Paris gets a softer side. This watercolor workshop at Boma Café turns a film-famous corner of Paris into a calm, hands-on art project, step by step with artist Artem from Atelier CRÉAA. I love the beginner-friendly setup (your drawing is pre-sketched, so you can focus on painting instead of “where do I start?”). I also love the Japanese tea break midway through, served in traditional gaiwan teaware. One thing to consider: it’s a 3-hour sit-down session, so if you’re hoping for a long outdoor walking tour, this is more about making art than covering ground.

You’ll meet near the Saint-Étienne-du-Mont area, then spend the main time in a private workshop room at Boma Café. Sessions run weekly on Thursdays at 1:30 PM and Sundays at 10:30 AM, and the class is in English with a small group size (maximum 6). You’ll leave with a framed watercolor ready to display, plus a CREAA tote to safely carry it through the rest of your trip.

Key things to know before you paint

• Pre-sketched artwork of a Midnight in Paris street scene, including the vintage car pickup spot area
• All the core supplies are included: cold-press 100% cotton paper, pro watercolor paints, and matching ceramics
• Small group, 1:1-style attention from Artem, even if you’ve never touched watercolor before
• A true tea ceremony pause mid-session using premium Japanese tea and a gaiwan setup
• Framed take-home art plus a CREAA tote, and photo memories taken during the workshop

Boma Café’s setup: art tools handled for you

The value here starts before paint even hits paper. Inside Boma Café, you’re in a dedicated workshop room, not a noisy café table. That matters because watercolor punishes chaos: you want steady light, room to work, and a calm pace while your washes dry.

The desk easel you get is a practical touch. It’s handcrafted, adjustable, and designed for watercolor work, including a built-in water-collecting slot. Translation: less mess on your clothes and tabletop, more focus on the page. You also get a full, coordinated set of tools: a handmade ceramic palette, a brush rest, a water cup, and napkin clips that all match the palette.

Paper is included too, and it’s the kind watercolor people care about: 100% cotton, cold press, medium grain, and archival quality. That combination helps beginners because it gives you a surface that accepts pigment smoothly without turning every first attempt into a streaky mess.

One more detail I really like: the paints are professional grade and include both regular pigments and hyper-granulating pigments. Those granulating colors can look complicated, but with good guidance they create texture fast, which helps your painting feel “finished” even when you’re still learning.

Your Paris painting scene and the Midnight in Paris link

This workshop isn’t a generic “paint the Eiffel Tower” situation. Your framed piece is based on the same street linked to the filming of Midnight in Paris, including the spot where Gil is picked up by the vintage car.

You’ll also connect the experience to the neighborhood around Église de Saint-Étienne-du-Mont. Even if you’re not chasing big sightseeing routes, the point is simple: you’re painting a specific Paris place, not an abstract idea of Paris.

Here’s where the pre-sketched approach pays off. Because your drawing is prepared in advance, you’re not spending your whole time working out proportions. You can spend your effort on what watercolor is actually about:

• controlling water amount
• choosing when to add layers
• learning how edges soften (and how they stay sharp)

That’s especially useful if you’re a complete beginner. You’ll still learn technique, but you’ll build confidence quickly because your composition is already in place. The result is a painting that looks like a real Paris street scene, framed and ready when you’re done.

How the 3-hour watercolor lesson works (beginner-first)

The lesson is paced for people who are new to watercolor, with Artem guiding you step by step. The key is that you’re not learning by getting thrown into a blank page. You’re learning by doing the moves in a logical order, with the right materials already waiting for you.

Over about 3 hours, you’ll go from:

1) setting up your paper and paints

2) learning the basics of watercolor control (water-to-pigment balance)

3) adding color in layers

4) working small details

5) finishing so it looks good as a framed piece

The “hyper-granulating” pigments are a great example. These pigments create visible speckling or texture as they dry. If you’ve never used that style, it can be intimidating. In this class, it’s taught in context, so you’re not just guessing. You’re using it to bring warmth and variation to buildings and street views, which helps the scene feel lived-in.

I also like that you’re getting high-end brushes suited to both washes and fine details. Beginners often end up with one brush for everything and then blame themselves when they can’t get a clean edge. Here you have a brush kit designed for the job.

By the end of the session, you don’t just leave with a wet sheet. You leave with a finished, framed watercolor you can display or pack straight into your luggage. That’s a big difference versus most casual art classes where you’re lucky if you can make a paper masterpiece dry properly at home.

The Japanese tea break that resets the whole session

Midway through, the class pauses for a Japanese tea experience. It’s not a token “grab a sip” moment. You’ll do a traditional tea preparation in a gaiwan ceremony, using premium teaware.

This is one of the most appreciated parts of the experience because it changes the pace. Watercolor requires patience, and the second half of learning goes smoother when your brain isn’t running at tutorial-speed the whole time. During the tea break, people can talk, relax, and get to know the instructor. It’s also a nice way to notice details you might otherwise rush past.

If you care about the connection between craft and culture, this works well. You’re doing careful, slow steps with pigment, and then you switch to careful, slow steps with tea. That rhythm makes the workshop feel more intentional and less like a rushed activity you check off.

Practically, it’s also a mental breath if your only plan for Paris day is sightseeing. This gives you a different kind of Paris memory: a calm hour where you’re learning something hands-on, then sharing tea while the rest of the class catches up.

Taking home a framed watercolor, photos, and a tote that matters

The ending is designed to be satisfying, not just instructional. Your final painting is framed, which means you don’t have to scramble later for framing materials back home. It’s ready to display, and it also protects the piece during travel.

You also receive a CREAA tote bag to carry the artwork. That’s not just a cute souvenir. Framed art is fragile, and a dedicated bag helps you move through airports and hotel lobbies with less stress.

There’s another nice bonus: during the workshop, a photographer takes pictures. It gives you memory you can keep, especially if you don’t typically photograph yourself doing activities. The photos, combined with the framed art, make this feel like a complete package instead of an activity where you only keep a finished item.

If you’re worried about how to pack it, the simple answer is: bring room for it. A framed piece takes space. If you pack strategically, you’ll be fine.

Price and value: what $314.42 covers in real life

At $314.42 per person for about 3 hours, this isn’t the cheapest thing you can book in Paris. But it’s also not priced like a bare-bones “sit and watch.” The value comes from what’s included and how small the group is (maximum 6).

You’re paying for a full set of professional tools:

• 100% cotton cold press paper (archival quality)
• professional-grade watercolor paints (including granulating pigments)
• a high-end brush set
• a handcrafted easel designed for watercolor mess control
• ceramic palette and matching teaware-style accessories
• a step-by-step lesson with professional instruction and close guidance

On top of that, you get:

• a gaiwan tea ceremony with premium Japanese tea
• a framed final artwork
• a CREAA tote to carry it safely
• photos taken during the workshop

Transportation is the only major gap, since getting to and from the meeting point isn’t included. Meeting is at 48 Rue de la Montagne Ste Geneviève, 75005 Paris, and it’s near public transportation, which helps.

If you’ve ever done a craft activity where you buy cheap supplies and leave with something half-finished, this is the opposite. The materials are chosen for the craft, not for cost cutting. That’s why beginners can actually end with something they feel proud of.

Who this fits best (and when to choose the Seine option)

This workshop is a strong match if you:

• are a complete beginner and want clear guidance
• want a calm break from sightseeing-heavy days
• like making something you can display afterward
• enjoy art with a specific Paris setting, not a generic template

The small group size is also part of the experience. With a maximum of 6, you’re not swallowed by a big class. That makes it easier to get help quickly when you’re learning water control or color layering.

You’ll also appreciate it if you like having structure. The pre-sketched artwork removes the hardest early step, while still letting you make real choices with paint and brushwork.

If you’re the type who wants fresh air and scenery time, you might prefer the premium outdoor watercolor workshop along the Seine that’s hosted during warmer months. This Boma Café version is best when you want calm, indoor consistency and a tea ceremony in the middle of it.

Should you book this watercolor and tea workshop in Paris?

Book it if you want a real “Paris memory” that’s not just photos and museum tickets. The combination of a beginner-friendly, step-by-step painting process and a tea ceremony break makes the time feel balanced. You’ll likely enjoy it even if you think you’re not an art person, because the structure does the heavy lifting.

Skip it only if your ideal day is mostly walking around and seeing lots of places by foot. This is mainly about the workshop room, the painting, and the tea pause.

One smart move before you go: clear space in your bag for a framed piece and plan your schedule around finishing the workshop with enough time to store it safely.

If that fits your trip style, this is the kind of activity you’ll remember when everything else starts blending together.

FAQ

What language is the workshop offered in?

It’s offered in English.

How long is the workshop?

The session is approximately 3 hours.

Where do we meet, and does it end nearby?

You meet at 48 Rue de la Montagne Ste Geneviève, 75005 Paris, France, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

What are the workshop days and start times?

It runs weekly on Thursdays at 1:30 PM and Sundays at 10:30 AM.

Is the watercolor workshop suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. The drawing is pre-sketched, and the lesson is designed for beginners with step-by-step guidance.

What supplies are included?

You get a wooden desk easel, 100% cotton cold press watercolor paper, a ceramic palette with matching accessories, professional watercolor paints (including regular and hyper-granulating pigments), and a high-end brush set.

Is Japanese tea included, and what type?

Yes. You’ll have Japanese tea prepared in a traditional gaiwan ceremony, using premium teaware, during the workshop.

What do I take home?

You’ll take home a framed watercolor artwork and an Atelier CREAA tote bag. Photos are also taken during the workshop.

What is not included?

Food and drinks other than the tea are not included, and transportation to and from the location is not included.

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