Cost
2800 euros for Double Shared Room
per person, based on double occupancy
3150 euros for a Room of Your Own
based on single occupancy of a room with double bed and ensuite bathroom
10% Discount for Early Bird
registration by Dec. 31, 2025
(When booking use discount code: EARLYBIRD)
10% Discount for
Non-Painting Participants
(When booking use discount code: PARTNER)*
* Only one discount can be applied per booking
Pastels with Diane Olivier in Trôo, France
June 10 - 17, 2026
Taught in English
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FEB. 10, 2026
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.
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 )
Click below for recent reviews:
"The best part about the trip was... every part. When we weren't painting the gorgeous landscapes and/or beautiful architecture, we were either exploring the grounds of the chateau, eating delicious food or relaxing and chatting with the other participants and support staff. Definitely the most enjoyable solo-vacation I've ever taken. I look forward to participating in another trip with Plein Air Holidays, hopefully in a new country altogether!"
Karl K.
San Francisco
California
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
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)
Historic lodging in Trôo at
Le Château de la Voûte
New format! Deluxe lodging in Trôo at
Le Château de la Voûte
Le Château de la Voûte
"This week was well organised with extremely friendly support staff around all the time.
We spent time in the most beautiful settings in France.
Since we booked we experienced good communication and it is a very well priced experience.
Thank you very much."
Linza & Jan B.
Johannesburg
South Africa
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.
Drawings by Diane Olivier
Click to enlarge
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!
"I really don't see how it could be better! You and Tom helped me so much that I was surprised to be able to participate in most everything, except for a couple of naps. The very personal visits to your friends were extra special.
I will definitely recommend this workshop to anyone I see. I have already told my friends that it was so much more than just a fine workshop. In addition, it was a cultural and warm social experience, with gourmet dining, wine and cheese tasting, fitness training, and a final exposition!"
Louise D.
San Luis Obispo
California