My Painting Holiday - Brian Pleasants
"Are you sure ?" I said... [as I got up off the floor].
"Why not? " replied my wife, " you've been wanting to return ever since our trip a couple of years ago".
Artist Craig Penny was offering an art tour based in Siem Reap for ten days in July. Before she could change her mind I made my initial contact with Team Craig & Glen. Then began a term of anticipation, realization and satisfaction from my departure to the present moment as I begin this report sitting in the departure lounge of Siem Reap airport.
Glen from Art Journeys Painting Holidays a student in Craig's class proposed a joint venture to make available art tours to Siem Reap, Cambodia. With Glen's business interests in the area and extensive knowledge of Cambodia history and way of life coupled with Craig's expertise as a teacher a new venture was set up and launched five years ago.
I and others have benefited tremendously from this partnership.
There were many highlights during the ten day experience not least the one on my first day.
After two flights I arrived relatively rested. Immigration required a visa and heeding the early advice from Glen I duly presented a passport picture with my completed paperwork and was amazed to be walking through to only ten minutes later. Met by Craig the journey by Tuk Tuk took 20 minutes or so through paddies with early stages of rice growth and a series of roadside entrepreneurs selling a range of goods from trinkets to coconuts.
Then came Highlight #1 - The Hotel.
This boutique residence accommodates just 15 guest rooms. Having experienced hotels in many countries over the years I have to rate this place one of the best.
There were many more Highlights to follow.
Because I was late in registering I arrived a day after the rest of the party. For that reason the Welcome Dinner was delayed to enable my participation.
Next morning began an "orientation day" with a small fleet of Tuk Tuks driving in convoy to various places of interest that included a temple, a typical market and a craft studio with young artists producing a variety of objects with great skill. Craig suggested we make good use of sketch books to record the sights along the way 'en plein air'.
One of the hotel’s family size rooms had been converted into a studio. Just outside that room on the balcony overlooking the pool, a large table had also been covered with a protective sheet to enable the watercolorists to work horizontal mode.
We had a tutorial next morning with Craig demonstrating his undoubted skill with both watercolor and acrylic using a photograph taken the previous day. He then issued copies of that same picture and we spent the rest of the day using our own particular medium with Craig continually circling to offer advice and encouragement.
The days followed with a mixture of "work" (information gathering) and “free time”.
The program included visits to the many different historic sites that surround Siem Reap and included the famous Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm temples.
For me, every visit was a highlight and every workday was so rewarding being in the company of like-minded people all so enthusiastic to improve their knowledge and technique. Craig was a constant source of information and encouragement. His 'partner in crime' Glen, was so knowledgeable about the country, the history and the people.
In constant attendance for our exploratory trips were temple guides Mr Sambath and Mr Bunsarng. Both Cambodian registered temple guides with perfect English and so full of information about the building and history of Angkor Wat and the famous Ta Prohm temples.
Every day was memorable. I personally benefited from the experience with a noticeable difference in my watercolour work. Craig works quickly (never takes more than an hour to complete a demo!) using brushes full of colour with noticeable differences between light and dark to create impact.
Could I suggest you seriously consider spending the grandchildren’s inheritance and treat yourselves and join in with Craig’s simple philosophy in art.
“For me painting is like life; giving yourself the skills, knowledge and integrity to be free to take what is thrown your way.
You don’t need to tame and control it for magic to happen….you just need to be there at the end…”
Craig Penny, Artist
Author - Brian Pleasants - Brighton Art Society, Victoria Australia
Photo & editing - Glen at Amazing Art Holidays
"Why not? " replied my wife, " you've been wanting to return ever since our trip a couple of years ago".
Artist Craig Penny was offering an art tour based in Siem Reap for ten days in July. Before she could change her mind I made my initial contact with Team Craig & Glen. Then began a term of anticipation, realization and satisfaction from my departure to the present moment as I begin this report sitting in the departure lounge of Siem Reap airport.
Glen from Art Journeys Painting Holidays a student in Craig's class proposed a joint venture to make available art tours to Siem Reap, Cambodia. With Glen's business interests in the area and extensive knowledge of Cambodia history and way of life coupled with Craig's expertise as a teacher a new venture was set up and launched five years ago.
I and others have benefited tremendously from this partnership.
There were many highlights during the ten day experience not least the one on my first day.
After two flights I arrived relatively rested. Immigration required a visa and heeding the early advice from Glen I duly presented a passport picture with my completed paperwork and was amazed to be walking through to only ten minutes later. Met by Craig the journey by Tuk Tuk took 20 minutes or so through paddies with early stages of rice growth and a series of roadside entrepreneurs selling a range of goods from trinkets to coconuts.
Then came Highlight #1 - The Hotel.
This boutique residence accommodates just 15 guest rooms. Having experienced hotels in many countries over the years I have to rate this place one of the best.
There were many more Highlights to follow.
Because I was late in registering I arrived a day after the rest of the party. For that reason the Welcome Dinner was delayed to enable my participation.
Next morning began an "orientation day" with a small fleet of Tuk Tuks driving in convoy to various places of interest that included a temple, a typical market and a craft studio with young artists producing a variety of objects with great skill. Craig suggested we make good use of sketch books to record the sights along the way 'en plein air'.
One of the hotel’s family size rooms had been converted into a studio. Just outside that room on the balcony overlooking the pool, a large table had also been covered with a protective sheet to enable the watercolorists to work horizontal mode.
We had a tutorial next morning with Craig demonstrating his undoubted skill with both watercolor and acrylic using a photograph taken the previous day. He then issued copies of that same picture and we spent the rest of the day using our own particular medium with Craig continually circling to offer advice and encouragement.
The days followed with a mixture of "work" (information gathering) and “free time”.
The program included visits to the many different historic sites that surround Siem Reap and included the famous Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm temples.
For me, every visit was a highlight and every workday was so rewarding being in the company of like-minded people all so enthusiastic to improve their knowledge and technique. Craig was a constant source of information and encouragement. His 'partner in crime' Glen, was so knowledgeable about the country, the history and the people.
In constant attendance for our exploratory trips were temple guides Mr Sambath and Mr Bunsarng. Both Cambodian registered temple guides with perfect English and so full of information about the building and history of Angkor Wat and the famous Ta Prohm temples.
Every day was memorable. I personally benefited from the experience with a noticeable difference in my watercolour work. Craig works quickly (never takes more than an hour to complete a demo!) using brushes full of colour with noticeable differences between light and dark to create impact.
Could I suggest you seriously consider spending the grandchildren’s inheritance and treat yourselves and join in with Craig’s simple philosophy in art.
“For me painting is like life; giving yourself the skills, knowledge and integrity to be free to take what is thrown your way.
You don’t need to tame and control it for magic to happen….you just need to be there at the end…”
Craig Penny, Artist
Author - Brian Pleasants - Brighton Art Society, Victoria Australia
Photo & editing - Glen at Amazing Art Holidays
Other Painting Holiday guests comments...
"It is nothing like I imagined - we have had such a fantastic painting holiday..." Judy & Donna
"I want to come again and bring my partner - a wonderful artists holiday experience..." Loretta
"I have travelled the world and Siem Reap is one place I would love to come back to..." Sandy
"It is nothing like I imagined - we have had such a fantastic painting holiday..." Judy & Donna
"I want to come again and bring my partner - a wonderful artists holiday experience..." Loretta
"I have travelled the world and Siem Reap is one place I would love to come back to..." Sandy