Name: Watercolour Workshop
Start: 2026-11-09
End: 2026-11-14
Location: Domaine de Cazenac

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

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 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.

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

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.

Introduction to and advanced techniques in intaglio printing: burin, mezzotint, etching.

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.

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. 

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.

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:

€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.

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 Workshop

By Laurie Bréda

The Workshop

Program

Stay essentials

Rate

About Laurie Bréda

More workshops

The Art of Storytelling

By Jean-Marie Laclavetine

Engraving Workshop

By Guy Braun

Between Shadows and Lights

By Laurence Bost

Watercolour Workshop

By Jean-Claude Papeix

Engraving Workshop

By Pablo Flaiszman

Watercolor Workshop

By Joëlle Krupa