Art Holidays in France and Italy: Great Teachers, Beautiful Accommodations, No Hassles!
Welcome to Lisa’s Gryphon Art and Travel, the place where you can “Get a GRYP hon” your own creativity.
During your 10-day holiday, your home away from home will be a lovingly maintained chateau or 16th century Italian agriturismo (farm/villa) and UNESCO World Heritage Site..
Your hosts and hostesses are all excited to provide you with a true immersion experience of their beautiful areas, often acting as our personal guides to the best-kept secrets of the regions. Your meals are expertly prepared regional cuisine and wine is included.
We also provide the best and most-requested art teachers. They are here to provide daily art instruction and welcome all levels of students.
Along with new skills, many of our guests develop life-long friendships and valuable networks that they otherwise would not have created.
Today the world is a small place and we are all really more alike than different. Traveling and creating with Lisa’s Gryphon will provide you an opportunity to experience this for yourself.
And as Lisa so often says,
“It’s a small world…SOMEONE’s got to paint it!”
NEW Workshops for 2026 and 2027 will continue to be added. Keep checking back.
Watch the schedules…Abbey and Garden Tours, Wine, Cooking and Truffle Hunting on the Horizon
A new Monumental Cemeteries of Italy Tour in 2026! Tui Snider, Symbologist (and funster!), will be leading us thru some of our favorite northern Italian Monumental Cemeteries. But we are adding some new places as well! May 19-29, 2026. Click here for info. Click here to register.
A NEW LOCATION and NEW DATES for Jenny McClendon, everybody’s favorite workout instructor, back for her 4th time, April 7-16, 2027 in SICILY!!! Click here for Details. Registration opening in April. Please check back. Register here.
SICILY 2027!!! Book Illustrator and Urban Sketching Maestra Christina Wald will be joining us May 14-24 2027 for a fun tour of beautiful Sicily!…Click Here for Workshop Description. Click Here for More Details. Click Here for Registration. Click Here to go to Christina’s Website
What Our Guests Say About Their Experience…
“…Thank you SO much for everything…but mostly for leading me to the magic of this place!” – Susan K.
” …Thanks so much for organizing such an exceptional watercolor, history [and] geology retreat…a truly authentic French vacation!” – Freida B.
“…Absolutely fantastic! I’ve traveled to every continent, yet I’ve never had such a welcome and intimate cultural immersion as I had on this trip. Every day was a new adventure, whether it was shopping in the local markets, picnicking on the river bank at the foot of a medieval castle, touring prehistoric cave paintings, or painting fragrant lavender fields in a sun-filled hidden vale. Each day was spectacularly planned, interesting, and stress free…And the food! Lisa, you are a joy to know, your passion for art is a vibrant light that shines on everyone you meet! Thank you, Lisa, for creating such a unique opportunity for your guests to truly “experience” the incredible beauty of the Lot region through artistic adventures with a master instructor and wonderful new friends.” – Regina R.
” Eat, Pray, PAINT! Thank you, Lisa, for organizing such an exquisite trip… from the moment you picked us up from the airport to each painting day in the perfect setting, I was blown away by your attention to detail and how easy you made our journey.” – Lara H.
“Lisa, I go home with a very full heart. In France, and again in Italy, you gave me a personal experience I could NEVER receive from a tour! What you do in creating workshops in foreign countries is far grander than anything that could be achieved in the States. It is magical and fulfilling and worth every cent!” – Kathryn O.
“…Everything far exceeded my expectations…” – D.L.
” I can’t say enough about how well this adventure was planned and all the efforts made to make it an unique experience for all…Lisa was…delightful, kind and patient. She had a true sense and desire to create the best experience for all. She also exuded a joie de vivre for her passion to be doing what she loves. Very warm and relaxed atmosphere for all to enjoy. For me this was truly an experience beyond words.” – Joy W.