Cost
The cost for the 7 night holiday, inclusive of everything listed under "Included in Holiday", varies according to whether you prefer a single room or are planning to share a double. Accommodation is in the GuestMar guest house.
Shared Room: 2800 euros
Per person
Single Room supplement: 450 euros
Per person
10% Discount for Early Bird
registration by Dec. 31, 2026
(When booking use discount code: EARLYBIRD)
Extra 10% Discount for
Non-Painting Participants
(When booking use discount code: PARTNER)*
* Only one discount can be applied per booking
Pastel & Sketchbook Holiday in Olhão,Portugal
May 26 - June 3, 2027
with Diane Olivier
Taught in English
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FEB. 26, 2026
Calling all artists seeking inspiration off the beaten path—Olhão, a hidden gem in Portugal's Algarve, awaits your creative eye. This authentic fishing town enchants with its labyrinth of sunlit alleyways, bustling markets bursting with color, and rare cubist architecture that sets it apart from the typical coastal scene. Here, every corner tells a story, every facade begs to be sketched. Just offshore, the serene islands of the Ria Formosa Natural Park offer a dreamlike escape of shifting sandbars and glistening lagoons—ideal for plein air painting or simply soaking in nature’s palette. Let Olhão’s quiet beauty and timeless charm come through in your art.
From Diane:
I am once again off to Portugal for a pastel and sketchbook workshop in Olhão, Portugal located in the Algarve. Join me as I return to draw the Moorish architecture covered in brightly patterned tiles, the bursts of fauna, incredible fish and bright skies. Olhão is a small quiet town, very walkable, with a lovely promenade by the sea where locals are friendly and cafe life thrives. A perfect place to spend a week drawing!
The workshop will cover the use of pastels and sketchbooks as you record your adventures. I will be presenting demonstrations and then working individually with each of you to help you realize your images. With over 35 years of full time college and 25 years of hosting workshops my love for teaching continues to grow. My goal is to support ALL participants from beginners on up.
This workshop is designed for all levels, from pure beginners to the most experienced artists. Instructor Diane Olivier's sessions include demonstrations en plein air, individual instruction, and critiques. Drawing takes place each morning, and afternoon, with a review of the day's work to close things out.
A word from Diane:
The workshop will cover the use of pastels and sketchbooks as you record your adventures. I will be presenting demonstrations and working individually with each of you to help you realize your goals. With over 35 years of full time college teaching and 25 years of hosting workshops my love for teaching continues to grow. My goal is to support ALL participants from beginners on up.
We will be walking on old, cobbled streets, and at the beach, with your drawing supplies -- participants should be comfortable with carrying their gear on uneven surfaces and should be fit enough to walk unassisted, and be able to manage going up and down steep, uneven stairs with their gear. Not recommended for people with limited mobility.
Click below for recent reviews:
It was a unique experience. I was completely absorbed by the culture of Portugal and the focus on art(both learning and painting/sketching)
Jennifer H.
If you’re looking for an authentic experience to learn about an area through art try Plein Air Holidays.
Susan K.
Highlights
-
Pedestrian old town, mostly flat, makes for easy walking without cars
-
Bustling Market: fish, vegetables, etc. with many surrounding cafes
-
Architecture: cubist houses reminiscent of arabic houses, with tiles
-
Delicious fish and home-cooked Portuguese dinners
-
Visiting the barrier islands via ferry boats
-
Drawing, swimming and sunbathing on the island beaches
-
Rooftop terrace for group gatherings
-
Welcome wine and cheese supper on our rooftop terrace
-
Farewell gourmet dinner at a traditional Olhão restaurant
Included in Holiday
-
6 days of instruction
-
7 nights lodging in GuestMar guest house
-
Daily breakfast at GuestMar
-
Five home-cooked Portuguese dinners at GuestMar
-
Welcome wine & cheese rooftop supper Saturday
-
Farewell traditional dinner at a classic Olhão restaurant
-
Ferry tickets to visit islands
Not Included
-
Air fare
-
Travel insurance
-
Medical insurance
-
Train fare
-
Drawing Materials
-
Lunches are at your own expense. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants within walking distance to try -- or you can shop at the farmers & fish market to pick up items for a picnic
Stay in a beautifully restored guest house in the fishermen's quarter featuring light and airy private rooms with private bathrooms (all but one are ensuite) and a rooftop terrace. The guest house is booked exclusively for our group.
Historic renovated elegance in Cádiz at
Guest Mar
Guest Mar is located in the historic area of the city of Olhão. The building is from the XIX century and it was a gift from an important canning business men to his daughter. The house was carefully renovated to become a guest-house keeping the original architecture, the two cupolas, 3,10 high feet, an imposing central stairs, the original and elegant façade with the restored enchanting entrance door as well as the interior doors.
Guest Mar’s privileged location gives our guests an authentic local atmosphere and a memorable experience . Completely integrated in one of the oldest neighbourhood of Olhão, clients are just 5 minutes walking distance from the markets, the Marina, the traditional restaurants, bars and the boat pear that gives the possibility to visit the islands Armona, Culatra, Farol and Deserta located in the heart of Ria Formosa nature reserve.
High praise: Excellent instruction; Well organized; Beautiful location & accommodations --- Callouts: -- All levels welcomed, with customized instruction based on level -- Lessons elevated everyone’s skills -- Flexibility for what (or if) to sketch -- Collegial, mutually supportive environment -- Special events, e.g. fish-printing, flamenco dancing, local sketch group meet-up, gourmet final dinner -- Bespoke, fun, engaging.
Louise L.
Drawings by Diane Olivier
Click to enlarge
Drawing Instructor Diane Olivier
Drawing has always been my primary media, working with both traditional and nontraditional materials on scales ranging from small book size to mural size. My subject matter ranges from figurative, landscape and cityscapes to non-representational. The media ranges from charcoal to graphite, to full color pastels to non-traditional mixed media. The sense of touch between the tools and the paper and the immediacy of the mark are important element in my process. It is a dance between the eyes, the hand and the soul.
Holiday Director Kate Kilbourne
Since 2000, Kate Kilbourne lived part of the year in San Francisco, California, and part of the year in her house in Trôo, France... until 2017 when her partner Robert bought a flat in Cádiz, Spain. Now Kate and Robert spend the spring and fall all over Europe, running Plein Air Holidays in France, Spain, Italy and in Croatia where they lived for nine months during the Covid pandemic. Kate is fluent in French and is learning Spanish as fast as she can!