Painting South Africa with Dennis and Nolan Clark is not just about learning to paint, learning new techniques and improving existing techniques. We offer our guests a complete African adventure which allows our guests to learn, relax, experience and be thrilled by our wonderful country.
Please Note that only groups bookings of six or more are accepted.
Most holidays start on Sunday and ease on through to Saturday. In Africa time moves at a more relaxed pace than the rest of the world. This allows us to do more, see more and appreciate more in the same time. We call it Africa time and it's very addictive.
To allow our guests to experience as much of South Africa as possible, we have carefully selected our destinations to suit everybody's taste and pocket. Although all destinations offer safe game viewing, there is much more to South Africa than that. Our destinations have something for everyone eg. a true ethnic village, HUGE ethnic curio markets, tented bush accommodation, safe bush walks, sundowner cruises, traditional boma braai's (bush barbecue), Cape wines, luxurious thatched accommodation, hot air balloon breakfasts, traditional dancers, and most importantly, world class painting tuition.
Although there is never a dull moment on one of our holidays, the pace is relaxed. We usually paint in the morning and early afternoon with time for a thrilling activity late afternoon/early evening. The activity then forms the basis of the next day's painting. Evenings are spent at leisure chatting to fellow guests around the camp fire, at the bush bar, lounge or just relaxing in your room/tent/chalet. Wednesday is a free day when we take time off from painting to allow our guests to go on some of the many interesting excursions available.
Partners of guests who don't paint are of course very welcome and join us on our non painting excursions and activities. They also pay a discounted price.
Tuition is by Dennis and Nolan Clark, (read more about them), their instruction is informal, relaxed and enthusiastic with an emphasis on personal attention. They mainly demonstrate in oils, but artists who paint in oils, acrylics, pastels or watercolour are welcome and will be instructed accordingly. Their techniques, developed by Dennis over a lifetime, are not only easy to master, but highly effective in achieving paintings that portray high detail with little effort. Dennis has been teaching his techniques successfully for over 20 years and in 2000 Nolan joined him to help cope with the huge demand. Together they form the perfect father-son teaching machine :-)
They specialise in beginners and never cease to amaze new students with the quality of even their first painting. More experienced artists always learn new techniques and improve on existing techniques. Their teaching style is very positive with an emphasis on building the artists confidence through results and positive talk. There are no crit sessions on their holidays - they are replaced by "encourager sessions". Tuition is very hands-on with artists learning from demonstrations and painting the subjects themselves. Dennis and Nolan live by the motto : "Everybody has the talent, it just needs somebody to help you develop it" - and it hasn't let them down in over 20 years. Some students paintings can be seen in the studio section of the site.
Holiday packages vary from All Inclusive - tuition, accommodation, all meals (except Wednesday unless otherwise noted), excursions (except Wednesday unless otherwise noted) and transfers from the airport to the destination and back. While other packages are self drive, self catering for those who prefer to do their own thing. Items not included in the price are airline tickets to/from South Africa, alcoholic beverages, drinks outside of class time, insurance, telephone calls, laundry and other items of a personal nature.
Note : South Africa is a big meat eating nation and although they do cater for vegetarians, the vegetarian menus are generally limited.
Some interesting facts about South Africa and the painting holidays :
1) Only safe routes are taken to the destinations.
2) The currency is Rands and Cents.
3) All destination are malaria free except Ingwe.
4) South Africa has nine provinces.
5) The Rand/Dollar exchange rate allows our international guests to enjoy a more luxurious holiday at a fraction of the cost.
6) Afrikaans is the only Germanic language to evolve outside of Europe and is similar to Dutch.
7) A beer costs around R7, a bottle of quality local wine costs R80. Check the exchange rate here.
8) South African tap water is safe to drink, but bottled water is available at most retail outlets.
9) The Paint Basket has been teaching students successfully for over 20 years.
10) South Africa has a perennially sunny climate with midwinter in June/July and midsummer in December/January.
11) The Paint Basket supplies painting guests with canvas, easles, turps etc. Guests need only bring own brushes and paints.
12) South Africa has 11 official languages, English is understood by most.
13) Cameras and/or video cameras are essential for all outings.
14) South Africans drive on the left hand side of the road.
15) Destinations have been chosen for paintability, activities offered, value for money, service, cleanliness and safety.
16) South African time is 1-2 hours ahead of London, 7 hours ahead of New York and 9 hours behind Sydney.
17) South Africa has a population of about 44 million.
18) South Africa is the best developed, most stable and most prosperous country on the continent.
19) Famous South Africans include Nelson Mandela, Chris Barnard, Charlise Theron, Ernie Els and of course Gary Player.
20) South Africa is 9026 kilometers from London, 7686 miles from New York and 11078 kilometers from Sydney.
Make it a one week break-away or the start or end of your South Africa holiday.
