a distance from our base. Our advice is to carry your sketch pad and/or camera at all times as subjects may be found at any time. Evenings are for your leisure and we hope that the group will explore the area and nearby Argostoli (the island’s capital) together to further enhance the group ethic.
The Hellas Art Holidays team will be on hand at all times to ensure you have an enjoyable and productive holiday.

EQUIPMENT GUIDE
For sketching, we recommend:
good quality hardback sketchbook; 2B and 4B pencils; Graphite; Coloured pencils for colour notes andsketching.

For painting: Water colours: Set of watercolours (works well in the Greek climate and is easier to transport about). Water colour paper (blocks if possible)

Oil or acrylic paints; Starter set of acrylics or oils. Bring your usual selection, but remember that colour can be enhanced in sunshine so consider adding turquoise, purple, mauve, pink and yellow to your kit to bring out the light!  (We will send you a list if your require help with this and will have colours you can try out with us.) Other eqipment you may like to bring:- Palettes, acrylic/oil pads or canvas boards, dippers, purified linseed oil, low odour turps or white spirit

Brushes: Water colour - Set of water colour brushes;     Oils: Set of bristle brushes including a fan brush;     Acrylics; Set of synthetic brushes including a fan brush

Set of palette knives optional

Any equipment you are short of we should be able to supply.

Other equipment you may want to consider but don't overload yourselves as we will have spares:-.
rubbers, water containers, palettes, ('stay wet' for acrylics), easels, drawing boards, artist's chairs, rags for cleaning, suitable clothing

Below are some breathtaking images of the area interspaced by my student's paintings.

If you click on the link below it will take you to the site of the apartments on offer with the art course. @artist-gavinmayhew.co.uk

http://www.raymondos.gr/gal.html

For bookings and information contact Gavin or Jeff at 01388 517308 or 01482 879934 or email.....

info@artist-gavinmayhew.co.uk

jeffandsue@jeffandsue.karoo.co.uk

To book could you send a deposit of 1/3 of the total cost (£150) in English pounds at least 5 weeks before the start of the course to secure your place. If we should have to cancel the holiday for any reason you will be fully refunded. The deadline for the deposit would be at least 5 weeks before the date of the holiday. Payment via cheque to Gavin Mayhew, Crag Villa, Westgate, Co. Durham, DL13 1LG, UK.

If you prefer to make a secure online payment please click on the button below

We will send a PayPal Invoice by email, for the balance of the holiday price.

Happy holidays.