i know, i know, yet another school.....

i ventured up to La Colle sur Loup this afternoon to investigate another art school...Maison des Arts to see if it had more to offer than the currently bleak state of affairs at the "Academy"...and indeed, by comparison, it was glorious! a beautiful little village, a lovingly renovated house and actual facilities...complete with sunny spacious studios, terraces and gardens, and A SUPPLY ROOM with, gasp!..supplies! its a very different approach than the "leave you alone in a dingy damp basement room with the local drunk for a model to draw with one stub of charcoal on grocery bag paper for 6 hours a day" approach i'm subject to in Valluris... this program is week long intensive courses in drawing and painting (charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, oil) with a rigorous review of the academic principles and techniques. its a bed and breakfast set up..most students are on a holiday of sorts, but after a long discussion with the very accomodating director, we may be able to work something out for myself as a "day student"...he is keen to negotiate the fees as his bookings are way down, he's lost nearly all his American clientele this year....a great pity, as it is an amazingly beautiful place, very well appointed.