We  recommend the following be included in your "packing list"..

Note:
Jill mainly works with water-colour, pencil, ink, charcoal and pastel, therefore the equipment list below is biased towards materials for water-colour and drawing. However, she has also worked with oils and acrylic paints in the past so, if you wish to come to paint in those media, just ignore the list below and bring whatever materials you want!

• Sketch pad (A5)

• H and 2B Pencils + pencil sharpener and putty eraser

• Fine drawing pens (005) - sepia and black

• Watercolours minimum selection = ultramarine, cobalt, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, burnt umber.

• Watercolour paper (Bockingford 'not' 140 lb or similar) - size A5 and A4

• Masking tape (1")

• Masking fluid (not essential)

• Watercolour brushes, sizes 6, 8, 12 (pointed)

• Medium rigger brush

• Large, flat wash brush (1")

• Any other brushes you prefer

• Plastic palette

• Carry-bag

   
Note:
We are now over ten years proper into the age of digital photography and that is now where we concentrate our instruction. However, guests who wish to shoot film are of course still very welcome (after all, the basic principles of photography haven't changed since 1834!)

ESSENTIAL

• Digital camera of your choice. The ability to manually control your camera (i.e. a facility to over-ride automated features) would greatly enhance your experience.
   

  • We have a camera for hire if required
     

• The user manual for your camera!!!

• Lens hood/s !  (unless your camera is a compact and can't use them)

• Battery charger and/or sufficient batteries to make sure you do not run out of power during the day

• Sufficient memory media if you are using digital.
  
  We regret that we cannot be responsible for transferring clients images to CD or DVD. If you wish to do this yourself you will need to bring your own laptop and software. Failing that, as requested above, please ensure you have enough digital storage cards to last the whole holiday or some sort of portable storage device to facilitate transfer of images and reformatting of the cards.
  
  However, should you run out of card space, it's a simple matter to purchase extra cards as we pass through our local town.

    OPTIONAL

• Lenses
  
  For digital SLR cameras not using full frame sensors, a range of lenses 18mm to 200mm (or zoom equivalent) would be good.

  If you have a digital SLR with a full frame sensor, a range of lenses 28mm to 300mm, or zoom equivalent, would be good
  
  If you also own wider and/or longer focal length lenses or zooms and have room to bring them, that would be perfect!

  For Nikon users, we have a range of Nikkor lenses available for hire.
   

• Tripod if you prefer to use your own (but we have three here if you don't have one or don't want to bring one)

• Polarising and/or neutral density filters (Polarisers are the most useful)

• Separate flash unit (if you have no built-in flash)

• If you wish to bring a laptop computer, that's fine (we have a Wi-Fi broadband connection at the house)
  
  A Nikon SB-800 i-TTL flashgun is also available for hire

The sun's "skin burning" power in southwest France can be pretty formidable; your hosts have even acquired a tan in February! Therefore we strongly recommend that you bring the following items with you :

• Sun cream (factor 30 minimum recommended)
• Sun hat (a peak or wide brim is recommended in order to prevent squinting)
• Sun glasses (neutral-coloured). Note: polarising lenses can affect your colour perception
• Lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and loose fitting lightweight trousers in addition to 'shorts and T-shirts'
• Lightweight "breathable" footwear
• Lightweight walking shoes (recommended but not essential) 'Trainers' are perfectly adequate