Art in the Occitanie
Painting and Printmaking in the Occitanie Landscape
I would like to invite you to join me on a week long residential art workshop and culinary experience in the South of France.
Based in and around the stunning village of Arboras in the Occitanie region of SW France where my family has had a house since the 1960s.
During the weeklong workshop we spend the mornings out in the local landscape sketching, drawing and painting; the afternoons we head into the studio to explore different printmaking techniques. Using our morning sketches as inspiration to experiment with monoprint, linocut and drypoint etching techniques.
Each week will have different guest artists, teachers and workshop leaders and also guest chefs from the local area!
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ALL INCLUSIVE
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6 hours of guided artwork a day
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All your art materials and use of studios and equipment
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7 nights full board in a private room in a local gite
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Continental breakfast, lunches & evening meals of delicious French cuisine (including wine) - all locally sourced
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Optional yoga on the mountain each morning
£1,195
YOU NEED TO ORGANISE YOUR OWN TRAVEL AND INSURANCE
"I had the most wonderful week in Montpellier with Kate and Rebecca. The were endlessly generous in sharing their homes, food and expertise with us. It felt like a home away from home, and I left full of inspiration and energy!"
Helen - October 2023
NOW BOOKING
Numbers strictly limited, book early to avoid disappointment.
Autumn 2024
October 4th to 11th FULLY BOOKED
May 2025
20th to 26th
October 2025 - TBC
Follow us on instagram @art_in_the_occitanie
Meet the artists
Kate Guy
Kate Guy studied Graphic Design Norwich School of Art and also holds a PGCE in Art and Design from Middlesex University. She was Head of Art and Design at a large Academy school in North London for 14 years and now teaches printmaking to small groups of adults and children as well as running her own design business.You can find out more about Kate and her work on her WEBSITEThe workshops will now run with specially selected guest artists, printmakers and inspirational teachers... to be announced.
"I booked onto the Residential art and cuisine experience (as a total novice) on a whim after meeting Kate at a craft fair. What a great decision that was!
Spending the week in the most scenic french countryside, surrounded by vineyards and birdsong with a really lovely group of people was very special.
Thank you... for a week that I will not forget and enjoyed so much. A slower pace of life with time to get absorbed into creating"
All the meals are made from fresh local produce
Breakfast is provided in the giteApproximate timings...9 am Yoga on the mountain - optional10 am to 12.30 - morning sessionLunch2 pm to 6 pm - Afternoon Session7.30 pm - Dinner
"I really liked the way there was a different plan for each day - both in terms of the type of project and seeing a new village/viewpoint. It was nice to explore a new bit of the region each day, and have that fresh in our minds as inspiration for the afternoon"Sarah - May 2023
ITINERARY
This will give you an idea of how it works and what we do each day but may vary slightly.
Travel day
You will arrive at Montpellier or Beziers airport or train station, we will collect you and bring you to the village. You can then settle into your gite and we will all meet up for supper, introductions and an outline of what we have planned for the week.
A SENSE OF PLACE
Day One
Afternoon
Introduction to MONOPRINTING - responding to the environment with colour -
Creating prints which can also be cut up for collage and/or overprinted with linocuts / etching / drawing
Day Two
Morning
Heading out into the landscape with drawing boards and chairs to draw in the countryside surrounding the village. Followed by a picnic lunch 'au plein air'.
"As well as working in two amazing art studios learning art techniques and experimenting, we had the opportunity to visit outdoor locations with our picnic chairs under our arms, sitting to draw/paint wherever took our fancy, be it a vineyard, beside the river ... So idyllic."
Elaine, May 2023
Afternoon
We will head back to the studio we will use the sketches to develop and explore LINOCUT printing. Learn the principles of relief printing and create a simple small single colour print.
Kate's studio in Arboras with 12th Century arches that once formed the entrance to the village
Day Three
Morning
LINOCUT 2 - working back in the studio we will continue with simple print and/or add a second colour
We will head down to the river for a picnic lunch at the famous local landmark 'Le Pont du Diable' (The Devil's Bridge) a historic bridge over the Herault river.
Afternoon
At the river, drawing, painting or cutting lino in the sunshine - the only way to do it!
Swimming optional, if it is warm enough it's a wonderful spot for a bit of wild swimming.
Marilyn's Linocut of the Landscape
Elaine's first ever linocut showing the view from Arboras with the iconic wiggly road
Day Five
This print was created by one of our artists in April, inspired by a trip to the medieval village of St Guilhem le Desert - the image show the etching plate on the left and the print on the left.
Day Six
Collating work and collaging
By this point artists are often immersed in their personal project and so will be working independently in the studio or out in the countryside. All the tutors from the week will be on hand with further instructions and guidance as needed.
Depending a little on the weather we can also make various trips to local places of interest
Just up the river from the 'Pont du Diable' is 'St Guilhem le Desert', a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most beautiful villages in France. We can explore the streets, have a coffee under a 500 year old plane tree and visit the 12th century abbey.
Spring - we can visit the local iris farm and see the fields full of these magnificant blooms in 100s of varieties
Afternoon / early evening; we will put up our creations in a mini exhibition
Final dinner all together - BBQ in the road
"Every mealtime was a treat with everyone sitting around the kitchen table chatting and enjoying freshly prepared local food and wine, on 3 evening’s prepared by guest chefs. We were truly spoilt and ate so well"
Elaine, May 2023
Travel Day
After breakfast we will drop you back at the airport or station of your choice
