Kerala (India) Painting Holiday with Susanna Bailey

Transfer from Cochin airport to our first hotel in The Backwaters region. The Hotel sits right on the edge of the lagoon and provides a deep sense of calm, a wonderful place to relax after a long flight. Settle in and find your feet. By early evening we will be ready to come together for an informal introduction, short tutorial and tips and tricks for making the most of this painting holiday in Kerala. Juice/cookies/mineral water will be provided during the travel in the bus and Lunch will be provided at the hotel. Rest of the afternoon free to relax / enjoy swimming pool. (Optional Ayurveda massage possible in the hotel).

The best way to see The Backwaters is from the water, so we soak it all up on a boat trip along local canals. Houseboats, fishing boats, ferry canoes, women washing clothes and cooking pots, birds and a tangle of tropical plants. We take photographs and make quick sketches on the move – don’t forget to make colour notes. Experiment with small-scale painting on the canal side, focusing on reflections, movement and colour. We have lunch with a local family – a traditional meal served on banana leaves, fingers only! Learn how to include people in your paintings, and how to capture the sunset – be quick, dusk comes very quickly.

Our tutor will offer demonstrations on technique and there is always an informal critique of the days events. We have scheduled in time to relax, have a massage, take a swim and absorb!
In the morning, you can have a 3 hours boat cruise from 0930 to 1230 hrs. After the boat cruise a traditional Kerala Lunch at Boatman’s house will be provided. Then transfer a painting session near the boatman house and after transfer to Hotel.

After the breakfast, you will drive to a location near the canal and a temple for painting. Lunch will be served in a restaurant near the location and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon painting session at Hotel.

Our tutor will offer demonstrations on technique and there is always an informal critique of the days events. We have scheduled in time to relax, have a massage, take a swim and absorb!
In the morning, you can have a 3 hours boat cruise from 0930 to 1230 hrs. After the boat cruise a traditional Kerala Lunch at Boatman’s house will be provided. Then transfer a painting session near the boatman house and after transfer to Hotel.

After breakfast from the Hotel, drive to Periyar. The five hour drive to Thekkady in Periyar is spectacular as our minibus climbs high into the green hills. After settling in at the luxury Elephant Route Hotel, we take a walk to absorb local life and colour. We head off early next morning to Chellar Kovil region, and a plantation with a high view point. We paint ‘the big picture’ birds eye views, before looking at subjects close up; exotic plants and spices. Paint amidst cardamom, pepper, fenugreek and cinnamon in the spice gardens. As an optional extra, we visit a local school of Keralan cuisine to watch a cooking demonstration before dining on the delicious results!

On your free day, choose from various options including a boat cruise on the lake, visiting the most fantastic bookshop or a visit to an elephant sanctuary – a wonderful opportunity to capture these majestic beasts in our sketch books.

In the evening we are treated to a thrilling display of Kerala Martial Arts – The Kalaripayattu show and can have an evening village walk.

In the morning after breakfast 10 mins drive to  spice plantation for a visit and painting session. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.  Afternoon Optional Jeep safari to Tamil Nadu or own activities.

Painting with Elephants, in the morning and Lunch will be served in a local restaurant and back to hotel for painting session or free for optional tour, for example boat ride or jungle walk.

Periyar-Munnar transfer. Lunch will be served en route half way at a restaurant.
The tea plantations surrounding the hill station of Munnar in The Western Ghats. At 1,500 metres, this vibrant small town is set amidst lush, green tea gardens that contour the landscape. We can walk into Munnar from our hotel. We move around with our sketchbooks capturing varied subjects, a temple, Churchill bridge, Main street and the busy vegetable market – learn the art of quick sketching.

Our painting locations reflect the fresh greens of this tea-growing region. We take on the challenge of painting all that green, and looking more closely at rhythm and pattern. At Seven Malai, a pretty village with a river running through it, we spend a few hours painting the plantation workers colourful cottages, in the shade of large trees.

The Hotel has an upper restaurant from where we can paint the magnificent views from the panoramic windows. There is time to rest and recuperate between excursions.
Evening free to walk around in the town.

Full day dedicated for painting and back to hotel by evening.

Morning 10min drive to a tea plantation for painting and after lunch option to visit Tea Museum and watch different activities of tea making & visit to Eravikulam National park, Dam and Eco point etc…

Morning Transfer to Fort Kochi.

We set off early on the last leg of our adventure, through varied landscapes of mountains, waterfalls, towns and villages and stop at aptly named ‘Cloud 9’ restaurant for lunch with panoramic views. It’s a perfect spot for photographs.

We are staying in the stylish Hotel in the heart of Fort Cochin. This old European settlement and the many wonderful buildings remind us of its rich colonial past. After restoring ourselves, we take a walk to see the glorious Chinese fishing nets, stalls and shops on the sea front, before watching the sun dip into the Arabian Sea, once more.

After breakfast  guided city tour  to visit to Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church and Chinese Fishing Net, Jewish Synagogue, Etc…  Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Afternoon painting session in the Hotel.

Morning painting session in the Hotel. Then transfer to a local restaurant for delicious pure vegetarian lunch and afternoon free for own programme.
In the evening, a Farewell Dinner will be served.

Like all good things, your painting holiday experience comes to an end but you will always carry with you memories of this unique and unforgettable experience. Today you will be assisted and transferred to Cochin International Airport.