Painting Workshop in Portugal

$4,200 Private accommodation / $1,200 Non-painting partner

This includes:

• Seven nights accommodation, with ensuite bathroom

• Three meals a day (including wine with dinner)

• All art materials

• Full use of painting studio and other estate facilities

• Painting instruction, daily demos, and critiques

What isn’t included:

• Airfare

• Taxi to and from airport

Payment Schedule:

• $500 nonrefundable deposit to hold your place, due no later than January 7

• 50% due 30 days after signing up (less deposit)

• Full payment (remaining balance) due 60 days after signing up

Cancellation:

• After February 1, 50% refund

• After March 1, no refund

Travel insurance is highly recommended. I use Allianz, which is not very expensive and offers great coverage.

For remaining balance, call me at (828) 774-8431 or email dpskinner@earthlink.net

This historic estate was built in the early 1700s by a wealthy Dutch merchant, who set his home on a hilltop overlooking more than 150 acres of beautiful gardens, forests, olive groves, and golden fields. During the workshop, the wisteria bushes should be in full bloom for our pleasure. There is an expansive garden for strolling, or you can enjoy a swim in the solar-heated saltwater pool. This week we have the entire estate to ourselves.

If you’d like to tour the area either before or after the workshop, you can visit the nearby historic and cultural attractions of Lisbon and Sintra, and the charming towns of Azeitao, Sesimbra, Palmela, and Setubal, all known for wonderful food and wine. The beautiful coastline and beaches of Arrábida Natural Park are also close.

Our spacious studio is set in a modern building with a wall of glass doors facing the rustic landscape that surrounds the estate. Each painter has access to a full range of professional-grade acrylic paints, canvas panels, brushes, palettes, latex gloves, buckets, and their own easel, table, and chair. Since we mostly focus on landscape imagery, it’s helpful to have an iPad or another tablet for taking photographs of the area to use as source material for your paintings. I also provide photographs of the area for inspiration.

As with all my workshops, food and sharing meals is an important part of the workshop and how we build community. We enjoy a delicious array of Portuguese dishes, all produced with fresh, local ingredients, and drink local wines. Each day includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with a midafternoon snack. There are vegetarian options for those who want them. Cocktails are not included but can be purchased.

Bedrooms at the estate are light and airy and decorated with tasteful antiques. Rooms are single or double occupancy and have either a shower or bathtub; you can request your preference.

If you arrive in Lisbon and are not renting a car, Quinta da Conceição is approximately 30 minutes south of the Lisbon airport by taxi and should cost you around $50 to $75. While you certainly aren’t required to have a rental car, Portugal has so much to see that renting a car and sightseeing before or after the workshop is not a bad idea. 

The workshop’s first day is for settling into rooms, exploring the estate, and, later, gathering for our first dinner together. The rest of the week, each day starts with breakfast followed by a stroll down to the studio around 9:30 a.m. Studio time begins with my daily painting demonstration, followed by one-on-one instruction with each student for the rest of the day. We break for lunch around 1 p.m. , then continue painting in the studio until 5 p.m. On some evenings, we may head to the coast for a predinner cocktail and a stroll on the beach. At the end of our final day of painting, we have a group critique and review.

I set up a What’s App group for each workshop so make sure you have that app on your phone. It’s a great way to communicate as a group.

April is a wonderful time to visit Portugal, with mild, springlike temperatures ranging from 60–70°F during the day. The nights are a bit cooler, so bringing a few layers is a good idea in addition to a light raincoat or umbrella in case it rains. Make sure to check the weather as the date approaches.  

Bringing a tablet to display any photographs you’d like to paint is certainly helpful, though not required.

As mentioned earlier, all art supplies are provided, but you should feel free to bring favorite brushes and any paints you’d rather work with.