Name: From Plein Air to Studio
Start: 2027-05-03
End: 2027-05-08
Location: Domaine de Cazenac

Olivier Desvaux invites us to travel, from Lake Baikal to Greece, from the banks of the Seine to Japan and the Norwegian fjords. Working in oils, mostly outdoors, he is drawn to natural light and its reflections on water.

A graduate of the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris (2006), he has been an Official Painter of the French Navy since 2018. His many awards include the Jean Roch Sauer – Sennelier Prize (Fondation Taylor, 2026). His studio sits on a loop of the Seine, in Normandy.

A two-part spring workshop in oil painting (gouache possible outdoors). First, set up your easel and paint from life in the gardens of the Domaine and the surrounding countryside: observe and capture light, color and atmosphere.

Olivier shares his methods for working quickly and efficiently on site: choice of subject, framing, composition, values and colors, with photos, notes and sketches gathered for the studio.

Then, in the studio, translate this experience onto a large canvas (81 × 60 cm): build a composition, step away from the motif and move toward a more personal painting, enriched with glazes and impasto.

Full board, meals prepared on site by a private chef

Restored rooms, each with a private bathroom

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

Daily instruction, outdoors and in the studio

Provided: painting surfaces for outdoor work, a linen canvas 81 × 60 cm, gesso, solvent

To bring: field easel or plein air pochade box, extra-fine oil paints, brushes, rags, smock

Monday: 3:00 pm arrival · 4:30–6:30 pm introduction and first session · 7:00 pm welcome drinks

Tuesday: 9:30 am–12:30 pm and 2:00–5:00 pm · outdoors

Wednesday: 9:30 am–12:30 pm outdoors · 2:00–5:00 pm canvas preparation

Thursday: 9:30 am–12:30 pm outdoors · 2:00–5:00 pm studio

Friday: 9:30 am–12:30 pm and 2:00–5:00 pm · studio

Accommodation in the château: €1,900 incl. VAT

of which €1,300 incl. VAT for the stay at the Domaine and €600 incl. VAT workshop fee, paid directly to the artist on arrival

Accommodation in the annex: €1,700 incl. VAT

of which €1,100 incl. VAT for the stay at the Domaine and €600 incl. VAT workshop fee, paid directly to the artist on arrival

5 nights, single room, full board. Materials not provided by the Domaine are not included.

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

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

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

Jean-Christophe Béchet is a French photographer born in 1964 in Marseille. His work focuses on street photography and urban landscapes, capturing moments of everyday life with sensitivity. He is the author of more than thirty books and has participated in over 70 exhibitions. He shares his approach to photography in various workshops. A specialist in editing (the art of selecting photographs), he also has extensive experience in photo printing on paper, both analogue and digital. This immersion at the Domaine de Cazenac is an opportunity to benefit from his experience in all these areas in a setting conducive to creativity. The course will allow participants to explore all stages of the creative process, from shooting to the final exhibition print (produced on site on the last day of the course), including all the intermediate stages (selecting the ‘best’ photos, making contact sheets, an introduction to book or catalogue editing, etc.).

At the Domaine de Cazenac, a place steeped in history, a photographic immersion will take place under the direction of Jean-Christophe Béchet. From Wednesday 25 to Sunday 29 November 2026, this workshop offers a stay in the heart of the Périgord Noir, where participants will explore photography in an inspiring setting. The 14th-century château offers modern facilities, including digital and film laboratories, allowing participants to develop and print their work directly on site.

Duration: Wednesday 25 to Sunday 29 November 2026 (4 nights)

Accommodation: Château de Cazenac, prestigious rooms

Activities: Photography at the château and its surroundings, digital and film lab, editing, black and white prints

Services: Gourmet meals, access to the sauna, swimming pool (unheated), and tennis court

Leica cameras will be available on site for those who wish to try them out (2-3 models)

€1,500 per participant, accommodation and meals included

The Spirit of the Place: A Photographic Immersion

 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, November 30 to Friday, December 04, 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.

Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher by AFYI (French Association of Iyengar Yoga)

Myriam Chaigneau has been teaching for 15 years, and her experience with Iyengar Yoga began more than 25 years ago, an encounter that immediately felt like a natural fit for her.

Her exploration of the Asanas is endless and is continuously enriched by attending workshops and weekly classes with other teachers. This path leads to the harmonization of the body, the mind, and self-knowledge.

"Only self-knowledge can free you from fear. Self-knowledge is the beginning of wisdom and the end of fear." 

Immerse yourself in a deep and luminous experience, from Monday, March 1 to Saturday, March 6, 2027, at the heart of Iyengar Yoga practice, guided by Myriam Chaigneau.

Come recharge and rejuvenate in the idyllic setting of the Domaine de Cazenac, a place where calm and bliss meet, offering the perfect atmosphere for the blossoming of your practice. This retreat is an invitation to explore the many benefits of Iyengar Yoga, regardless of your level of experience.

Under the guidance of Myriam Chaigneau, you will delve into the subtleties of postures, alignment, and breath, respecting your individual abilities and pace. Iyengar Yoga, with its precise and methodical approach, will help you develop strength, flexibility, and serenity, while cultivating a deep connection between body and mind.

Your days will be filled with practice and meditation sessions, held in bright and welcoming spaces, providing a peaceful sanctuary for relaxation. This is a rare opportunity to deepen your practice, explore new dimensions of Yoga, and find a harmonious balance amidst the beauty of nature.

A retreat to recharge, reconnect, and rediscover yourself in a timeless, tranquil setting.

This workshop is open to anyone with at least two years of yoga practice, whether in the Iyengar tradition or any other style.

Accommodation in the château, in prestigious rooms

4 full days + a half-day on Friday morning (lunch included).

- 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Deepening of the postures

- 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM: Relaxation, Pranayama, Meditation

- Morning from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM: Followed by lunch

The price is €1400 per person, including accommodation and meals from Sunday evening to Friday lunchtime.

Jean-Marie Laclavetine, one of France's leading contemporary novelists, invites you to take part in his writing workshop from Monday, March 03 to Friday, March 12, 2027. This eagerly awaited course offers you a unique immersion into the craft of storytelling.

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 15 to Saturday 20 March 2027. 

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 20 March 2027 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.

Château accommodation: €1,875, including a €500 workshop fee, paid directly to the artist.

Farmhouse/Cottage accommodation: €1,600, including a €500 workshop fee, paid directly to the artist.

Full board from Monday afternoon to Saturday morning.

Jean-Christophe Béchet est un photographe français né en 1964 à Marseille. Son travail se concentre sur la photographie de rue et les paysages urbains, capturant des moments du quotidien avec sensibilité. Il est l'auteur de plus de trente livres et a participé à plus de 70 expositions. et partage son approche de la photographie lors de divers ateliers. Spécialiste de l’éditing (art de bien sélectionner ses photographies) , il a aussi une grande expérience du tirage photo sur papier, en argentique comme en numérique. Cette immersion au Domaine de Cazenac est l'occasion de bénéficier de son expérience dans tous ces domaines dans un cadre propice à la créativité. Le stage permettra aux stagiaires de s’intéresser à toutes les étapes du processus créatif, de la prise de vue au tirage d’exposition final (réalisé sur place le dernier jour du stage) en passant par toutes les étapes intermédiaires (sélection des « meilleures » photos, réalisation de tirages de lecture, initiation à l’édition de livres ou de catalogues…)

At the Domaine de Cazenac, a place steeped in history, a photographic immersion will take place under the direction of Jean-Christophe Béchet. From Wednesday 24 to Sunday 28 November 2027, this workshop offers a stay in the heart of the Périgord Noir, where participants will explore photography in an inspiring setting. The 14th-century château offers modern facilities, including digital and film laboratories, allowing participants to develop and print their work directly on site.

Duration: Wednesday 24 to Sunday 28 November 2027 (4 nights)

Accommodation: Domaine de Cazenac, prestigious rooms

Château accommodation: €1,600, including a €500 workshop fee, paid directly to the artist.

Farmhouse/Cottage accommodation: €1,380, including a €500workshop fee, paid directly to the artist.

Full board from Wednesday afternoon to Sunday lunch.

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 12 to Saturday 17 April 2027, 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.

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.

Tomas van Houtryve is a visual artist who is based in France for 20 years. He uses a wide range of contemporary and early photographic and film techniques, continually questioning and reinventing his approach to image-making. Drawing on his background in philosophy and investigative journalism, his multidisciplinary projects challenge our notions of memory, identity, and power. Van Houtryve was selected to document the rebuilding of the Notre-Dame cathedral of Paris from 2020 to 2024. He is a National Geographic Explorer and the author of three photography books: 36 vues of Notre Dame (Radius Books, 2024), Lines and Lineage (Radius Books, 2019) and Behind the Curtains (Editions Intervalles, 2012).

Hosted in a stunning 14th-century château with modern facilities, this intensive workshop will focus on improving your use of light in photography. Practical sessions will cover natural and artificial lighting techniques for portraiture, architecture and reportage photography. Technical and creative approaches will be covered, including using flash, continuous light, daylight, infra-red and UV light. Each participant will also create a print during the workshop to take home.

Duration: Wednesday, 21 April to Sunday, 25 April, 2027.

Included accommodation: château de Cazanac, prestigious rooms

Activities: studio and outdoor photography, lectures, printing

Services: gourmet meals, access to sauna, pool and tennis

Price per person
€1,500, including €550 (VAT included) for participation in the workshop, paid directly to the artist.

Full board from Wednesday to Sunday morning

For Jacqueline, painting begins with seeing: observing a place, its light and its changing colors. Her realistic-impressionistic approach seeks the essence of a moment rather than an exact copy of nature.

Trained in oil painting and drawing at the Academy of Fine Art Germany (Bad Homburg), then at the Florence Academy of Art and the Dutch Atelier of Realist Art, she has exhibited widely and received several international awards.

A week of plein air painting at Domaine de Cazenac, overlooking the Dordogne Valley in the heart of the Périgord. You will not simply paint the landscape: you will experience it with all your senses, in the warm, luminous light of the South.

Jacqueline guides you through the whole process, from choosing a motif to the finished painting: equipment, composition, color theory and mixing, alla prima technique. Demonstrations, individual advice and plenty of time to paint.

Open to beginners and experienced painters with basic knowledge of oil paints. Some walking between painting spots; a studio is available in bad weather.

Daily instruction in plein air and landscape painting

A detailed materials list is sent upon registration.

Monday: arrival from 3:00 pm, workshop 3:30–6:30 pm

Tuesday–Friday: 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 2:30–5:30 pm

Oil painting · German / English · 10 participants max.

Accommodation in the château: €1,800 incl. VAT

of which €1,300 incl. VAT for the stay at the Domaine and €500 incl. VAT workshop fee, paid directly to the artist

Accommodation in the annex: €1,600 incl. VAT

of which €1,100 incl. VAT for the stay at the Domaine and €500 incl. VAT workshop fee, paid directly to the artist

Full board from Monday evening to Saturday morning. Painting materials and travel not included.

From Plein Air to Studio

By Olivier Desvaux

The Workshop

Program

Stay essentials

equipment

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About Olivier Desvaux

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