Plein Air Holidays

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Plein Air Holidays Our one week painting holidays take place in the beautiful cave village of Trôo, France, as well as other amazing locations.

Plein air painting holidays with award-winning artist Tom Hughes in France's Loire Valley and Cadiz, Spain, as well as Tuscany, Italy and other wonderful locations. They are designed for all levels of painters, from pure beginners to the most experienced plein air artists. Instructor Tom Hughes' workshops include demonstrations by the artist, individual instruction and critique, universal encourag

ement, and lots of laughs. We will be walking up and down hills -- participants should be comfortable with carrying their gear on steep slopes, footpaths and stairs. Not recommended for people with limited mobility.

Our last day! We hung the week’s paintings in the studio and everyone at the Villa came to see. Wonderful paintings by...
03/05/2024

Our last day! We hung the week’s paintings in the studio and everyone at the Villa came to see. Wonderful paintings by a wonderful group of people. Thank you Paul George for bringing your students (and KT!!) to the Villa Palagione in Tuscany with Plein Air Holidays.

Rain came today and the green of Tuscany became even more vibrant. Wildflowers, dewy roses, and great food at our gorge...
01/05/2024

Rain came today and the green of Tuscany became even more vibrant. Wildflowers, dewy roses, and great food at our gorgeous Villa Palagione… what more could one ask for in a plein air watercolor workshop? Ok, ok, I know… Sun. But seriously, we aren’t complaining. ❤️

Arrived last night at our beloved Villa Palagione for Paul George's watercolor workshop where we enjoyed welcome drinks ...
28/04/2024

Arrived last night at our beloved Villa Palagione for Paul George's watercolor workshop where we enjoyed welcome drinks and a delicious 5 course dinner. The weather has turned warm and sunny and the colors are popping! It's going to be a fantastic week. Mille grazie for this amazingly beautiful place! It's like heaven. 😍

We wrapped up a fabulous week in Cádiz with a sketchbook show at the studio of our dear friend, local painter . Muchas...
24/04/2024

We wrapped up a fabulous week in Cádiz with a sketchbook show at the studio of our dear friend, local painter . Muchas gracias to Cecilio, and especially to our wonderful group of sketchers. Bravo! 👏👏👏
See if you'd like to join one of our art & culture workshops in Europe.

A beautiful morning spent with the sketchers of Cádiz in the Plaza de San Francisco. This was Plein Air Holidays' secon...
18/04/2024

A beautiful morning spent with the sketchers of Cádiz in the Plaza de San Francisco. This was Plein Air Holidays' second "Quedada Cádifornia" with and it's been such a pleasure. ¡Muchas gracias!

Join Us for an Unforgettable Spring Getaway!
06/12/2023

Join Us for an Unforgettable Spring Getaway!

Sunset in Rovinj from our Terrace.❣️
05/11/2023

Sunset in Rovinj from our Terrace.❣️

These inspired artists came to Cádiz to sketch, but what they came away with (in addition to their amazing sketchbooks) ...
28/10/2023

These inspired artists came to Cádiz to sketch, but what they came away with (in addition to their amazing sketchbooks) was a new group of friends who shared and supported each other in the challenges of the week, and celebrated together like true Gaditanos (Cádiz folk) do -- with food, wine, laughter, and! An impressive band of sketchers who we hope to meet again down the road. ❤️

Cool cave houses, a troglodyte wine bar, the Château de Courtanvaux, and a cute Frenchie. What more could you want for ...
27/09/2023

Cool cave houses, a troglodyte wine bar, the Château de Courtanvaux, and a cute Frenchie. What more could you want for your birthday week in France?!

Trôo bien!See PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for 2024 holidays.
25/09/2023

Trôo bien!
See PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for 2024 holidays.

Painting in Trôo (the upper village, once fortified with thick stone walls, and held by Richard the Lion Heart). Evocat...
25/09/2023

Painting in Trôo (the upper village, once fortified with thick stone walls, and held by Richard the Lion Heart). Evocative Plein Air memories in the making, enhanced by the scent of wild mint.
See PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for 2024 holidays.

Here they are -- I meant to get this pic into my last post, but Chef Juliette and her partner Julien really deserve thei...
22/09/2023

Here they are -- I meant to get this pic into my last post, but Chef Juliette and her partner Julien really deserve their own spotlight. These two made our Plein Air Holiday so much more than just an art workshop... they brought the art of food and wine to our table. Thank you for so much delightful deliciousness!

Un grand merci à Gil, Juliette et Julien, et le Château de la Voûte, de nous tous! And thank you Shirley Lehner-Rhoades ...
22/09/2023

Un grand merci à Gil, Juliette et Julien, et le Château de la Voûte, de nous tous! And thank you Shirley Lehner-Rhoades for bringing your wonderful students to Trôo. It was a pleasure getting to know all of you this week. Cheers!
See PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for 2024 holidays.

Missing you guys already! What a fantastic group. Thanks so much for coming to paint at the Château de la Voûte in Trô...
22/09/2023

Missing you guys already! What a fantastic group. Thanks so much for coming to paint at the Château de la Voûte in Trôo!
See PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for 2023-4 holidays.

First day of painting at the Château de la Voûte in Trôo. Merci, Shirley Lehner-Rhoades, for excellent watercolor instr...
17/09/2023

First day of painting at the Château de la Voûte in Trôo. Merci, Shirley Lehner-Rhoades, for excellent watercolor instruction and encouragement!

So happy to have our beloved chef Juliette( ) back to make us the most delectable locally-sourced and wine-paired dinne...
16/09/2023

So happy to have our beloved chef Juliette( ) back to make us the most delectable locally-sourced and wine-paired dinners! ❤️
See PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for 2023-4 holidays.

Trôo this morning, 7:45 am, on my way to pick up Shirley Lehner-Rhoades, our instructor for this week's Plein Air Holida...
14/09/2023

Trôo this morning, 7:45 am, on my way to pick up Shirley Lehner-Rhoades, our instructor for this week's Plein Air Holiday at the Château de la Voûte. (That's the slate blue roof of the chateau in the pic.) The fun begins tomorrow, when 9 intrepid watercolor painters arrive from California!
See PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for 2023-4 holidays.

One of the oldest museums of Europe, the Etruscan museum in Volterra has been open to the public since 1761. Its collect...
13/06/2023

One of the oldest museums of Europe, the Etruscan museum in Volterra has been open to the public since 1761. Its collection of ancient archaeological is fascinating -- and fun to draw.

One of the oldest museums of Europe, the Etruscan museum in Volterra has been open to the public since 1761. It's collec...
13/06/2023

One of the oldest museums of Europe, the Etruscan museum in Volterra has been open to the public since 1761. It's collection of ancient archaeological items are fascinating -- and fun to draw.

Sketching in the streets and Etruscan museum of Volterra today. Yesterday's weather was better for working outside... e...
13/06/2023

Sketching in the streets and Etruscan museum of Volterra today. Yesterday's weather was better for working outside... especially as our art studio overlooks the wonderful pool at the Villa Palagione!

Day 2: The Work. Perspective challenge! Rolling Tuscan hills, an allée of Cypress trees with heavy shadows, and value s...
12/06/2023

Day 2: The Work.
Perspective challenge! Rolling Tuscan hills, an allée of Cypress trees with heavy shadows, and value study. Thanks for the guidance!

La vita e bella! (That's actually the wifi password here at Villa Palagione!) After 5 years of trying, Plein Air Holida...
11/06/2023

La vita e bella! (That's actually the wifi password here at Villa Palagione!) After 5 years of trying, Plein Air Holidays is finally here at this amazing Medici Renaissance villa with Diane Olivier and her wonderful students. We are definitely coming back next year!!!
See PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for 2023-4 holidays.

Ok here is the food post I know you've all been waiting for! Hey, a Plein Air Holiday gives you a bon appetit, and we h...
09/06/2023

Ok here is the food post I know you've all been waiting for! Hey, a Plein Air Holiday gives you a bon appetit, and we have the most amazing chef on board to satisfy it. Merci beaucoup Chef Juliette Scott and Julien... your food is amazing! 😋 check out

My hood for the next week❣️
09/06/2023

My hood for the next week❣️

When it comes down to it, what makes a Plein Air Holiday a succes is... the people! Thank you to everyone who participat...
09/06/2023

When it comes down to it, what makes a Plein Air Holiday a succes is... the people! Thank you to everyone who participated -- you were such a great group! Bises à vous tous.

Missing the château life with these artists! Looking forward already to next spring's workshops -- see PleinAirHolidays...
28/09/2022

Missing the château life with these artists! Looking forward already to next spring's workshops -- see PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) and consider coming to France in the beautiful month of May for another wonderful pastels & sketching holiday.

What an amazing week spent capturing the gorgeousness in and around Trôo with pastels and sketching. Last night we capp...
24/09/2022

What an amazing week spent capturing the gorgeousness in and around Trôo with pastels and sketching. Last night we capped it off with a vernissage en plein air, and had a good turn-out from the village - even the mayor came by to meet the artists! Thank you for bringing your wonderful students as well as your drawing savoir faire. It was a real pleasure getting to know all of you this week!
See PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for 2023 holidays.

Plein Air Holidays is finally back at the Château de la Voûte in Trôo, France. With teaching pastels and sketchbooking...
20/09/2022

Plein Air Holidays is finally back at the Château de la Voûte in Trôo, France. With teaching pastels and sketchbooking, and making unforgettable dinners, the week is unfolding with pure delight!
PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for more info.

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Arrivederci @villapalagione! Grazie mille @dianeolivierdraws for the wonderful workshop. And thanks to our fantasticl participants who made this week so memorable for us. We will do this again for sure! See website (link in bio @pleinairholidays) for upcoming workshops and consider joining us in 2025. . . . . . . #drawingworkshop #pleinairpainter #sketchingworkshops #artworkshops #drawingsketch #sketchbookdrawing

Diane Olivier's expert teaching is working! We're making great pastels and sketches, inspired by the gorgeous Tuscan landscape and especially by our amazing home for the week, the @villapalagione near Volterra. This place is just the perfect workshop retreat... Tutto benne! . . . . . . . . #drawingworkshop #paintingworkshops #paintingworkshops #pleinairpainting #sketchingworkshops #artworkshops #drawingsketch #sketchbookdrawing #tuscanypleinair #tuscanyworkshops

Love this place! We are back at @villapalagione for another Diane Olivier workshop, learning to draw with pastels while looking out at the gorgeous Tuscan landscape, what could be better? OK, perhaps tonight's 5 course dinner beneath the trellis. 😋 It's ALL SO GOOD! @pleinairholidays @dianeolivierdraws . See PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for Spring 2025 holidays -- just announced! . . . . . . . #pastels #pleinairpainting #pleinairsketcher #pleinairartist #enpleinair #pleinairart #pleinairpaintings #pleinairepaintings #artworkshops #paintingworkshop #paintingworkshops #paintingintuscany #paintinitaly #workshopinitaly #workshopsinitaly #tuscanyworkshop #tuscanyworkshops #landscapepainting #landscapepainter

Repost from @dianeolivierdraws My last sketchbook pages in Croatia ♥️ what a dream of a place, counting the days til 2025...... @pleinairholidays . . . . . . . #sketching #pleinairpainting #pleinairsketcher #pleinairartist #enpleinair #pleinairart #pleinairpaintings #pleinairepaintings #artworkshops #paintingworkshop #paintingworkshops #paintingincroatia #paintincroatia #workshopincroatia #workshopsincroatia #croatiaworkshop #croatiaworkshops #landscapepainting #landscapepainter #sketchingworkshops #drawingsketch #drawingworkshop

Repost from @dianeolivierdraws Shots of me enjoying Rovinj!!!! @pleinairholidays . . . . . . . #sketching #pleinairpainting #pleinairsketcher #pleinairartist #enpleinair #pleinairart #pleinairpaintings #pleinairepaintings #artworkshops #paintingworkshop #paintingworkshops #paintingincroatia #paintincroatia #workshopincroatia #workshopsincroatia #croatiaworkshop #croatiaworkshops #landscapepainting #landscapepainter #sketchingworkshops #drawingsketch #drawingworkshop

Repost from @dianeolivierdraws Rovinj, Croatia workshop has now begun! Class started today, I've been drawing here for two days. Here's the stay to my sketchbook and shots from around town. You can really feel the Italian influence and light and color is mind blowing!!!! . . . . . . #pleinair #travelsketchbook #sketchbookworkshop #drawingworkshop #drawingsketch #drawing #rovinj #croatiaworkshops

Repost from @dianeolivierdraws : A page from each of the folks on my first Croatia Cruise Drawing Workshop. We drew our little hands to the bone and swore we'd keep doing it as we now go our own ways. . Contact @pleinairholidays for reservations for the May 2025 cruise. . . . . . #artworkshops #drawingworkshop #sketchbookworkshop #sketchbook #drawingworkshop #penandink #colorpencil #travelworkshop

Repost from @dianeolivierdraws : Shots from our amazing adventures on the Croatia Cruise Sketchbook Workshop this past week. Picture your self here with me next May ♥️ We had a BLAST!! Contact @pleinairholidays for reservations. . . . . . #artworkshops #drawingworkshop #sketchbookworkshop #sketchbook #drawingworkshop #penandink #colorpencil #travelworkshop

Repost from @dianeolivierdraws : Croatia cruise just came to a close -- for this year!!!! We will FOR SURE be back next May. This is an amazing experience, think about joining me in 2025!!!! Contact @pleinairholidays for reservations. . . . . . #artworkshops #drawingworkshop #sketchbookworkshop #sketchbook #drawingworkshop #penandink #colorpencil #travelworkshop

Sun and Sea and Sketching -- a relaxing day aboard the good ship Croatia. We docked in Milna on the island of Brač, sketched some more, then dined on board and watched the full Flower Moon rise up above town. Magical! @pleinairholidays @dianeolivierdraws . . . . . . #pleinairpainting #paintingworkshops #drawingworkshop #sketchbookdrawing #sketchingworkshops #croatiaworkshops #croatiacruise

Another great sketching destination -- the hopping port of Hvar: view from the Spanish Fort, drawing boats and buildings, and the incredible moonrise from the top deck. @pleinairholidays @dianeolivierdraws . . . . . . #pleinairpainting #paintingworkshops #sketchingworkshops #drawingworkshop #sketchbookdrawing #croatiacruise #croatiapleinair

Oh yeah! Beautiful Korčula, our wonderful crew aboard the Croatia, and our morning stretching session en route from Korčula to Hvar. Life is good @pleinairholidays . . . . . . . #pleinairpainting #paintingworkshops #drawingworkshop #sketchbookdrawing #sketchingworkshops #croatiapleinair #croatiaworkshops #croatiaworkshop #croatiacruise #drawingsketch

Came to Korčula and liked it so much we decided to stay. Two days of sketching in the old city, swimming off the boat, beautiful sunsets and as always, delicious meals. Hvala Chef Risto! . We're definitely gonna have to do this cruise again next year. Stay tuned @pleinairholidays . . . . . . . #pleinairpainting #paintingworkshops #drawingsketch #sketchbookdrawing #sketchingworkshops #croatiapleinair #croatiacruise

Critique tonight aboard the Croatia anchored in Vis. Diane Olivier at the helm. Learning lots and having fun with @pleinairholidays & @dianeolivierdraws ! . . . . . . . #pleinairpainting #paintingworkshops #drawingworkshop #sketchbookdrawing #sketchingworkshops #croatiapleinair #croatiacruise

Sun, sun, sun... here we come! Draw, swim, draw some more, lunch in Vis, perspective challenge sketching the bell tower & winding lanes, then back on board the Croatia for mussels & prawns buzzara style. Hard work, but someone's gotta do it! @pleinairholidays @dianeolivierdraws . . . . . . #pleinairpainting #paintingworkshops #drawingworkshop #sketchbookdrawing #sketchingworkshops #croatiaworkshops #croatiapleinair #croatiacruise

Farewell Villa Palagione, we will miss your fabulous meals (mille grazie, Chef!), beautiful vistas, our wonderful art studio, and the kind and accommodating staff. A wonderful time was had by all! Big thanks @villapalagione from all of us @pleinairholidays . . . . . . . . #watercolorworkshop #watercolorworkshops #paintingholiday #paintinginitaly #paintingworkshops #paintingworkshop #paintingintuscany

The throw down today after our first session sketching in the Plaza de San Francisco, Cádiz, with @sketchers_cadiz . ¡Muchas gracias dibujantes por acompañarnos! @pleinairholidays . . . . . . . . . . . . #sketching #sketchingworkshops #sketchbookdrawing #sketchinginspain #sketchbook #sketches #sketchart #uskbahiadecadiz #artworkshopspain #artworkshops #cadifornia

Join us as we cruise and sketch the Dalmatian islands of Croatia with Diane Olivier, May 18-25. One cabin left for two people -- grab it quick! See details at PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio.) @dianeolivierdraws @pleinairholidays . . . . . . . #pleinair #pleinairpainting #pleinairpainter #pleinairartist #enpleinair #pleinairmagazine #pleinairart #pleinairpaintings #pleinairepaintings #dianeolivierdraws #croatiapleinair #artworkshops #artworkshop #sketchingworkshops #urbansketchers #urbansketching #sketchcroatia #workshopincroatia #workshopsincroatia #croatiaworkshop #croatiaworkshops #landscapepainting #landscapepainter #sketchbookdrawing #carnetdevoyage

Merci @christysartspace for these great pics of Tom Hughes and you in Trôo! Join Tom's plein air painting workshop in Trôo Sept. 17-24. Last day to sign up is 7/31!!! . 20% Discount for non-participating partners. . PleinAirHolidays.com (link in bio) for more info. @pleinairholidays @tomhughespaintings . . . . . . . #pleinair #pleinairpainting #pleinairpainter #pleinairartist #pleinairmag #enpleinair #pleinairmagazine #pleinairart #pleinairconvention #pleinairpaintings #pleinaire #tomhughespaintings #artworkshops #paintingworkshop #paintingworkshops #pleinairsalon #paintinginfrance #paintinfrance #workshopinfrance #workshopsinfrance #franceworkshop #franceworkshops #landscapepainting #landscapepainter #loirevalleyfrance #loirevalleytourism #loirevalleylife

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Our Story

Small group plein air painting holidays with award-winning artist Tom Hughesbased in two exceptionally beautiful European locations: the magical cave village of Trôo in France's lush Loire Valley, and the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe — the vibrant Andalusian capital of the Costa de la Luz — Cádiz, Spain.

Discover the gorgeous un-touristed Loire Valley countryside with painting, walking and yoga holidays based in the troglodyte village of Trôo — one of the prettiest and most unique cave villages of France. Stay in the exquisite Château de la Voûte, a "petit château de charme" with manicured gardens, towers, swimming pool, sauna, steam bath and gym in the old stables.

All holidays include lodging in beautiful, historic venues, meals, instruction and more. Visit the holiday page of your choice for details: Painting in Spain,Painting in France, Walking in France, or Yoga in France.