Madeira
Where is Madeira? It is a beautiful tropical island in the Atlantic that is owned by the country of Portugal often nicknamed the “Hawaii of Europe.”. As a volcanic island, it is filled with dramatic mountains and cliffs with lush vegetation that truly makes it unique. Madeira is highly diverse in scenery, offering coastal scenes as well as views on the interior of the island.
Do I need to speak Portuguese? No, almost all the locals speak good English due to tourism. Speaking Portuguese is not a necessity.
Do I need a visa? No, Americans do not need a visa to travel to Portugal. Passports are required, as well as a new ETIAS authorization.
Do I need to be American to take this workshop? No, but the workshop will be taught in English.
What is the cuisine like? Portugal is known for its exquisite cuisine. It’s got many Mediterranean qualities, with common ingredients like vegetables, seafood, meats, and a particularly good selection of pastries!
How many airports are there in Madeira? Where should I fly from? Which airline? There is only one airport in the island called Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport in Santa Cruz. Most US airlines have partners that travel to Madeira. There are a variety of airports that travel to Madeira, often times flights will require connections.
What is the weather/climate like? In the summer it’s warm and sunny with coastal temperatures ranging between 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a tropical island so rain storms can happen in the summer months, come prepared for everything!
Painting
Do I need to be an experienced painter? Kimball’s instruction is geared towards people of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. With that said, it’s a good idea to at least be familiar with your supplies and equipment as it will be crucial for packing them tightly and sending them in your checked luggage.
Can I travel with Oil Paints? Yes! All supplies and paints are safe for flying, though it is important to package things well, label items, and attach documents explaining the supplies. This will be thoroughly explained in emails as the workshop approaches.
What supplies do I need to bring? All painting supplies typically associated with plein air painting, plus your normal luggage. We will provide Gamsol (or a similar paint thinner) and ground cloths when necessary.
How do I deal with medium/thinner? We will take care of it! Feel free to leave your thinner at home. If you paint with any specific mediums, it is up to you to make sure it arrives without issue from airport security.
Will this be a Plein Air Workshop? Yes, we plan on painting outdoors, on location for each of the designated painting days.
Itinerary
Will there be down time during the workshop? Yes. On painting days we try to be back to the hotel around 5:30pm for you to spend the rest of your day as you please. There will also be relaxation and excursion days for students to take a break from painting if they choose!
Do I need to be in attendance for all activities (critiques, paint outs, dinners, excursions etc)? No, you are free to go at your own pace and attend as you see fit. We have a fixed itinerary so any activities you choose outside of this would be at your expense.
How do I get to the workshop location? We will provide a taxi service to take you to the hotel. We will coordinate with you and the Taxi for when you arrive at the airport.
Accommodations and food
Where are we staying for the workshop? The Views Baía Hotel in Funchal, Madeira (see “Workshop” tab for information and link).
What are the meals like? There is a variety of seafood dishes as well as other Mediterranean comfort food. On most days we will have meals at the hotel restaurant which will change from day to day. We will be sending out a questionnaire to you asking about any potential dietary restrictions.