Island Inspirations: Sketching and Watercolours with Rob Candy: September 6 – 13, 2025
per person
Island Inspirations - overview of the week's course
Rob will demonstrate and discuss aspects including composition, brushwork , mixing colours and values during the painting session. Offering a critique of each student’s work is a fundamental part of learning, and he offers his insights in a constructive manner that invariably leads to a better understanding of the potential of the work in progress.
Course Confirmed: We look forward to seeing you in Fiji!
From $2650 - Price includes:
- Daily workshops with Rob Candy with personal attention
- Accommodation – choose from our bures at the front (Ocean View bures), or at the back (standard rooms)
- Meals : breakfast, lunch and dinner – a mix of local Fijian and Indian food and international recipes
- Excursions: snorkel on the fabulous coral reefs, bathe in glorious waterfall, revel in the abundant nature of the landscape and experience the rich Fijian culture.
You just need to buy your air ticket and art materials, and leave the rest to us.
Painting course
Rob Candy is a highly experienced watercolourist, and an excellent teacher. Under his guidance, you will gain an in-depth knowledge and application of watercolour skills and techniques. The workshop is designed for both the beginner and the more advanced artist as you tackle a variety of watercolour landscapes from urban, rural and coastal scenes on offer in and around Daku Resort and its surrounding area. The workshop will introduce the beginner to the stages of watercolour painting while allowing the more experienced artist, a chance to review and refine their own practices. Each day will provide us with an opportunity to follow the painting process systematically from initial sketching and planning to painting completion.
This is the second time that I have done a travel workshop with Rob, and I came back because I was so happy with the first one. I was equally as happy with this one! Rob is a very experienced artist and tutor and taught us watercolour techniques and composition for a good painting, not just one that slavishly copies what is in front of you. We had a day-by-day programme, but it was flexible, and we changed it if there was something that we preferred to do. All of this whilst living in paradise!
Julie-Anne Rogers, 2023
Any questions? Drop us a line.
OR BOOK NOW! Prices per person
We ask for a $400 non-refundable deposit to secure your place. If the course does not go ahead and we cancel for any reason, we will refund it in full.
Meet Rob Candy.
Born in Melbourne, Rob began painting watercolours at Ku-ring-gai Arts Centre during the 1980’s with Owen Thompson, and at the Royal Art Society of New South Wales with Frederic Bates OAM. He has a degree in Geography and this informs his analysis of and appreciation for the landscape.
He casts his net wide to find his subject, drawing inspiration subjects as diverse as industrial machinery, cows in a paddock, or beach bathers. He looks forward to his visit to Fiji as a providing the tranquillity and calmness that makes a perfect platform to artistically develop confidence in watercolour painting and sketching. “From tropical sandy beaches and sheltered harbours to rural villages and the traditional way of life this Fijian experience has so much for the artist.”
He is a passionate traveller and has taken numerous groups to Turkey, Venice and through China, exploring the Silk Road and the Yangtze River.
Rob is the current President of the Watercolour Society of Victoria.
Summary & Pricing
Title: Island Inspirations
Dates: September 6 – 13, 2025
Style: Watercolours
Programme: Daily morning workshops; afternoon excursions and free time.
Excursions and extras: All meals, and excursions as listed in the programme.
Food: Mixed menu.
Itinerary: Arrive Savusavu Saturday. Course starts Sunday, end evening Friday. Depart Savusavu Saturday.
Price:
Standard room: shared is $2650, single $3100.
Ocean view bure shared $3050, single $3500.
What To Bring
Rob will demonstrate watercolour techniques so feel free to bring along your usual watercolour painting kit. The following is only a suggestion not a pre requisite.
1. Watercolour Paints
Bring your own watercolour kit that you use.
If you are entering the watercolour world for the first time then there are so many options when you look at purchasing watercolour paints. I would recommend tubes rather than pans. Depending on how you paint you generally do not use large amounts and so I would recommend that you purchase artist quality paints rather than student quality. A selection of the following would be useful but there is no need to buy them all!
Blues
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean blue
Tasmanian blue (art spectrum)
Prussian Blue
Red/Browns
Burnt sienna
Raw umber
Alizarin Crimson
Windsor Red
Yellows
Cadmium yellow
Yellow ochre
Other
Cobalt Turquoise
Lavender
2. Watercolour Papers
Papers come in weights. A good weight is about 300grms either in a book, block or sheet. 15 quarter sheets (rough) should be fine. A sketchbook for notes and sketches is needed.
3. Brushes
You need a brush to do larger washes (mop) and 2 or 3 pointed brushes for details.
4. Easels
There will be time to set up an easel and paint at many of the location. Bring a light weight easel if that suits your painting style.
5. Water Container: any container/ plastic jar.
6. Palette: A ‘well type’ palettes which will allow you to mix adequate amounts of paint.
7. Pencils and Pens: 2B lead pencil, soft rubber, sharpener.
Accommodation
You’ll stay with us at Daku Resort, Fiji.
Accommodation is packaged with your course: we are offering a choice of standard rooms in our rear bures, or ocean view bures at the front .We have a number of two and three bedroom houses and villas so if there are a small group, we can quote you on those.
Additional Adventures
What to do in your free time.
We’ve arranged a number of excursions as part of the course (see Programme tab on the menu bar above). We also offer a range of other activities inside and outside of Daku Resort (please note that unless they are part of the programme, some activities, such as massages and those requiring equipment hire, may have additional costs).
Our location : Savusavu, Fiji
During this week, you’ll enjoy the rich culture and unspoilt nature of Fiji, the place where happiness comes naturally. We’re in Savusavu in Fiji’s North – known as the Hidden Paradise because it really is! We’ll take you out to snorkel on the beautiful coral reefs, to plunge into fresh waterfalls, to visit traditional Fijian villages where you’ll see a deeply hospitable corner of Fiji.
We’ve got a full programme planned – with some spare time to just relax.
Our accommodation: Daku Resort
We’re located at Daku Resort near Savusavu in Fiji. It’s a small and comfortable resort: you can choose from Ocean View bures, or standard room rear bures.
Ocean View bure
Standard room – rear bure
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Included
AccommodationAll Workshop FeesDining & MealsLectures & ExcursionsTransfers from Savusavu Airport -
Not Included
Alcoholic BeveragesEquipment & SuppliesFlights/TravelNon-Course ActivitiesTravel Insurance
From Our Gallery
Saturday
- Arrive in Savusavu.
- 6.00 pm Traditional Fijian welcome ceremony
- 7.30 pm Dinner
Sunday
- 9am - 12:30pm: Workshop
- 1pm: Lunch
- Afternoon: Free time
- 7:30pm: Dinner
Monday
- 9.00 am – 12.30 pm Workshop
- 1.00pm Lunch
- Visit from local craftswoman and tapa making demonstration followed by trip to Savusavu Town to see local market and shops. We'll take you there in a taxi, and then leave you to wander around and find your own way back (taxis cost approx F$4.60).
- 7.00 pm Dinner
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Tour Location
Daku Resort, Fiji
