If you want a creative escape in a quaint and authentic little French village with welcoming hosts and one-to-one tuition, then this art retreat is for you. I went with my adult daughter who was able to work remotely while I went sketching outdoors each day and painted in the afternoon. I came away with an experience of a lifetime. Highly recommended.

My wife and I stayed at Artelier Provence whilst she undertook a two day workshop with Jean Louis. On our first evening we were invited to join the family for an evening meal which was a lovely opportunity to meet Fiona and Jean Louis and to learn about the long history of the village of Jouques. We were fortunate to be able to stay on site in our own guest accommodation. This had it’s own entrance and consisted of a spacious bedroom with a separate bathroom. Upstairs there was a large, well equipped kitchen and living space with views over the houses oppposite and up the hills. This light and airy space was ideal to relax and prepare meals or just read a book which gave us the opportunity to have a mini experience of living in a small village. Long term free parking is available just 100 metres from Artelier Provence if you are driving yourself, although it is very accessible by public transport from Aix en Provence. The village of Jouques boasts 3 Boulangeries, a small supermarket and cafes and restaurants. There are a number of walks that can be undertaken in the hills above the village and Fiona is extremely happy to offer suggestions and guidance regarding these. All in all this was a wonderful stay in a genuine Provençal village made so much better by warm and generous hosts. It was a truly added bonus to the very exciting painting workshop that my wife had spent two days enjoying.

This was the highlight of my trip to France!! Jean-Louis was friendly, warm, prepared, a fantastic artist and teacher. We had a small group and spent the morning sketching different views, learning shading and picking which we liked best. He gave us advice and would review our work throughout but was never imposing or pressuring. After grabbing a sandwich from a local shop, with Jean-Louis‘ help, we focused on color theory and paint mixing for the final piece. The afternoon was a mix of solo painting time, talking out ideas with him and getting tips. It was incredibly enjoyable, and I couldn’t BELIEVE I made a complete painting by the end!! Seriously amazing. Highly highly recommend!!

'Paint a picture of Provence' - The start of fulfilling a longheld desire. Artelier Provence and artist and highly competent teacher Jean Louis was a wonderful find in our local Western Australian newspaper, but that is another story. My tuition involved learning some essentials of colour theory and enjoying painting, drawing and composition workshops. We spent time sketching in the local environment and also a little further afield in a bucolic rural setting full of peace and productive sketching to be used for the afternoon painting sessions. The opportunity to spend time drawing en-plein-air was particularly valuable and provided the vision and context to create the artwork back in the studio. As an artist, Jean Louis's studio was a visual delight with his own current series of work in progress, completed artworks and a significant collection of books and resource materials to illustrate ideas visually. The village of Jouques is on a local bus route about 45 minutes bus ride from Aix -en-Provence. There is plenty to enjoy in the village and whilst I was busy with art, my husband was able to enjoy the village life. We also enjoyed the hospitality offered by Jean Louis and his wife Fiona and stayed in their accommodation. After a wonderful meal on our first night we were also able to enjoy the local area including over the three days we stayed a matching number of local boulangeries!

My experience at Atelier Provence was wonderful. Jean Luis was very patient and helped me a lot with the new encaustic oils. Will definitely follow his advice and improve my skills. Besides the classes it was a great experience to spend the week in Jouques.

A week in magical Jouques, a delightful town in Provence where you can shop in the village and prepare your food in your own apartment's kitchen! With talented artist and teacher Jean-Louis, who shares his creative knowledge and experience with you in a program designed specifically for your artistic level and aspirations. I left with greater confidence in my artistic vision, capabilities and new skills for future paintings. I realized the dream of a lifetime to paint in the lavender fields of Provence. Thanks to Fiona and Jean-Louis for their kind hospitality (especially first aid for my broken ribs) and delightful conversation over afternoon tea

I spent the day with Jean- Louis working on my sketching and canvas painting skills. I can highly recommend Jean-Louis as an incredibly skilled, patient, talented art instructor who takes his time to explain all the important aspects to mixing paint, principles of sketching and so much more. He adapts to one’s level and his passion and joy for art and teaching is apartment when spending the day with him. It was one of the best art courses I’ve ever done and I felt energised to apply what I learnt in Jocques with Jean-Louis. Just a fantastic experience that immerses you into a world of creativity, learning and fun - at the end of the workshop I went home with a beautiful painting created during the workshop of Jocques which will be a prized memory from my trip to the Provence. 🌹

A great, fun activity for all ages and all abilities. We had a fab evening with Fiona, and Jean Louis who were the perfect hosts. Lots of laughs, lovely food and drink and friendly competitive games - what’s not to love. Highly recommend!

A lovely evening of instruction, fun and laughs where everyone seemed to win and learn a new skill. Something I will continue to remind me about my days in this beautiful retreat at Jouques.

I stayed with Jean Louis and Fiona for two days, but I wish it could have been longer! They were both very kind and hospitable, inviting me for meals and showing me around Jouques. Their home and studio is beautiful and well set up. JL was a great teacher and very accommodating, adapting the painting curriculum to work for me. I learned a lot, and would highly recommend this retreat to people of any skill level.

Jean and Fiona are great hosts, and while it was such fun playing boules in the village square with them, I was free to come and go from my own entrance into the street above them. Thats how much the village grows up the hillside. Easy half hour bus ride into Aix on Provence, and pretty local walks to keep fit. At the end of a busy day it was nice to relax in my own simply furnished space, using local produce to cook delicious food. The house itself is a work of art in the local style. My husband can't wait to have a holiday here when he is fully retired. I would like to try the art courses, as I feel confident Jean would be patient with a novice such as myself. Fiona filled me in on lots of local information and I must say the absence of a language barrier was a relief.

I found the 4-day workshop with Artelier Provence - to my delight - by chance. The six days I spend in the village were a joyful experience. I was the only participant (because of Covid) and felt thoroughly spoiled with attention. Jean-Louis was a skilled and patient teacher as well as a brilliant guide to the village. I was a delight having a bilingual ciceron with personal relationships in the village, who also spoke perfect English. Jouques is such a charming village. Small and friendly and after just under a week it really felt like home. The course itself was well structured and didn’t require too much previous knowledge of painting. Most of all I liked the way we would refer other contemporary artists to discuss techniques and colours and get inspiration. The studio, lodgings and private living areas are all in the same house. It was such a lovely house, ancient, but beautifully renovated. The bedroom was comfortable and the private kitchen well-equipped. There were dozens of books on art and design to be inspired by. I will be back! Perhaps another season (to see the lavender), perhaps another painting medium.

Our experience with Jean-Louis and Fiona was beyond our expectations. The small village of Jouques is very charming and the setting of the pétanque ground had a great view on the village with the sunset. We had a lot of fun learning and sharing time with the hosts. They also gave us a good recommendation for dinner afterwards. Definitely the highlight of our trip in Provence. Thank you so much again!

Our holiday in Jouques was very successful. Besides the village itself and surroundings, Fiona and Jean-Louis's hospitality and local knowledge helped us make the best of the place. Jean-Louis has a gallery on site that is well worth a visit, with paintings produced using a novel technique that gives lots of texture, with colours that really jump out at you. The village is both authentic and picturesque, and with easy access to Aix en Provence it made for a great week.

Such a beautiful village and wonderful little reinvigoration of an well oriented house within the old walls. Jean Louis and Fiona are great value and a wealth of knowledge for the region, they are also wonderful hosts. We stayed with them for a few days and also took time to play petanque with them on a few occasions. This was one of the nicest experiences of our time in France. Would recommend to anyone in the region wanting a low key end to the day or another excuse for apero (if, that is, anyone could need an excuse).