Dale and Janny Elliott have been in the painting Holiday and Art Workshop business for more than two decades. In their early years they started as facilitators on the Mont aux Sources Painting Holidays in the 1980s, and after a brief chapter at San Lameer they created their acclaimed Knysna Painting Holidays in their Leisure Isle, Knysna studios. From this beautiful setting they conducted close on 200 courses over 15 years. Nearly 2000 creative people shared the magic of the brush, canvas and palette with them, and they made countless friends with beginner and advanced artists from all over the world. In January 2004 they sold their Leisure Isle property, deciding to replace it with a new Studio closer to Cape Town. They did however decide to retain their prominent Art Gallery in Woodmill Lane, in downtown Knysna.

NEW CHALLENGES

Dale and Janny are constantly in search of new ideas and a fresh modus operandi, and this fact (together with a desire to live closer to their children in the Western Cape!) led them on an intensive search to find a stimulating environment in which to create a whole new art scene for themselves - and their participants. They looked at many options, and eventually the obvious choice was the beautiful small town of Villiersdorp - a relatively undiscovered hamlet on the borders between the Boland and the Overberg in the Western Cape - two of the most picturesque areas of our Land.

NEW-FORMAT COURSES

Dale has spent much time researching a new format for thier courses in thier new-generation phase, and has decided to offer participants painting tuition in his studio over 3 days, in selected weeks of the year. These days will be Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the nominated weeks.

UNIQUE MULTI-LEVEL APPROACH

Dale has researched and applied a unique multi-level approach on his courses, where Advanced and Beginner artists can work side-by-side, each with an individual challenge and goal.
He gives individual instruction where necessary, assisting with the problems and challenges facing each participant. He has developed a set of acclaimed 'steps' in painting to assist participants, and he encourages advancement within the individual style of each artist.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE COURSES

Dale & Janny conduct separate courses in oils and watercolours. Each artist should complete at least one painting per day, and Dale will adjust his pace and apply his assistance in line with the dictates of each individual. The workshops are designed to be hands-on, with the accent on physical painting and technique-gathering, but there will be a plethora of supplementary art-input and the inevitable cross-pollination of ideas, camaraderie and stimuli emanating from the studio environment. Dale encourages disciplined work in a relaxed and comfortable studio environment, with an accompanying stimulating right-brain music program.