Michael McCarthy and Jonathan Shimony have launched Atelier Vagabond to offer short term photography tours and art and photo workshops in Paris, France to students of all ages and backgrounds to share their passion for art and photography. Jonathan and Michael have been passionately involved in art making for some twenty-five years and have both developed an impressive range of skills and knowledge in their respective fields. Both artists have exhibited extensively in galleries and museums, been recognized for excellence in the art world and have been teaching art classes in university settings with great success for some twenty years. Each artist's work is represented by galleries in Paris. Michael's work is presented by Galerie Duboys in the Marais near the Picasso Museum while Jonathan exhibits work regularly with Galerie Métanoia right near the Centre Pompidou Museum.

Atelier Vagabond is an effort to move outside the university/art school setting with its limits and constraints and to offer short term learning opportunities where students can benefit from the instructors' substantial experience and knowledge in a wide range of art practices. The photo tours and art and photography workshops are designed for individual or small group instruction to insure that all students receive maximum attention to help them make the most progress in our brief but intense encounters.

Years of teaching experience has enabled us to adapt our teaching to the needs of the student. For those who are convinced "I'm not an artist!" we have seen repeatedly that creativity isn't genetic but rather must be worked at and cultivated--and so is therefore available to everyone! Come discover your untapped creative skills!

Photography Guided Tours in Paris

Currently we're offering our photo tours of various neighborhoods of Paris (the Latin Quarter, Montmartre, the Marais, the Covered Passages as well as the classic sites of Paris as well as the lesser known neighborhoods in Belleville, Menilmontant, Charonne and Buttes aux Cailles) for those who would like to get to know Paris better while learning more about their cameras and how to capture stronger, more beautiful records of the famous and not-so-famous (but very beautiful) sites you visit in Paris and elsewhere.

Art & Photo Workshops in Paris

We are also offering week-long art and photo workshops covering a range of topics, from extended photo tours of various Paris neighborhoods to more studio-based art and photo workshops where we'll explore traditional photography and printmaking techniques such as historical 19th photo processes like cyanotype, van dyke brown or gum prints and etching, woodcut and lithography. Come study art and photography with true artists who have been immersed in the artistic world for twenty-five years!

Private Photo Portrait Sessions in Paris

If you're coming to Paris, why not consider working with a professional photographer to capture some special portrait images of you and your loved ones with Paris as your backdrop. We can suggest the best locations and capture beautiful, classic images of you in Paris! In addition to receiving a CD of all the digital images shot during your 90 minute session, there is the option of receiving a hand-made photograph using an ancient 19th century photographic process for a really special record of your time in Paris.

Check out the Atelier Vagabond Blog

Writings about Paris, photography and art. This is our take on life as we encounter it in Paris. Reviews of good (and bad) art and photo exhibits, critiques of student photos, advice for young artists, posted photogrraphs... We write about whatever sparks an interest and which we believe might be interesting for lovers of Paris, photography and art. Please share your own thoughts on the blog! Visit the Atelier Vagabond Blog here!

Join us in Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world!