I have the opportunity to take a small group of people to southern France this coming April at a very reduced rate because of the short notice workshop. Read what the owner says below about this workshop venue and then if you think you want to join me, please email me at BeckerArt@gmail.com and I can get you in touch with the owners who can tell you anything you want to know. 

I put links on many of the places he had listed in his notes below... WOW! I can't wait to sketch, photograph and paint these places.

Chris Georgas and Fabienne Montserrat say:
The Le Monastere vacation idea started as something uniquely for cyclists – which we do to this day. We started in 1995 and it was slow at first.  However, in 1996 one of my former employees (I was a leader of a policy department in the Ministry of Finance in Ottawa (Like your Treasury) asked me if her mother could bring a group of artists to Limoux.  I agreed, but under the condition that she would have to tell me what to do. Now, 23 years later I have taken the advice of over 25 art teachers and me and my team have created I think the best operation of its kind, combining ideal conditions for creation and teaching. Most of our teachers, mostly from Canada and California, return to Le Monastere every second year. Our clientele for both artists and cyclists are entirely word of mouth. We don’t advertise.

We are based in the town of Limoux, in the middle of the province of Occitaine – about 60 miles from the Mediterranean Sea and the same from the border with Spain. It is the most interesting, both historically, geographically and culturally in France.  It was the playground of Picasso, Gaugin and their contemporaries at the turn of the last century. It was the first foothold of the Romans 80 years before Julius Caesar conquered the rest of what is now France. It is where the Troubadors began and is the heart of the legend of the Holy Grail and the DaVinci Code story.  The oldest human remains were found here at the Caves of Niaux, with its 15,000-year-old wall paintings. There is much more and I will give you a list at the end of this note to google.

What do we provide?  

Sites: Over the past 25 years I have – given the advice and requests of our art teachers – researched over 40 sites within 60 miles of Limoux. Over the two weeks, every morning I look at the weather for different sites and choose the best place to paint pleinair.  All of these sites are interesting both historically and culturally. There is a variety of village scenes, flowers, and of course, landscapes – from flowering fields to the sea, canals, boats, rivers, mountains, abbeys, castles and vineyards. Even if you aren’t an artist there are things to see, study and do.  We have comfortable vehicles and a longstanding local staff to guide you. I like to describe myself as an artists caddy. I’ve learned a lot from our teachers over the years. Google these places to start with.. Limoux, Mirepoix, Lagrasse, Collioure, Minerve, Foix, Rennes le Chateau, Bugarach, Cucugnan, Peyriac de Mer, the Canal de Midi, Montsegur.  Plus the 30 or so small quiet villages with fabulous scenery very close to Limoux.

Comfort: Our accommodation is four-star – Le Monastere ( for some pictures look at our site www.lemonastereadventures.com ) with five rooms (with en-suite bathrooms), wisteria covered courtyard, professionally lighted studio – and all dedicated to your group.  If there are more than 10 participants we also have the Vine House (with its 100-year-old grape vine over one of the balconies.

Food and wine: We treat you like visiting friends. My wife Fabienne cooks regional dishes some evenings in Le Monastere and we take you to very good and very interesting restaurants other evenings.  The wine in the region is excellent and we have no limits for the meals. Google Blanquette de Limoux, Corbiere wines, Minervois wines. All breakfasts are included and 12 of the evening suppers. You are on your own in the town for supper on two nights. Several nice restaurants.

Equipment and transportation:  we provide you with easels, boards, water bottles, and chairs so you don’t have to bring your own. We pick you up in Toulouse on Saturday and we take you back there on Saturday.

WORKSHOPS and DEMOS in 2019

Dillman's Festival, Ft Myers Beach Art Association DEMO, Florida, January 26th  
For Information Click Here

Dillman's Festival, Marco Island Center for the Arts DEMO, Florida, January 27th,
For Information Click Here

Marco Island Center for the Arts WORKSHOP, Florida, January 29th-30th,
For Information Click Here

Dillman's Festival, Dunedin Fine Arts Center, DEMO & Paint Party, Florida, February 1st  
For Information Click Here

Dillman's Festival, The Villages, Demo & Paint Party, Florida, February 2nd   
For Information Click Here

Morris Watercolor Guild WORKSHOP, IL, March 1st,
Information to come

France Workshop WORKSHOP,France, March 13th-27th,
Information to come

Dillman's Acrylic WORKSHOP, Lac du Flambeau, WI, June 3rd - 6th 
For Information Click Here

Vermont Art Event WORKSHOP Classes, VT, July 29th - August 2nd, 
Information to come 

Cheap Joes WORKSHOP, Boone NC, Sept. 9th - 13th  
For Information Click Here

Dillman's Watercolor WORKSHOP, Lac du Flambeau, WI, Sept. 23d - 26th 
For Information Click Here