Sunday 10th will be our first morning in the studio and you will
slowly begin to explore further the use of dyes and resists, water
and salt.
Over the next five days (11th to the 15th) the course will follow a
regular daily pattern. Each day (except Saturday 9th) we will
meet in the studio at around 9.30 am and spend the morning
painting with a short break for Organic coffee and biscuits mid-
morning.
At 13.30 we will break for lunch - this will either be home cooked
in the village or at a local restaurant.
Friday 15th August will be your last day and I will ask you to
complete any work you may have by 13.00 so I can steam it by
the evening ready for you to take home the next day.
Each evening we will eat together in the village or at local
restaurants a short drive from the village. When booking please
let me know of any special dietary requirements you may have.
During the course you will be using Habotai 8 silk. Habotai is a
soft medium weight sheer silk originally from Japan but now
made in China. It was traditionally used for Kimonos. and now
often used for Lingerie, Scarves and Blouses.
Habotai 8 refers to the weight of the silk and while weight ranges
from 5mm to 16 mm I prefer 8mm as it is easy to work with.
We shall begin by working with small silk squares to practice
technique and the use of brushes/water/resist, once you are
more confident, we can move onto larger pieces including
scarves.
After the initial small squares, you will be able to create a four or
six-foot-long scarf and two square or rectangular pictures of
medium size 50 x 50cm as part of the inclusive cost.
Outside of the above-mentioned silks there is a charge at very
reasonable cost for any extra pieces.
The accommodation is in the village in ancient 14th/15th
century around houses of timber and local stone, each one
being unique in its history, layout and ambience.
You will usually share the house with others attending the
course.
The bedrooms are mostly single or shared with twin beds.
A double room is available should you wish to bring a partner
along, there is a reduced price for partners not doing silk
painting.
There are reduced rates for students by arrangement.
I will need proof of current study, current course
documentation.
There are also reduced rates for those coming on a return visit.
For anyone who may wish to stay in the village before travelling
on in Europe after the course i am able to offer overnight
lodging and a simple meal for one night at no further charge,
please let me know beforehand if this is of interest.
The nearest airports are Toulouse and Carcassonne with
Toulouse being the best for International flights.
The village of Durfort and directions can be found on the map
page on this website
Car Hire:
Car hire companies include the following:
Avis - www.avis.com
Ada – www.ada.fr
Hertz – www.hertz.co.uk/France
Sixt – www.sixt.com
Europecar – www.europcar.com
These companies are usually available at both Toulouse and
Carcassonne airports. I hope to have provided enough
information about the course and accommodation but there will
no doubt be questions. Please email me with any queries and I
will respond with helpful, practical answers as soon as possible.
Contacting me is easy.
Either by email – stephen.mason7@gmail.com
Or by telephone on - 0044 (0)7875 466912
Driving to Durfort from Toulouse Airport ( Blagnac).
1 ) Join the ring road 'peripherique'
and follow until you hit junction (sortie)
no 18 which is signposted to: Labege, Revel, St. Oren
2 ) Once you turn off take the D2 road towards Revel.
Follow the D2 through the french countryside and many small villages until you pass St Felix Lauragais.
3 ) Once past St Felix following a long straight road over a level crossing you will reach a T junction. At this point leave the D2 and turn left onto the D622.
4 ) Follow D622 into Revel and then continue through the first two traffic roundabouts.
When you reach the third traffic roundabout, take the third road with the Café de Commerce on the left.
5 ) Continue driving past the large church on the left.
This road is the small ring road that goes around the town of Revel.
Take right turn at the sign for Soreze, Durfort, Dourgne onto the D85.
6 ) Drive roughly one mile to the bridge sign posted at Pont Crouzet. Continue the left hand bend over the second bridge and take the first road on the right signed as D44 Durfort.
7 ) Follow the D44 straight into Durfort.
Pass " O feel de L' o " bar on the right side and the red Marie building on the left.
Follow the road as it hooks around the outside of the church past the rear of a line of houses, finally parking under the large lime tree at the top end of the village near the water reservoir in the road.
Welcome to Durfort
