Botanical watercolor with Nicoletalle

Botanical watercolor with Nicoletalle
19-26 Nov 2023

About The Teacher :

Nicole López, better known as Nicoletalle, is a Chilean architect​ and artist, based in Santiago de Chile.
With a deep love for nature, her work focuses on botanical watercolor paintings. She seeks to represent the shape and colors of flowers and plants in her work with​ great detail.
She has been working as an illustrator and an art teacher for the last 7 years, collaborating with organizations and individuals who seek to connect with nature​ through the practice of painting.


Workshop Description by Nicoletta :

Let me invite you on a journey of seeing the nature of Morocco with different eyes and creating realistic paintings of local flora. During the eight days we will spend together, you will be able to fully focus on nothing but painting and enjoying the beauty of Morocco. We'll begin our program with a variety of exercises on different techniques of applying watercolors on paper and the use of light and shadow in order to create volumes. Later, we are going to study the basics of color theory and start practising how to paint the flowers and plants we observe on site in a realistic style. This course gives you the opportunity to learn my techniques to paint gorgeous flowers, create vibrant colors, paint petals with great texture and bring nature alive through detail in your paintings. Join me in painting and bring the uniqueness of nature's flora to paper, and look forward to keeping your wonderful paintings as special memories of an unforgettable experience. As the teacher's native language is Spanish, this course is going to be supported by a guide and translator. Please feel invited to participate whichever country you are from.

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Day 1

NOV 19 : Marrakesh “Marhaba! (Hello!)”:

Arrival to Marrakesh, welcome of participants by our guide DAHMAN and the driver. Departure to Essaouira by bus (17 places).

Overnight stay in Essaouira.

 

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Day 2

NOV 20 : “Closer to the Sun”:

After breakfast we will take a little walk outside the old medina (old walled city) to reach our place where we will have a beautiful view of the reflection of the walls and the big boats on the sea, and the lunch break. In the afternoon, we will go back inside the walls going to a panoramic terrace where we will have the opportunity to paint multiple views like roofs and terraces of the city, the sea and the famous Skala (castle/harbor).

Overnight stay in Essaouira.

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Day 3

NOV 21 The Souk


“The Souk (traditional shop ) and Crafts”: Excursion to the village of Ida Ougourd with the donkey market, breeders and merchants trade; animals, materials, spices, meats, fruits and vegetables….etc… A total immersion in the rural environment and the unique opportunity to take our meal with the locals. Return to the lodge at the end of the day. Overnight in Essaouira.


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Day 4

NOV 22 : “The Harbor”:


After breakfast we will go to the port where we will spend the whole day, painting different views, from the Skala (harbor) of the port that has a panoramic view where we can see the medina, the port, the bay, the Island of Mogador, and the dance of the seagulls in the air as they are letting themselves be carried by the winds. We will also witness the return of the fishermen and go to the rudimentary shipyard where carpenters build boats and paint them in blue.


Overnight stay in Essaouira. 

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Day 5

 NOV 23 : “The Beach"


 “The Beach": Excursion to the beaches of Sidi Kaouki, panoramic sketches. Grilled fish on the beach for the lunch break. In the afternoon, visit a traditional argan oil factory. Sketch sessions during the women's work, then return to the lodge at the end of the day. Overnight in Essaouira.

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Day 6

NOV 24 : “The Skala Day”:


Today is the time to visit the main Skala (castle) with her beautiful view and her stunning old cannons facing the sea. Lunch break in a terrace near the Skala. In the afternoon, we will have a tourist visit in the medina (old walled city).

Overnight stay in Essaouira.

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Day 7

NOV 25 : “ Souvenirs Day”:


Morning on the terrace of the gîte for the finalization of the sketchbook. Advice for your layouts, various collages, and texts. Lunch break. In the afternoon, free time: shopping for souvenirs, pleasure sessions in the hammam, strolling in the sandstone of the wind. Last night in Essaouira.

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Day 8

NOV 26 : “Harvest Day”:


Depart to the airport.

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Why you will love this trip

*Essaouira gained UNESCO status thanks to it being a prime example of an 18th-century fortified town. The city walls are an incredible reminder of its past, the medina inside still very much a part of its present. The harbor is chock full of traditional fishermen's boats, and you'll catch them (the fishermen—not the boats) hauling in their catch or mending their nets on the regular. The entire port is ridiculously picturesque, in that gritty, nostalgic kind of way.


*To get into Essaouira's history, carve out ample time in your itinerary to just wander. You likely won't get too lost—the streets are linked in such a way that you're never too far from the main thoroughfare running through its center, the spine of the medina. It stretches from the North Gate, Bab Doukkala, all the way to Place Moulay Hassan, by the waterfront.


Material list (the minimum required for each participant):

  • Watercolor paints (tube or cake format) - colors similar to:
    • Lemon yellow (cold yellow)
    • Deep yellow (warm yellow)
    • Cadmium red (medium)
    • Permanent carmine or Quinacridone rose
    • Ultramarine blue
    • Cerulean blue
    • Viridian
    • Burnt umber
    • Quinacridone gold or Yellow ochre
    • Sap green
    • Burnt sienna
    • Perylene maroon
    • Perylene violet
    • Neutral tint or Payne's gray (optional)
    • Quinacridone coral or Opera pink/Opera rose (optional)
  • 1 mixing palette
  • 1 graphite pencil H (hard)
  • 1 graphite pencil B (black)
  • 1 rubber/eraser
  • 1 blending stump
  • round tip watercolor brushes in the following sizes:
    • 18/0
    • 5/0
    • 00
    • 1
    • 4
    • 6
  • 1 pad of watercolor paper with the following requirements:
    • size: A4 or similar (21x29cm / 9x12in)
    • minimum of 20 sheets
    • hot pressed or cold pressed (fine grain)
    • minimum grammage: 300 gsm
    • ideally 100% cotton, acid free
  • 1 roll of masking tape
  • paper towels

For more details on the itinerary of this trip, I invite you to read the document which you will find below in the section " Itinerary and Book this Retreat ".

Terms

Workshop Trip 8 days / 7 nights all inclusive:
This price includes:
- More than 40 hours of lessons spread over 8 days for a maximum group of 12 people
- Airport / Hotel transfers
- (air-conditioning) 17-seater vehicle with driver
- official licend tourist guides
- Full board accommodation, double room for couples (all rooms have a private bathroom)
- Tourist taxes to be paid on site
Accompanying Person Trip 8 days / 7 nights all inclusive:
- Full board accommodation, double room for couples (all rooms have a private bathroom)
- Airport / Hotel transfers
- (air-conditioning) 17-seater vhicle with driver
- official licend tourist guides
- Tourist taxes to be paid on site
These prices do not include:
- Roundtrip flights to Marrakech
- Painting equipment
- Entrance fees to monuments
- On-site purchases.
-IF someone want a single room He should add another 150 Euro
Cancellation:

v-In case of withdrawal by a participant within 90 days of commencement of the workshop, the amount already paid will not be refunded.

v-In case of cancellation of the trip by the organisers, a new date will be proposed. Any participant who cannot avail of the new date will be fully refunded of the sum already paid.

v-In the event the organisers cancel the trip with no alternative date proposed, all sums paid by the participant will be fully refunded.


Gallery Photos :


Do you have pre-booking questions? Please contact us.

contact us quick question

Good To Know

Travelers from the US only are required to have a valid US Passport – but it must NOT be due to expire within 6 months of your return flight.

Your flight destination will be Marrakech Menara International Airport (RAK) / Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport. Royal Air Maroc is the only airline that has direct flights from the US to Morocco, from both JFK and Washington Dulles.

You can also book flights traveling through major European airports, as there are many connecting flights to Marrakech through economy airlines such as Ryan Air, Easyjet, Iberia, etc. We’ve found that it is easier to find good connecting flights on the way to Marrakech than on the return, but you can take the opportunity to end your trip with a day or two stop in Spain, France, Portugal, England….

Immunizations are not required or necessary but check here for CDC recommendations.

Weather is predictably unpredictable so be sure to check on the estimated conditions the week before you travel. Even though Marrakech can be quite warm by day, it is usually quite cooler at night so pack light clothes that you can layer. We recommend cotton pants, long skirts, wraps or large scarves over tank and tee shirts, and a sweater or light jacket for chilly nights.

Your most important fashion asset: comfortable shoes for traversing the Medina on sightseeing and shopping adventures!

Morocco is a Muslim country and women generally dress more modestly than in the US or Europe. Like elsewhere, dress codes are gradually becoming more lax and there is a lot of tolerance for tourists, but wearing clothing that covers your best “assets”, and that your grandmother would approve of, shows cultural respect, good taste, and common sense.

The currency here is the Moroccan Dirham, and the exchange rate usually hovers these days around 10 Dirhams/1 Dollar. You CANNOT exchange for Dirhams outside of Morocco, but there are several currency exchange booths in the airport when you exit Passport Control and also located all around the Medina. Larger stores and restaurants may take Euros, but it’s really best to have dirhams.

If you bring large bills ($100) to exchange be sure that they are newer bills with holograms. Otherwise they will slide them back to you with a shake of their head.

Another good option for padding your wallet with dirhams is to use the ATM machines which are located around the medina. The exchange rate is a little better, especially if your bank or credit card doesn’t add foreign transaction fees (some homework for you). Be sure to notify your bank of your foreign travel destination so they don’t flag you for fraud. I also recommend that you bring 2 or 3 cards-just in case you still get flagged (happens!) and find too many things you just can’t live without.

  • Free Wifi access in all rooms and common areas
  • Bedside Mineral Water
  • Hair Dryers
  • One-time complimentary laundry service for retreat weeks

Extra items you should pack:

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