Painting Provence: An Artist Workshop in France

Come paint in a lovely corner of France - September 2026

Artist Workshop in Provence, France

September 12-19, 2026

Your Instructor: Leslie Jorgensen

Picture yourself in the sun-drenched landscapes of Provence, France, where our September 2026 artist workshop awaits you. This plein air workshop takes you to lovely places to paint and provides you with instruction by Leslie Jorgensen, a professional artist and instructor from Salida, Colorado.

Leslie will help you capture the vibrant colors and unique textures of the Provencal towns and countryside.

Mornings normally begin with a short demonstration by the instructor, followed by independent work with personalized feedback from Leslie. Afternoons can be for additional painting time, and on some days we’ll explore picturesque villages, local markets, and even a visit to a nearby vineyard.

The group aspects of our workshops are also a significant draw, with like-minded individuals from around the world sharing meals, ideas, and their passion for art. This fosters a supportive and inspiring atmosphere that extends beyond the canvas.

An artist workshop in Provence is more than just a chance to improve your artistic skills. It is an opportunity to live and breathe art in one of the world's most beautiful regions. It's about slowing down, observing the world with a fresh perspective, and allowing the beauty of the surroundings to inspire your painting.

Whether you're a seasoned artist looking for new inspiration or a beginner eager to dip your toes into the world of painting, the memories and masterpieces created amidst the charm of Provence will last a lifetime.

Recent Tuscany painting by workshop instructor Leslie Jorgensen.

The Artist Workshop

Come with us to explore Provence and create artwork that renders and translates the delightful sights, sounds, and tastes of France.

En Plein Air

After breakfast each morning, we will head out to that day’s location to observe, record, and immerse ourselves in the area. We’ll choose locations that offer diverse architecture and landscapes.

Leslie, our instructor, will start the day with a demonstration, showcasing her unique viewpoint. During the work session, Leslie will circulate to offer individual support and guidance to each artist. We’ll have group critiques aimed at problem solving and appreciation, as well. You will be responsible for bringing the materials you need for this work.

Students in the workshop can work in any medium. Demos will be done mostly in acrylic.

Change your Perspective

Leslie’s goal is to help you look from a new or renewed perspective and push us to use color in unusual ways. Her work is focused on using the natural beauty of landscapes and shifting the traditional to create unexpected pieces. Leslie thrives on being a part of the landscape, and the joy she gets from painting en plein air is contagious.

Join us! All media and levels of art experience are welcome!

Dates: September 12-19, 2026
Location: Vaison-la-Romaine, France
Cost: $4250 (see below for details)
Maximum group size: 12

 

Trip Details

(Click + to expand)

  • Workshop: September 12 to 19, 2026 (7 nights - 8 Days)

    Total cost of the tour: $4250

    Supplement for single occupancy: $550

    Deposit required to reserve a place on the tour: $450


    (Places in the tour are limited to 12 and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you reserve your place early!)

    Payment schedule

    $450 deposit. The deposit is refundable through March 1, 2026.

    $1900 initial payment (Due April 1, 2026)

    $1900 final payment (Due June 1, 2023)

    All payments are refundable if we need to cancel the trip due to government restrictions or unsafe travel conditions.

    ** Earn a $300 discount when you bring or refer a friend.

    • Daily art instruction

    • Excursions and special activities

    • Pickup and drop-off at designated airport

    • 7 nights lodging

    • 7 dinners and breakfasts, with appropriate amounts of beer or local wine

    • Local transportation by van and driver

    • Admission to museums and other local sites

    What’s not included:

    • Airfare & Travel Insurance

    • Lunches

    • Admission and misc. expenses that are not part of group activities

  • You will stay at the Hotel Burrhus in the center of Vaison-la-Romaine, providing convenient access to shopping, services, the Roman ruins, and the medieval city and castle. The hotel’s large terrace overlooks Vaison’s main plaza which is filled on Tuesdays, market day.

    The hotel’s website is at: https://www.burrhus.com

  • Dinners will be taken at fine local restaurants throughout the week. Breakfasts are at our hotel.

  • To extend your trip, and take some time to catch up on your sleep before the tour begins, you may wish to arrive early.

    You can create your own itinerary, of course, before and after the workshop. You can fly into Paris, for example, and then take the train to Vaison, or visit elsewhere in Europe after the workshop and fly home from there.

  • Your deposit is non-refundable after June 1st, 2023, unless of course the trip is canceled for any reason by Travel Fever Tours. Natural disasters, political instability or low enrollment would form the basis for canceling a trip. After that date, payments you make are nonrefundable.


    You will be contacted once the trip reaches minimum enrollment so that you can proceed with purchase of your flights and make other travel arrangements. In all cases, review of enrollment numbers will not take place any later than the date of the First Installment payment.

 

Meet your Instructor, Leslie Jorgensen

Leslie grew up in Florida and when she moved to Colorado she fell in love with the mountains. She quickly came to love hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing, and took every opportunity to explore new mountain adventures on the roads less travelled.

Now Leslie is expanding her horizons further with travel and instruction in Europe. Leslie has led tours for Travel Fever Tours to Austria and Italy, and is now looking forward to Provence.

Originally working as an abstract painter, Leslie has found a new passion for nature and landscapes.

“I love what the wild places have done to me and to my art,” says Leslie. “I merged my abstract techniques with a lively, gestural painting of my experiences outdoors. I wanted to take the kind of risks with my subject matter that I do on the ski slopes.”

Find more information about Leslie and view more of her work on her website at www.lesliejorgensen.com.

Above: Leslie with her wall mural created for Vectra Bank’s corporate headquarters in Denver. Below: Samples of her vibrant landscape paintings.

Where we’re based: Vaison-la-Romaine, France

Our home base for this tour will be the town of Vaison-la-Romaine in the northern part of Provence, in the Rhone river valley.

The town of Vaison-la-Romaine, and the surrounding towns of Nyons and Mirabel-aux-Baronnies, rest in a relatively undiscovered corner of Provence where castle ruins sit side by side with ancient stone villages, where tidy French gardens grow beneath spreading fruit trees.

The surrounding area is the largest grower of olives in France, while also producing apricots and other fruits and vegetables, not to mention miles and miles of grape vines.

Vaison-la-Romaine itself dates from Roman times, with an amphitheater, a full Roman town, and other ruins. Of more recent vintage is the Medieval castle that tops a labyrinth of ancient village streets.

Where we’ll stay:

Tour participants will stay at the Hotel Burrhus in the center of Vaison-la-Romaine, providing convenient access to shopping, services, the Roman Ruins, and the medieval city and castle. The hotel’s large terrace looks over Vaison’s main plaza which is filled on Tuesdays, market day.

The hotel is known for its support of local artists.

Visit the Hotel Burrhus Website.