I invite you on a journey of discovery, of inspiration, learning and artistic exploration. For this Embark on Art adventure we are headed to Paris, France.

Our itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: Arrival and Architecture

We settle into our boutique-looking bed and breakfast and grab a croissant at the patisserie below before we take a walk along the Seine and pop into Sainte-Chapelle to sit in the beautiful splendor of its stained-glass windows.

Notre Dame is right there as well so you walk over and snap some pictures, or sit outside in the square to do some sketching.

We spend the evening sitting with a glass of red at a small restaurant near the hotel and people watch before retiring for the night.

Art Activities:

To be Announced

Day 2: Monet’s gardens

We will hop on an early morning train ride to Giverny, where we have day passes to visit Monet’s home and gardens. Get those sketchbooks or paints ready! Today is meant to be a calm, meditative day spent in greenery.

Art Activities:

Option A: I will walk you through the techniques and approach Monet used in his work to paint in his style in my workshop: Paint Like Monet.

Option B: You will use the image references from our tour to inspire your own small work.

Materials required for Option A activity include: I will work in acrylic but you are free to work in acrylic or oil paint. Monet used the following colors:

• Lead white (modern equivalent = titanium white)
• Chrome yellow (modern equivalent = ​cadmium yellow​ light)
• Cadmium yellow
• Viridian green
• Emerald green (Pthalo green can be an alternate)
• French ultramarine (ultramarine blue can be an alternate)
• Cobalt blue
• Madder red (modern equivalent = alizarin crimson)
• Vermilion (cadmium red light can be an alternate)
• Ivory black (but only if you're copying a Monet from before 1886)

Feel free to obtain these colors specifically or have similar colors ready to use. You can paint on paper or canvas. I also suggest you have scrap paper, a pencil, water, towel to dab your paintbrush and assorted paintbrushes.

Day 3: Museum Tour

After waking and enjoying a distant view of the Eiffel Tower while enjoying room service (and let’s be honest, another croissant), you’re ready to walk to the Louvre so you can get in and get out to see the (in)famous Mona Lisa. After you visit a few other works you pop on over to Museé D’Orsay to revel in its architecture as well as the amazing collection of impressionist works.

Lunch comes a little late but you make sure you have a leisurely afternoon sitting in the garden of Museé Rodin before your evening dinner cruise on the Seine.

Art Activities:

To be Announced

Day 4: Departure

You wake today knowing it's your last day and you have a plane to catch. But we can squeeze in one more excursion before taking the tour bus to the airport. We hop off and take a look at the Arc de Triomphe.

Art Activities:

To be Announced

All aboard!

Your captain,

Carrie

P.S. Just a reminder - this is an armchair travel adventure. No airplanes or boats or museum passes needed! This is your chance to enjoy some rest, exploring, learning, and connection. You deserve it.