Name: Watercolour and mixed media
Start: 2026-04-27
End: 2026-05-02
Location: Domaine de Cazenac

Hélène DUPLANTIER has been teaching for 35 years at the Ateliers du Carousel in Paris, which is part of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD).

She teaches drawing, urban landscape, travel sketchbooks, watercolour, and mixed media techniques to children, teenagers, and adults.

She organises courses at art centres, La Fémis and the Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique. She exhibits in various galleries in France and Spain.

The Domaine de Cazenac and Hélène Duplantier invite you to the third edition of their watercolour workshop, from Monday 27 April to Saturday 2 May 2026, in the heart of the Périgord Noir.

This course offers you the opportunity to work in a natural and inspiring setting, in bright and comfortable spaces. The artists' workshop, dedicated to creativity, will be at your disposal to allow you to fully immerse yourself in the practice of watercolour painting.

Passionate about landscape painting, Hélène Duplantier will guide you with kindness and a keen eye, encouraging you to capture the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. Whether you are a beginner or more experienced, you will learn to work in harmony with nature, exploring the fluidity and lightness of watercolour painting in an exceptional setting.

This course is open to people who have already practised painting or drawing.

Accommodation on the estate in prestigious rooms

Access to tennis, sauna and swimming pools

5 days – Arrival on Monday in the early afternoon, departure on Saturday in the morning after breakfast.

- Morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Workshop and departure

The price is €1,750 per guest for accommodation in the château and €1,500 for accommodation in the estate in a single room, including meals from Monday afternoon to Saturday morning.

Bordeaux St-Jean - Le buisson de Cadouin: 2 hours by train (TER) then 15 minutes by road to the Domaine.

Guests can arrange taxi bookings in advance for their journey to the Domaine.

Paris Montparnasse - Bordeaux St-Jean: 2 hours by TGV-LGV

Paris Orly to Brive la Gaillarde: 1 hour flight + 1h30 drive to the Domaine.

Paris CDG to Bordeaux Merignac: 1h15 flight + 2h15 drive to the Domaine.

From Bordeaux

From Paris

 Jean-Marie Laclavetine was born in Bordeaux in 1954. A novelist and short story writer, he has been a member of the reading committee at Éditions Gallimard since 1989. In this capacity, he has helped to promote many French-language writers (Jean-Christophe Ruﬁn, Carole Martinez, Jean-Baptiste Del Amo, Muriel Barbery, Boualem Sansal, Dai Sijie, David Foenkinos, Tristan Garcia, Leïla Slimani, Joﬀrine Donnadieu, etc.). He has won numerous literary awards, including the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens in 1999 for Première ligne and the Grand Prix de la nouvelle de l'Académie française for Le Rouge et le Blanc, a collection of short stories devoted to the world of wine. He is also a translator from Italian.

His last two books, Une amie de la famille (A Friend of the Family, winner of the Marguerite Duras Prize) and La vie des morts (The Life of the Dead), were published by Gallimard in 2019 and 2021. Since 2012, he has been running writing workshops at Gallimard.

Jean-Marie Laclavetine, one of France's leading contemporary novelists, invites you to take part in his writing workshop from Monday, February 23 to Friday, February 27, 2026. This eagerly awaited course offers you a unique immersion into the craft of storytelling.

Over five days, in a calm and inspiring setting, Jean-Marie Laclavetine will guide you through practical exercises and group workshops to explore the mechanisms of narration, narrative construction, and the art of writing. Whether you are a beginner or more experienced, this workshop will allow you to develop your own voice and perfect your style under the watchful eye of a renowned author.

This course is an opportunity to create, exchange ideas, and progress alongside a passionate and experienced writer.

This workshop is an opportunity to create, exchange ideas, and progress alongside a passionate and experienced writer.

This immersive workshop offers participants personalized guidance in the practice of literary writing. It is not about providing a foolproof recipe for writing a novel, but rather enabling each participant to advance their personal thinking and forge their own tools for constructing a novel, a story, or a short story. The work will be based on texts produced on site or on excerpts from ongoing literary projects. Learning to write is above all a personal journey. It is about becoming aware of the unique powers of writing, a tool for exploration, for understanding the world, a source of anxiety but also an instrument of pleasure, surprise, and laughter.

The exercises offered will provide a basis for reflection applicable to any literary writing practice: choosing the right word, striving for conciseness, precision, effective metaphor, etc. We will focus on more specific issues related to novel writing: the opening lines, the different phases of narrative development, the ending, the choice of title, the use of tenses, intermediate scenes, the question of narrative point of view, and more.

The exercises will be adapted to the personalities present and the evolution of the group. The aim is to enable each participant to take a step forward in a current literary project, or to start a new project in light of the reflections that the workshop will have inspired.

Accommodation on the estate, in prestigious rooms

Continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner on site

Access to the park, tennis court, sauna, and swimming pools

The price is €1,500 per guest for accommodation in the château and €1,300 for accommodation in the annex, full board from Monday afternoon to Friday morning.

Guy Braun is a multidisciplinary artist whose career has been punctuated by engraving, painting, and teaching.

Born in 1950 in the heart of Paris, he studied painting techniques in Nicolas Wacker's studio at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, then discovered engraving at the Atelier du Sorbier in Paris.

He has been practicing printmaking since 1976, first in the studios of the city of Paris and then, since 1992, in his own studio. 

Guy Braun is currently President of the Engraving section of the Société des Artistes Français - Grand Palais. Paris

- Prix des Amis des Artistes Français, Paris, 2000.

 - Prix Pinet from the Académie des Beaux-Arts (Institut de France) 2012.

- A.D.A.G.P. Prize at the Salon d'Automne in Paris, 2012. 

- Gold Medal at the Salon des Artistes Français, 2012.

- Engraving Prize from the Friends of the Salon d'Automne, 2013. 

- Taylor Foundation Prize, Salon des Artistes Français, 2014. 

– Félix Bracquemont Prize at the SNBA, Carrousel du Louvre 2014.

 - Bréauté Prize from the Académie des Beaux-Arts, 2014.

- Medal of Honor, Engraving Section, “Art Capital.” Grand Palais 2017.

Come and enjoy a unique artistic experience in the heart of the Dordogne Valley, from Monday, March 2 to Friday, March 6, 2026. 

The Domaine de Cazenac and Guy Braun invite you to take part in an engraving course.

The course takes place in the enchanting setting of the estate, where you will enjoy bright and comfortable spaces in which to express your creativity. A workshop dedicated to artists is at your disposal, notably with the use of a historic press that belonged to Aldo Crommelynck.

Under the guidance of Guy Braun, you will have the opportunity to deepen your engraving techniques or simply give free rein to your imagination. A special opportunity to learn, experiment, and create in an exceptional setting.

Bring a copper plate (max. 20 x 20 cm) that has already been rocked with a rocker (ideally 85 grit), even if the rocking is imperfect, I will finish it with you. If possible, the edges should be bevelled. 

One or two fairly simple subjects, either drawings or black and white photos, copied in reverse onto paper the same size as the plate. You can send me your choices and I will approve them. I can also suggest suitable models.

Tools: a burnisher. I will bring two or three, but it is preferable to work with your own tools.

Bring a mirror-polished copper plate (max. 20 x 30 cm). 

Two or three square-section chisels (not diamond-shaped) such as Lyons No. 2, No. 4 and more if necessary; a scraper-burnisher and a Noton-India type sharpening stone, but I will bring stones.

One or two fairly simple subjects, either drawings or black and white photos, and a reverse copy. You can send me your choices and I will approve them. I can also suggest suitable models.

The engraving workshop takes place at the following times:

Monday: from 3 p.m. (arrivals and welcome)

Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Born in 1972, Laurence Bost currently lives and works in Paris. But she never stays there very long, as her paintbrushes are always on the move... 2022 began in the incomparable light of the banks of the Nile.

Laurence Bost is self-taught (she only spent one season at the Etampes workshop) and created her first paintings barely 15 years ago. Since 2012, she has exhibited her work every year at Galerie 26, Place des Vosges in Paris.

Laurence's oil paintings on canvas are distinguished by their incomparable light. As if captured in the canvas, the light is reflected in rays of sunshine, reflections and backlighting, giving her paintings the impression of a moment captured on the spot, with fresh colours and realistic attitudes. 

She loves painting outdoors, but she also sets up her easel in a library or a holiday garden. There, she captures the first ray of sunshine on the carpet in the hallway, children playing in the grass, a quarter of an hour of reading in the cool shade of a lime tree. Laurence transcends everyday life and brings it to life.

Come and enjoy a unique artistic experience in the heart of the Dordogne valley, from Monday 9 to Saturday 14 March 2026. 

The Domaine de Cazenac and Laurence Bost invite you to take part in the third edition of this oil painting course, designed for artists of all levels.

The course takes place in the enchanting setting of the estate, where you will enjoy bright and comfortable spaces, ideal for stimulating creativity. A workshop dedicated to artists is at your disposal, a true haven of inspiration, conducive to exploration and artistic production.

Under the guidance of Laurence Bost, you will have the opportunity to deepen your oil painting techniques or simply give free rein to your imagination. A special opportunity to learn, experiment and create in an exceptional setting.

The workshop is open to both beginners and experienced artists. 

Continental breakfast, lunch and dinner on site

Access to the park, tennis court, sauna and swimming pools

Brushes of various sizes (special oil painting brushes)

Rembrandt brand tubes: Mixed white - Yellow ochre - Dark cadmium yellow  - Madder lake - Vermilion red - Olive green - Bladder green - Medium cinnabar green  - Raw umber - Van Dyke brown - Dark ultramarine blue - And other colours you like...  

Departure: Saturday 14 March 2025 after breakfast.

The workshop will begin with a half-day or full day devoted to reviewing and/or learning the main rules of classical painting. The topics covered will be different each day and will focus on a central theme ranging from still life to portraiture, based on the suggestions of the artist, who will work with each student individually and pedagogically to achieve a successful painting. 

The workshops will be held in the morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and in the afternoon from 2.30 p.p. to 5.30 p.m.

€1,750 for accommodation in the château

€1,500 for accommodation in the outbuildings

Full board from Monday afternoon to Saturday morning

A watercolourist for over 30 years, I tirelessly pursue a quest for light and the unique atmospheres it creates in Limousin, my adopted home. I run courses throughout France and occasionally abroad. My favourite subjects are trees, rivers, small heritage sites, old stone buildings, etc.

At the beginning of the course, I explain to the students why water is the central element in watercolour painting: how it carries colour, creates blends and allows for luminous effects. Together, we experiment with the importance of working with a lot of water and learning to control it.

The course takes place over three days, with one complete watercolour painting per day.

The first day is devoted to flowers, an ideal theme for exploring gradients, transparency and lightness.

The following two days are dedicated to landscapes, both natural and marine, to discover other types of gestures, textures and atmospheres.

The subjects are deliberately simple in terms of drawing so that everyone can concentrate on the technique without apprehension.

I paint each work in several stages. After each demonstration, the students carry out the same phase at their own pace. This allows them to gradually learn best practices: the right amount of water, the techniques that allow for freedom of movement, and common mistakes to avoid.

Breaks are scheduled to ask questions, revisit a difficulty, or explore a technique in greater depth. I also sometimes repeat a short demonstration if it helps.

If the group progresses at a consistent pace, we can even expand the programme and tackle a fourth watercolour at the end of the course.

Access to the grounds, tennis court, sauna and swimming pools

The watercolour workshop takes place at the following times:

Tuesday: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5.30pm

Wednesday: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5.30pm

Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

€1,500 for accommodation in the château

€1,300 for accommodation in the outbuildings

Full board from Monday afternoon to Friday morning

Born in 1970 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pablo Flaiszman received training in drawing and painting from Luisa Reisner from an early age, while Alfredo de Vincenzo introduced him to engraving in 1997. 

In 2000, he moved to Paris, France, where he established himself as an engraving artist in the studio of Danish artist Torben Bo Halbirk. Since 2015, he has been working in his own studio in Paris's 18th arrondissement. 

He has been awarded residency grants in printmaking in France, Germany, Denmark, Croatia, Morocco and Luxembourg. He has won numerous prizes, including the Prix Miroir de l'Art, France; the Prix 7e Biennale de l'Estampe de Saint-Maur; the Prix jeune gravure contemporaine du Salon d'Automne; the Prix 14e Biennale de Conflans Sainte-Honorine; the Gravix Foundation Prize; the Kiyoshi Hasagawa Prize, Taylor Foundation; the Young Artists in Engraving Prize, Académie des Beaux-Arts de Paris; and First Prize in Engraving at the 98th National Visual Arts Salon in Argentina.

His works have been featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions.

Aquatint is an etching process that produces effects similar to wash on a metal plate using a grain of resin powder that is resistant to the etching solution, allowing different shades of grey to be created depending on how long the acid etches the plate.

This course focuses on understanding the different stages of the aquatint technique. The transparent superimposition of several successive aquatints, each with its own etching time, allows us to greatly expand the spectrum of values from white to black, passing through all the subtleties of grey engraved on the same plate. This gradual search for deep, nuanced blacks in wash, characteristic of the aquatint technique, invites us, while remaining within the realm of engraving, to adopt a gestural practice similar to that of a painter.

Each participant must bring a polished copper plate measuring 20 x 30 cm and at least two designs (drawings or photographs) in the same format as the plate. Please note that the image will be reversed when printed on paper. Remember to mirror your project. If you want to keep the drawing or photograph intact, make a copy as you will be drawing on it to transfer the design onto the plate.

The engraving workshop takes place at the following times: 

Sunday: from 3 p.m. (arrivals and welcome)

Monday: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The price is €1,250 per guest for accommodation in the château and €1,100 for accommodation in the annexe, full board from Sunday afternoon to Wednesday morning.

After training as a graphic designer under pierre dardel, françoise caillette-deneubourg worked in advertising for ten years before devoting herself to painting.

Since 1996, she has been travelling the world on foot, sketching moments of life, faces and landscapes as she goes.

Her sketchbooks capture the ephemeral and allow her to share the emotions of her encounters.

The quality of her portraits is always moving, making her one of the most impressive portraitists among travelling painters.

She lives in antony, in the suburbs of paris.

Discover her biography: https://www.caillette-deneubourg.com

A dream week in a castle with a unique atmosphere. A place of peace and serenity conducive to stimulating creative energies. A week in a cocoon of gentleness where you will be surrounded by the kindness of all the people who will ensure your well-being. The days will be filled according to your desires.

The presence of a nude model for one day will ensure progress in the perception of the human body. Portraiture will also be studied.

This enchanting château from another era, offering all the comforts of our time, overlooks the Dordogne valley, its morning mists and delicate sunsets. A chef will provide comforting, inventive and refined culinary delights for your meals.

We will cover pencil and felt-tip pen drawing, perspective, sketching and portraiture, watercolour and still life.

6-night course with accommodation on the estate 

access to the sauna, swimming pool and tennis court

Arrival: Friday, 9 October 2026, from 3 p.m.

Departure: Thursday, 15 October 2026, after breakfast.

During this course, which focuses primarily on drawing, we will cover:

- composition, lines of force, balance and proportions

- notebook layout (writing, use of various elements, collages, etc.)

The sketchbook artist recounts what they feel; their view of their surroundings is a personal endeavour.

Workshops will be held in the morning from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and in the afternoon from 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The price is €2,050 per guest for accommodation in the château and €1,750 for accommodation in the annex, full board from friday afternoon to thursday morning.

This course is suitable for both beginners and experienced artists.

My journey into photography began over 35 years ago, in the unlikely setting of a supertanker crossing the Red Sea. 

At the time I was an engineer, but the light, the stillness, and the camera quickly took hold. 

What followed was a long career as a commercial photographer, shooting campaigns and editorials across the globe for brands like Rolls-Royce, BMW, and Toyota. But photography was always more than work, it was a way of paying attention, of seeing more clearly. 

Today, I live and work in south-west France, where I’ve turned a limestone barn into a darkroom and studio. My focus has returned to the roots of the medium — wet plate collodion, photopolymer gravure, and other early processes that honour slowness, care, and the handmade image. 

I now teach workshops, mentor other photographers, and continue to explore photography as both craft and creative expression. 

For one week, the Domaine de Cazenac becomes a working photographic atelier, where light, glass, and silver meet in the time-honoured dance of wet plate collodion. Invented in the 1850s and practiced by early photographers through the late 19th century, this process invites a slower, more deliberate way of seeing and making. 

Using original cameras from the 1880s, with beautiful brass lenses and hand-poured aluminium plates, participants will explore the full expressive range of wet plate photography, from the quiet grandeur of the château and its grounds to the creation of timeless portraits and sensitive, fine art studies of the human form. Over the course of the week, you'll photograph architecture, light, texture, and tone, and work closely with three exceptional models, collaborators in the truest sense, to produce images that speak of presence, grace, and the poetry of process. 

Each day is thoughtfully paced, blending technical learning with space to explore. The workshop begins with a day devoted to photographing the château, its soft stone, shifting light, and quiet corners, before moving into guided portrait and figure sessions. Through demonstrations, one-to-one guidance, and shared reflection, you’ll be supported in both the craft and the creative depth of your work. With vintage tools in hand and time to truly see, this is a rare chance to slow down and make with intention. 

With guided sessions, this immersive workshop offers thoughtful, personalised guidance in the art of wet plate photography, to help each participant move forward in their creative practice, whether they are just beginning or looking to deepen their approach. Through a mix of demonstration, hands-on making, and shared reflection, the process becomes both a craft and a way of seeing. 

Whether you’re drawn to the alchemy of the darkroom, the romance of vintage tools, or the quiet focus of craft, this workshop offers a rich and rewarding immersion into one of photography’s most poetic forms. 

No need to bring a thing. We provide everything: large format cameras, beautiful brass lenses, darkroom equipment, chemistry, aluminium plates and, of course, guidance in how to use them. Just bring your curiosity, your eye, and an open mind. 

Dates Arriving Monday, November 2nd – Departing Saturday, November 7th, 2026 

Location Domaine de Cazenac, Dordogne, France 

What You’ll Explore The poetic craft of wet plate collodion photography: large format cameras, brass lenses, hand-poured aluminium plates, and the quiet magic of the darkroom. We’ll begin by photographing the château itself, its textures, shadows, and presence, before moving into portrait work with three exceptional fine art models. 

Guidance and Flow Each day offers a blend of guided sessions, demonstrations, and thoughtful one-to-one support. Time is given for reflection, making, and meaningful critique. 

What’s Included – Five nights accommodation in prestige rooms – All meals: seasonal, generous, and prepared on site – Full use of vintage cameras and lenses – All materials and chemistry, including plates and paper – Access to the château’s darkroom throughout the week – Use of the pool, sauna, and tennis court 

Who It’s For This workshop welcomes both curious newcomers and experienced hands, anyone drawn to the slowness, depth, and tactile beauty of early photographic practice. 

€3,150 This includes : five nights of accommodation, all meals, materials, full access to equipment, and dedicated teaching throughout. We’ve shaped this retreat to be as generous, thoughtful, and immersive as possible, a rare chance to slow down, make deeply, and learn in good company, in one of the most inspiring settings in France. 

After studying fine arts in Annecy, I have continued to work and explore materials and pictorial expressions. I first experimented with oil painting in Adek Zylberberg's studio in Paris, then discovered the magic of watercolour and finally its richness and expressive power. Since then, I have become convinced that watercolour, which has become my medium of choice, plays a facilitating role in expressing what cannot be touched with the finger, the true internal tides that are our emotions, the reminiscences of the memories of experiences that shape us, all the ebb and flow of the energies of life that surround us, the passages between the tangible and the intangible.

Theme: ‘Sculpting light, using watercolour as a medium’

In the heart of Périgord, we will explore and attune ourselves - with our paintbrushes - to the region's many surrounding beauties.

Green valleys, gentle hills, listed heritage sites and sweeping views of the peaceful Dordogne river.

The estate's garden and its permaculture vegetable garden, truffle field and walnut grove will provide us with plenty of inspiration.

The estate's garden, with its permaculture vegetable garden, truffle field and walnut grove, will provide us with plenty of inspiration.

At this time of year, we will work from photos of the estate or other landscapes, in keeping with the season and the

Watercolour and its wet-on-wet technique will allow us to explore and strengthen our ability to synthesise

The watercolour workshop takes place at the following times: 

Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Watercolour as a dialogue between technique, light and creative freedom. 

Joëlle Krupa is originally from Alsace. A graduate of the Mulhouse School of Fine Arts, she is a member of the French Watercolour Society (SFA).

For more than 35 years, she has tirelessly explored the many facets of watercolour, developing a unique approach that combines technical mastery and artistic sensitivity.

A passionate artist, she is not content to simply colour her own vision of the world; she also helps others discover and express their talent. Her work, rich in nuance and depth, reflects a rich artistic sensibility and an approach marked by patience and observation.

Water, fluidity, movement and emotion are at the heart of her approach, as she constantly explores the mysteries of watercolour. Her artistic expression is both diverse and subtle: body movements, flowers, landscapes, plays of light and material effects intermingle in a quest for the elusive.

Through her works, Joëlle Krupa invites us to contemplate the world with gentleness and poetry.

Improve your watercolour skills with clear, accessible techniques and personalised guidance to boost your confidence and independence.

My watercolour courses provide participants with technical and creative tools that enable them to progress independently and develop real expertise.

We explore transparency, light and depth through mastery of wet-on-wet techniques, lifting, layering and values. But beyond technique, we also cultivate creativity, intuition and letting go, in order to reveal the full expressive richness and unique spontaneity of watercolour.

The workshops are based on a variety of themes — landscapes, skies, waterfalls, flowers, vineyards, etc. — chosen with the participants in order to meet their needs and encourage progress.

Each course combines technical rigour and personal expression: participants leave with solid knowledge, new skills and the motivation to continue their practice.

In a friendly and supportive atmosphere, I provide personalised guidance, allowing everyone to enjoy a rich, formative and inspiring artistic experience.

Sending a list of recommendations three months in advance

Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

€1,700 for accommodation in the château

€1,450 for accommodation in the outbuildings

Watercolour and mixed media

By Hélène Duplantier

The Workshop

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About Hélène Duplantier

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