Pastels with Diane Olivier
in Trôo, France
June 10 - 17, 2026
Taught in English
I am thrilled to be leading my fourth 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 12 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 in the Spring!
Note: We will be walking on uneven terrain, and on footpaths that in places are quite steep, with your drawing supplies -- participants should be comfortable with carrying their gear on uneven surfaces and should be fit enough to walk unassisted and go up and down stairs in the village. Not recommended for people with limited mobility.
Historic lodging in Trôo at
Le Château de la Voûte
Stay in this "petit chateau de charme" with it's atmosphere of a Tim Burton movie set -- and an air of bygone elegance. Quirky and bohemian, the property is enclosed within gorgeous grounds and 12th century towers frame the drive.
The bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms, are spacious, with hard wood floors, antiques, and great views from all windows. The ground floor features our dining room, salon and library, where you can read, play the piano, or a game of chess. There is a swimming pool next to the former stables, and a double jacuzzi in the tower.
A family-owned bijou of a chateau in an extraordinary cave village setting.
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 wonderful curated destinations: a local chateau, the farmer's market, a farm-cabaret
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Early bird 10% discount for sign up by Dec. 31 (When booking use discount code: EARLYBIRD )
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10% discount for non-drawing participants (When booking use discount code: PARTNER )
Cost
All inclusive cost (see above):
2800 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 10% discount! When booking use discount code: EARLYBIRD
plus
10% Discount
for non-painting participants
(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.
Pastels 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.
Sketchbooks on Flickr
My website
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!
Work 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: 2800 euros
Per person
Single Room: 3150 euros
Per person
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Sign up by Dec. 31 and receive a 10% euro discount! When booking use discount code: EARLYBIRD
10% 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
