Name: Online Class Recording-178
Start: 2026-12-01
End: 2026-12-01
Location: online

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online

Online Class Recording-178

French Escapade LLC

We had a fantastic time. French Escapade is the best travel company ever! We loved this trip and every other trip we have done with French Escapade. Jac and Valerie are warm, welcoming, and fun, always going the extra mile to ensure travelers have a great experience. 

River Cruise

Thank you Sherrie. Another successful trip for you!

Well organized trip, nice people, learned new ideas for sketch booking.

Leslie Fehling-Watercolor Journaling in Alsace

Thank you Joan! Appreciate your feedback.

The instructor was lovely. The accommodations and studio area was perfect. Side trips were well selected.  

Thank you Ginny. So glad you enjoyed the trip and thank you so much for the compliments. It is always rewarding to read them.

It was a great trip! Leslie was awesome as usual! Food was good and trips were fun and informative! French Escapade is a great travel company! Keep up the good work. You pay attention to the details and make people feel welcome!

Thanks Vicki for taking the time to write. I am glad you like our first Alsace trip. The reason we do not go visit the castle you saw on the hill is because it has a lot of steps and we know that not everyone can do it. It is always a pleasure to have you with us.

I very much enjoyed this trip to Alsace. Leslie, is of course, a fabulous teacher.  She always has inspiring ideas and practical instruction to create your own special sketch/watercolor memories.  She prepares well, communicates well before the trip (which is much appreciated) and adapts her teachings for the different styles of her students. This was a perfect venue for her type of subject matter.

The trip, itself, was well organized. I enjoyed going into Strasbourg a few days early and seeing things on my own then traveling reasonable distances to the various activities. I liked the town we stayed in and the hotel (just wish they had a mini market in the town...). Maybe would have liked to have visited the town near the castle ruins (or the castle ruins themselves) we could see along the drive as I always like a castle for whimsy imagination.  I thought the walking was very reasonable and I liked the spot we painted at in Strasbourg.  I was glad that a note we were doing a canal boat ride was provided in advance.  I liked the Ecomuseum but felt it was a long period of time... which, had the weather been nicer, maybe it would have been just right.  

I thought our tour directors, Marie and Heather, were great. 

For this to have been French Escapade's first Alsace trip, I thought it was very well thought out and executed.  I can see this as a good draw for future painters as there isn't anything out there like it. 

Thank you Keri. It was a pleasure to meet you. Hope you join us again.

I thoroughly enjoyed my week with French Escapade. The places we visited and the planning was well thought through and all high quality. I would highly recommend this company. I would definitely travel with them again. 

Wow, thank you so much Tana. Glad it was a lifetime adventure!!! We are glad you were part of it.

We met very nice people.  The activities were well thought out and very enjoyable.  It's not a trip I am likely to forget.  It could be one of those once in a lifetime, adventures.  Thanks, French Escapade, for everything.

We were happy to have you on board. So glad your first experience was excellent. Thanks for the review.

This was a first trip for me with French Escapade Company and it was lovely in every way. The choice of boat, boat crew, French Escapade company aides and the smoothness of the entire operation meant that none of us passengers had to worry about anything except relaxing and having a great time. It's rather extraordinary to be able to go on an international trip and have every detail so well-thought out, at least in my previous experiences. The hosts Jackie and Valerie are both lovely, welcoming and obviously well experienced at managing group travel. I feel most lucky and grateful that this opportunity presented itself to me, a newbie invited onto an alumni trip, so that I could discover this company for future considerations! Merci, French Escapades!!

We had a great trip!  Everything was well-planned. French Escapade is always good with the details.  I especially liked the music museum (really an entertaining escapade, surprisingly) and the gondola ride in Rudesheim. Both a welcome break from the art museums and fun architecture I also enjoyed earlier. Same with the outdoor museum. 

The Cruise Europe accomodations were a bit skimpy.  Hard to move around in the cabin and needed at least a chair. The food and staff were fabulous. 

Hi Karen, Thank you for your review. It was nice to have your full family aboard.

We had a good time but there was very little time to enjoy the land excursions while in port.  Staff onboard was professional and friendly.

Thank you Nadine. So glad you enjoyed your first trip with us.

The experience was more than I expected, the hotel accommodations, and food was exceptional.  te instructor, Alicia Farris was kind, helpful, and very professional.  I would recommend this experience to any artist.

Nadine Ellman

Alicia Farris-Watercolor-Provence

Thank you Janet. Glad to see you liked everything. We always try our best.

I loved how every detail of my time spent with French Escapades was well thought out.  Our two guides, Heather and Sandra, were fabulous!  So helpful and knowledgeable.  Totally enjoyed the hotel accommodations and all meals (both on site and off site) were fabulous.  

Alicia is an incredible artist and very willing to share her knowledge and expertise with everyone.  Such a kind and positive artist.  Alicia has just the right personality to help build confidence  for any skill level of artist.  She welcomes all artists and styles.

Definitely looking forward to another trip with French Escapades!

Thank you Carson. So glad yo liked it so much.

This is was a very good experience.  Classes were great as was location and accommodation.  Hosts were exceptionally and food was excellent.  Particularly enjoyed the nonintrusive and extremely helpful presence of our tour leaders , Maria and Teresa .  They were wonderful.

Judy Salleh-Giverny-Watercolor Sketching

Thank you Karen. Glad it all worked out and that you enjoyed the trip. Thank you for the nice feedback about Heather and Sandra. I will pass it on to them.

This was a trip of a lifetime! Our guides couldn’t have been more helpful. They made adjustments as necessary and kept us informed of the schedule and upcoming events. They very graciously handled a difficult situation that was affecting others on our trip. The outings and meals were amazing and things ran on time as expected. Thanks to Heather and Sondra ❤️

Thank you Melissa. So glad to hear about your wonderful experience. It is always rewarding to us to know people loved it.

Top-notch.  The venue in the French Alps was amazing.  The hotel staff, food, and location couldn't have been nicer.  

Cindy and Theresa are pros at what they do.  They were very good at both teaching and giving individual attention as needed.

The two leaders, Heather and Sandra, were delightful and helpful without making us feel like we weren't capable adults.  We were free to go off on our own as the whim struck.

The group of fellow-painters (plus one husband) were all positive, fun, and casual.  

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend French Escapade for like-minded travelers.

Cindy-Theresa-French Alps

Merci Judy! Glad to hear you had a great time.

Terrific class
The French Alps and Switzerland are gorgeous. Our hotel, food, guides and teachers were fabulous. I enjoyed this trip very much. 

Thank you Gill. So glad you liked your 4th trip with us. I believe it is 4th but who is counting...Always a pleasure to have you with us. See you next year I am sure....

The Moulin de Bechet where we stayed was amazing. Huge grounds with river running through it. Gorgeous views in all directions.  A very interesting little village a 5 minute walk away where we did some sketching. 
A very pretty dining room where we had a buffet breakfast with lots of fresh fruit. Beautiful peaches, plums and nectarines - all very sweet and juicy. Yum. Lunch and dinner were both delicious and varied. All diets were catered for. 

Excursions to Monets house and garden and Auvers-sur-Oise were very interesting and you get to enjoy the beautiful Normandy countryside as you drive there. 

Sketching with Judy Salleh is always great. She is so generous with her time, she makes sure everyone has one on one time with her. 

And of course French Escapade has wonderful tour leaders. Marie has 11 years experience and it shows. She is extremely well versed on all aspects of the locality as well as being a delight to be around. Teresa was also great fun. She is learning the ropes from Marie so she couldn’t have a better teacher. 

All in all - highly recommended. 

Thank you Nahed. I am so glad you managed to do the trip.

Had a very pleasant week. The location was breathtaking!  The guides were outstanding! Took care of every detail and need. 
Lots of laughs and enjoyable watercoloring experiences 

Leslie Fehling-Giverny-Watercolor  Sketching

Glad you like it Susan. Thank you for writing.

Great accommodation and food. The guides were wonderful. Lovely group of people to paint with

Wow thank you Carmen! So glad to hear you liked it so much.

This was the perfect vacation.  I was able to explore quiet, rural areas.  I had time to focus on plein air art in my sketchbook with a group of likeminded women.  The French Escapade guides were supportive, helpful, and knowledgeable.  The food was amazing.  This was one of the best vacations I have ever experienced.

Thank you Judy. Wow, so happy you liked everything.

Absolutely top notch. From the transportation to the itinerary, the accommodations to the food, studio time with Leslie and the ever vigilant guides, I would recommend French Escapades to any traveler wishing to enhance their trip to a higher level. Obviously, I cannot say enough!

Merci Ruthie!!! So glad you enjoyed the experience so much. Our guides do their best to be on top of everything and apparently they did it again!!!

From start to finish, French Escapades had our trip perfected for us to enjoy.  Marie and Mariona were fantastic guides and friends by the end of the week.  Every desire was met with outstanding charm and class from accommodations and transportation, to delicious regional food and attention to special needs that popped up in between.  Leslie Fehling is a wonderful person,  fun and lighthearted,  which makes her workshops a truly enjoyable exchange of techniques and inspiration.  Such fun in an extraordinary environment with delightful people is rare , but French Escapades nailed it!!  

Thanks Diane. Another trip in your pocket!! Glad you liked it very much.

I had a great time.  Heather, Cindy, and Theresa were absolutely a great repeat gift ..Adding Sandra was really wonderful.  She completed a great staff.
The accommodation and food was exceptional. 

Thank you Lee. It is so rewarding to make people happy!

This trip couldn't have been better! The instructors were great. I learned  so much and was inspired by their teaching.  They were helpful and supportive.  The itinerary was  ideal.  The accommodations were also perfect.  The tour leaders were knowledgeable, organized and delightful. 

Thank you so much Gail and I will remember your sense of humor too!

I am very impressed with French Escapade. Their attention to detail along with their friendly and helpful attitudes made my “escapade” a trip to remember. 

Cindy-Theresa-Bruges-Watercolor Workshop

Thank Meredy. Glad to see it was one of your favorite trips. Always a pleasure to have you.

This was one of my favorite trips.   Bruges is beautiful, the group was awesome.  I appreciated the flexibility and the painting opportunities, help, and instruction from Cindy and Teresa.  They are the best!    Food, accommodations were excellent and Jackie and Valerie were awesome as well!  Many thanks for a great adventure!

Thank yo so much Crystal for this glowing review. I am thrilled you had such a wonderful experience. We do everything to make sure it is the case but nothing can be 100% guaranteed so it is very rewarding to read about your wonderful experience. Looking forward to meeting you on the next one.

This was a wonderful trip. The hotel we stayed at was beautiful and very accommodating. The staff was exceptional with their kindness, hospitality and attention to detail. The chef was excellent and very attuned to everyone's needs and special requests regarding the types of food and preparation. The meals were always fresh and tasted excellent! The tours were well done with attention to detail that was outstanding and welcomed by all the travelers. From beginning to end I felt well accommodated and had absolutely no worry. Our instructor, Kathie Odom was top notch! She was always kind an attentive to the abilities and progress of all the artists. I learned so much from her about improving my perspective and focusing my attention while painting plein air. I truly enjoyed her instruction and workshops. Our travel/trip escorts were kind and always helpful and accommodating as well. Shout out to Linda Baxly and Marie Ginier-gillet. They were both excellent tour guides! Overall, I would definitely go on another French Escapade trip again based on the great experience I had on this one!
Crystal Jordan

Kathie Odom-Giverny-Oil Painting

Thank you for your nice review Karen. I am glad you hd a great time and leaned a lot. Kathie is a great teacher. I agree with you that the estate has a very beautiful park and studio. Peaceful setting for painting.

I learned a lot about painting as well as the art business and traveling with art supplies. The facility was clean and beautiful although the rooms are dated. The staff is cheerful and efficient and eager to help.  The property is very spacious, quiet and well kept as well as very beautiful. The tours were well planned and executed. The guides are wonderful, informative, fun and hard working.   The food was abundant and amazingly artistic and tasty. My biggest food complaint is that sometimes the vegetables were overcooked.  The room used as a studio was a real asset. Everyone in the group was very pleased, and this made for a terrific group experience. 

Thank you for writing such a beautiful review Charlotte. So glad you liked your room. Marie and Linda are great guides and I am happy to hear that you enjoyed their company. for the food, I do not know if you know this but Nicolas, the chef, is a wedding caterer so he is used to make the best food. And last but not least, Kathie is indeed a great teacher. Sorry to har you got Covid back in the US. Thank you for taking the time to write.

I was treated so well and my trip was so special.  The accommodations were great because I requested a shower instead of a bath I was given the handicap room and it was more than perfect, Thank you!  
The food was spectacular and only made more special by the company and new friends around me. Thank you.  Everyone was so happy and the meals brought us together, Thank you for that too.  
Marie, our French guide, helped out a lot just when we needed her and her energy and love of France and us as artists was made us even closer as the week went on.  Linda,  was way beyond a guide as well and maybe the artist in her made the transition flawless.  Her creative pictures of us inspired me.  I think she took the best portrait of me I have ever had.  thank you to them both.  And how they both helped with my supplies and pace and my place in the vans and with the bus drivers…. they were great!!!
I came home and flew to Knoxville from Orlando and there (only there) I got Covid.  That is why I have delayed my review…. but my paintings will be my final review which will outlive me and my time with the Escapade…. Thank you so much, And last but no means least is Kathie Odom herself, I am a very bad student and she taught me in spite of myself and I admire her hard work.  But I also saw others thriving with Kathie’s personal, positive, and directed instruction. So I grew as well and our friendship is running very deep especially after the French Escapade.  Thank you Kathie, Charlotte Rollman

That makes my heart sings to hear it was your best trip. Thank you Jacqueline.

Best trip I have ever taken. So well organized. Accommodation were perfect and Kathie odium was an excellent instructor. Everything was top notch

Thank you Teresa for taking another trip with us. I believe you took all the trips run by Kathie. Glad to see this one was another success for you. Thank you again for writing.

Extraordinary experience under the tutelage of one of the best impressionist artists today, Kathie Odom.  Enjoyed the location and our accommodations were lovely.  The food every day was superior.  I would not have missed this opportunity to study with Kathie and stay in this beautiful part of France. 

Thank you Jan. It was a pleasure to meet you. I already know what trip you are taking next year since you have already signed up. Thank you for that. I believe it will be your third trip in 3 years...

I had a wonderful time in Bruges with French Escapade and Rae Andrews.  Our group had beautiful accommodations, delicious meals and great company. Our excursions were fun and interesting and Jackie and Valerie were great hosts. They have a great sense of how to take care their guests, they add just the right touch of sharing the region’s highlights. I look forward to traveling with French Escapade again!

Rae Andrews-Bruges-"Loose and Free" Watercolor Workshop

Thank you Ruth. It was a pleasure to meet you.

A well organized trip with excellent advance instructions and great follow through. Many efforts made to accommodate individual requests. The artist was top notch with instruction and personal attention. 


Thank you Kathy. It was a. pleasure to share my country with you.

Wonderful trip!! Jackie and Valerie of French Escapade went out of their way to make this a special trip for everyone. Will definitely travel with them again. The hotel was perfect and was in a very convenient location . Easy to walk everywhere. Interesting day trips …. Jackie and Valerie were very knowledgeable about the area and readily shared information 

Glad to see you liked it and yes, Kathie and her husband are fun and Kathie is a great teacher. We are happy to work with them.

I really enjoyed this workshop, the trips in very comfortable buses to beautiful villages Megève, Annecy and Chamonix, the excellent lodging facilities and the gourmet meals!  The instructor, Kathie Odom and her husband, Buddy, are a fabulous team…always a joy to watch and learn.  

Kathie Odom-French Alps-Oil Painting

Merci Kerry. Contente de voir que le tour t'a plu. It was a pleure to meet you and speak some French with you. I am so happy you learned a lot and had a great time.

A beautiful location, a lovely hotel, and great meals.   A great group of people and a fantastic instructor.  

The itinerary is well thought out and the trip is organized so that every day is different. This was the best organized trip (meaning that someone else did the organizing and planning) I have ever taken.  

Most important, as everyone was there to learn about sketching and painting on location and improve their painting skills, this was a wonderful learning experience.  Everyone in the group felt that their skills and confidence had improved.  I continued sketching and painting after our tour finished and I did several days of solo travel. 

Thanks to Jackie and Mariona for all the hard work  they put in to ensure that everyone had a great experience.  Thanks to Suhita for her encouragement. I learned so much from you!  Je vous remercie de tout mon coeur.

Suhita-Watercolor sketching-Provence

Thank you Karen. Yes Provence is a magical place. And the hotel is a gem in this magical place. So rewarding to hear that you felt well taken care of. We really try!

Absolutely fantastic, everything with French Escapade is top notch.
You just feel so looked after and cared for, the skill and experience of arranging a trip like this really shows, you know you are in good hands and everything is going to be fantastic.
Comfortable accomodation in a gorgeous setting, delicious food, fabulous locations to explore and sketch, what more do you need!
I really enjoyed this trip to Provence, it is a magical place!


Glad to hear you liked it all Shaily. Looking forward to having you with us on another one.

What a fantastic trip. I enjoyed everything from the hotel and location in Fontaine de Vaucluse to the trips to pay homage to Van Gogh at Saint Remy-de-Provence and the ochre mines at Roussillon! Wonderful art lessons and insights from our teacher, Suhita, fun fellow artists, and excellent trip leaders, Jackie and Mariona! Looking forward to the next one!

Thank you "Kiwi Karen"!!! So happy you had a great time. And no worries about driving you back to the hotel. That is the minimum I could do since you were not feeling great.

Absolutely wonderful trip with an amazing teacher, in the most beautiful surroundings imaginable. Suhita was a warm, generous and inspiring teacher, who never seemed to flag. She was always ready to share her expertise and watching her sketch and paint while listening to her talk through her approach was such a treat. It has left me feeling as if I leveled up on my personal art journey. The hotel we stayed at was just perfect and everything was so well organised for us by Jackie and Mariona. The sketch locations were also very well chosen and I was impressed by the team’s knowledge of Provence. I look forward to travelling with French escapade again! PS special thanks to Jackie for going out of her way, literally, to take me back to the hotel when I had a crushing migraine in the recent heatwave. 

Another great trip in the book for you. I believe it is #14!!!! Thank you so much for being so loyal. Glad to see you still learn after all the classes you have taken. You are right, Shari is excellent. See yo next year for 2 more workshops!

The trip to the French Alps with French Escapade and with Shari Blaukopf as the instructor was memorable on many levels. As always, French Escapade provided excellent service, including our transportation to lovely painting spots nearby, always kepting us informed as to what to expect as the trip unfolded. The hotel was wonderful and my view of Mont Blanc out my porch window was priceless. I have been on several painting trips with Shari and she is one of the best instructors I know. Her enthusiasm for what we would do and experience each day made us all want to get going. The classes and demos were all well organized; she emphasized a new topic each morning and afternoon, so I came away with so many new ideas to try when I got home, which I am now in the process of doing. It was definitely a five start trip.
Evelyn Cunningham

Shari Blaukopf-French Alps1-Watercolor

Glad it all worked out for you after a difficult start.  No fun to start the week with missed luggage and missed pick up. Yes the hotel is very lovely and Kathie is a great teacher. It all worked out well after all so glad to hear it.

I had a wonderful memorable trip that I will treasure forever.
The hotel's location, accomodations, amenities, staff and food was truly wonderful.  Other than being a little warm in the rooms for sleeping (no AC) I was truly comfortable.  Rooms were charming with knotty pine walls, wood carved chairs, hand painted paintings on the room walls and in the hallways..... and lots of wonderful artistic/creative accents like handpainted elevator doors ....and three wonderful labradors to greet you each morning at the restaurant entry for breakfast.
Our guides were helpful, friendly and kept us well informed of our schedule once I had arrived to join the tour goup in Combloux at the close of the opening reception on Day 1.  I did have a rough start when my checked luggage bag was lost in transit on my last connecting flight and, as a result, I missed the scheduled shuttle to the hotel. Help arranging easy alternative transport to the hotel was difficult for the guide and I to work out.  As a lone female traveler who did not speak/understand French well enough to explain and resolve my situation with airport staff alone, I finally arranged with the tour guide over the phone a taxi with a trusted driver the tour group knew of.  My lost bag arrived on Day 2 but I was prepared with most personal and art essentials in my carry on which I had with me.
Our lead artist, Kathie Odom, was wonderful in every respect.  I chose this particular trip because I admired Kathie's work and wished to learn more from her...and Kathie and her husband, Buddy were truly devoted to instructing and being of service to the tour participants.
Immersion into the French cuture (my ancestry) and a goal of these tours, was definitely achieved and I truly enjoyed this adventure.

Thank you Teresa and happy to hear that your husband enjoyed it too. Marie, the tour leader. told me that after making all the reservations for the golfers, she is now an expert in golf language, even if she doesn't play...Thank you again for having traveled several times with us.

Absolutely extraordinary workshop with Kathie Odom.  The painting sights were incredible and the excursions were delightful.  I took my husband with me for this workshop and he had a marvelous time playing golf, visiting the glacie, and waking up to the view of Mont Blanc every morning and watching the sun set on the Alps every night.  Magnificent 

Thanks Robin, glad you enjoyed the trip. Unfortunately Gamsol is to available outside the US but Kathie told us that people are allowed to bring it on the plane now so some participants did. Meanwhile we will continue to look for better solvent.

Kathie Odom is a very skilled artist and a talented teacher, too. She is very prepared with demonstrations, lectures and personalized feedback. She shares many secrets of how to paint on a high level. She is a delightful person, too. The trip overall was excellent, with Linda and Marie as our local hosts helping with logistics, communications and general good humor and coordination between Katie and the students. The inn we stayed at was adorable and the chef/kitchen were outstanding, and so were all the staff at the inn. The location was stunning. I hope French Escapade sponsors more oil painting workshops. The only small hiccup was the type of mineral spirits available for us were really only useable outdoors and weren’t really ideal for studio work because they were too strong. I guess Gamsol/Turpenoid weren’t available. The painters all commented on this and I am sure it will be rectified in the future or there must be much better ventilation in the studio space.

All details were attended to, maximizing participants’ enjoyment of every aspect of the program: superior art instruction, accommodations, meals, and site visits.

Online Class Recording-178

Online Class Recording-178

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