Pastels & Sketchbook Drawing
in Trôo, France
June 7 - 14, 2025
With Diane Olivier
Taught in English
I am thrilled to be leading my third workshop in the Loire valley and the village of Trôo. The expansive vistas, gardens, river, beautiful village with its charming cave houses, amazing chateau accommodations and fabulous food makes for an incredible experience.
I encourage artists of ALL levels. Groups of no more than 10 insure that I can work individually with you and develop my days according to your needs. We will be working in sketchbooks and doing pastel in our morning and afternoon sessions which will be peppered with demonstrations and in progress feedback of your work.
After 40 years, teaching continues to give me great pleasure and I look forward to getting to know each of you and your goals. Hope to see you this summer!
Exquisite lodging in Trôo at
Le Château de la Voûte
Stay in this beautiful "petit chateau de charme" with it's manicured gardens, towers, troglodyte swimming pool, sauna, steam bath and gym in the old stables. Studio space for painting indoors available.
The bedrooms are decorated with authentic period antiques, hardwood floors, and tastefully appointed en suite bathrooms. Fabulous views from all rooms, including the ground floor dining rooms and salons where you can read, play the piano, or a game of chess in the library. There are caves housing a game room and the swimming pool, and a double jacuzzi in a tower.
An exquisite family-owned bijou of a chateau in an extraordinary cave village setting... it's the best of both worlds.
At A Glance
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small group allowing personalized instruction at all levels
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7 nights
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lodging in an extraordinary chateau
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Breakfasts, lunches and 3 home-cooked gourmet dinners included
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Welcome wine & cheese soirée
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Group exhibition open to public (participation optional)
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Farewell haute cuisine dinner
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Van excursions to the best destinations: local chateaux, markets, wineries & landmarks
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Early bird 200 euro discount for sign up by Dec. 31 (When booking use discount code: EARLYBIRD )
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20% discount for non-drawing participants (When booking use discount code: PARTNER )
Cost
All inclusive cost (see above):
2700 euros for the week
per person, based on double occupancy
Single room option:
add 350 euros
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Sign up by Dec. 31 and receive a 200 euro discount! When booking use discount code: EARLYBIRD
plus
20% discount for non-painters
When booking use discount code: PARTNER
New format! Deluxe lodging in Trôo at
Le Château de la Voûte
Le Château de la Voûte
Stay in this beautiful "petit château de charme" with it's manicured gardens, towers, troglodyte swimming pool, sauna, steam bath and gym in the old stables. Studio space for drawing indoors available.
Drawing Instructor Diane Olivier
Drawing has always been my primary media, working with both traditional and nontraditional materials on scales ranging from small book size to mural size. My subject matter ranges from figurative, landscape and cityscapes to non-representational. The media ranges from charcoal to graphite, to full color pastels to non-traditional mixed media. The sense of touch between the tools and the paper and the immediacy of the mark are important element in my process. It is a dance between the eyes, the hand and the soul.
Holiday Director Kate Kilbourne
Since 2000, Kate Kilbourne lived part of the year in San Francisco, California, and part of the year in her house in Trôo, France... until 2017 when her partner Robert bought a flat in Cádiz, Spain. Now Kate and Robert spend the spring and fall all over Europe, running Plein Air Holidays in France, Spain, Italy and in Croatia where they lived for nine months during the Covid pandemic. Kate is fluent in French and is learning Spanish as fast as she can!
Drawings by Diane Olivier
Click to enlarge
Included in Holiday
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6 days of instruction
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7 nights lodging in Le Château de la Voûte
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All breakfasts & lunches plus 5 dinners
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Van transport to and from Vendome TGV station
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Local van excursions
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Welcome wine and cheese soirée
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Farewell 3 course haute cuisine dinner at Le Manoir de Saint Quentin
Not Included
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Air fare
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Travel insurance
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Medical insurance
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Train fare
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Drawing supplies
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Two dinners (on Tuesday & Thursday -- allows you to try the local restaurants)
Cost
The cost for the 7 night holiday, inclusive of everything listed under "Included in Holiday", varies according to whether you prefer a single room or are planning to share a double. Accommodation is in the extraordinary Château de la Voûte. Visit the Lodging page for more details.
Double Room: 2700 euros
Per person
Single Room: 3050 euros
Per person
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Sign up by Dec. 31 and receive a 200 euro discount! When booking use discount code: EARLYBIRD
20% Discount for non-drawing participants
When booking use discount code: PARTNER
Typical Schedule
Subject to change depending on weather, desires of group, or other unforseen circumstances.
Saturday
Arrival at Vendome TGV station -- van pick up, check in to the Château de la Voûte
Saturday night
Welcome wine and cheese soirée on the terrace of the Château de la Voûte
Sunday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:00 am - 12:00 pm instruction
12:00 - 2:00 pm picnic lunch
2:00 - 6:00 pm free drawing session
7:30 pm Dinner
Monday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:30 am - 12:30 sketching in Trôo
12:30 - 2:00 pm picnic lunch
2:00 - 6:00 pm sketching in Trôo
7:30 pm Dinner
Tuesday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:00 am - 12:00 pm sketching at the Château de Courtanvaux
12:00 - 2:00 pm lunch in local bistro
2:00 - 6:00 pm sketching at the Château de Courtanvaux
7:30 pm Free Dinner on your own7:30 pm Dinner out at bistro of your choice (not included)
Wednesday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:00 am - 12:00 pm sketching at farmers market in Montoire-sur-Le-Loir
12:00 - 2:00 pm picnic lunch
2:00 - 6:00 pm free drawing session in Trôo
7:30 pm Dinner
Thursday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:00 am - 12:00 pm sketching in Lavardin
12:00 - 2:00 pm bistro lunch
2:00 - 4:00 pm sketching at Lavardin
8:00 pm Dinner
Friday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:00 am - 12:00 pm sketching in Trôo
12:00 - 2:00 pm picnic lunch
2:00 - 5:00 pm free drawing session
5:30 - 7:30 pm public vernissage
8:00 - 10:00 pm farewell dinner at Le Manoir de St. Quentin
Saturday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
Check out of accommodation and van transport to Vendôme TGV station
