The Magic of Monotype
in the Loir Valley, France
June 21-28, 2025
With Robynn Smith
Taught in English
This exciting workshop is appropriate for all levels, beginners to seasoned printmakers. Experience the beauty and immediacy of monotype, “The Painterly Print”, through demonstrations and individualized instruction. Many aspects of monotype and monoprint will be covered, resulting in both simple and multi layered, complex prints. High quality, non-toxic materials will be used, in a beautiful, well equipped print studio.
Click on slideshow for full-size images
Robynn Smith is an internationally known exhibiting artist. For decades she taught every aspect of drawing, painting and printmaking at Monterey Peninsula College. Now she teaches workshops around the world and at Blue Mouse Studios, her home studio in Aptos, California. Robynn’s first printmaking love is monotype, as it requires an exciting balance of structure and abandon that is exciting and fulfilling. “I love both making art and teaching art, as the two disciplines inform and inspire each other. My studio work keeps me fresh and creative as a teacher, and my teaching keeps me organized and hones my skills as a communicator. I love sharing knowledge and experiencing new ways of seeing offered by working with others. Teaching abroad offers the best of everything-inspiration and cross cultural exchange while enjoying the deep connection of shared creativity.” www.robynnsmith.com
A Place for Artists Created by Artists
Domaine La Richardière
Nestled in the Loir Valley, between Le Mans and Tours, this manor whose origins date back to the 16th century, is today the protected stronghold of a family who brought this artists' residence to life, the combined vision of an architect and an artist.
Meet Our Hosts: Nathalie & Marc
Nathalie is an artist, painter and engraver. Her studio, which will be ours for the week, is in the gorgeous light-filled barn at the Richardiere. Marc is an architect, he worked in Paris for 25 years on renovation and development projects. He is the architect of the transformations of the Richardiere, a project that is fascinating in terms of its constraints and its possibilities. It is their combined talent as entrepreneurs with a thousand ideas and their sense of hospitality that guided them to Lhomme, with a pronounced taste for new adventures, their own and those of others.
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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4 shared purpose-designed artist residences house 2 and 3 people in each with 1 shared bathroom, separate beds (twins & doubles available) kitchen, and living room
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Breakfasts, lunches and 3 home-cooked gourmet dinners included
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Welcome wine, cheese & supper soirée
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Farewell haute cuisine dinner
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Van excursions to two local chateaux, an animal hospice farm, and the charming village of La Chartre-sur-Loir
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20% discount for non-printmaking participants (When booking use discount code: PARTNER)
Cost
2700 euros for the week *
per person, based on shared occupancy (your own bed) in open space apartments 5 SPOTS REMAINING
Private bedroom option (only two available, first come - first serve):
add 350 euros SORRY, ALL TAKEN
* printmaking paper
available for purchase
plus
20% Discount
for non-painting participants
(When booking use discount code: PARTNER)
Each of the four shared artists' residences has a studio open to nature, fields, woods or vineyards. The glass roofs play with light, the contemporary lines with spaciousness, white walls mix with stones and wood to allow for peacefulness and inspire the imagination.
Printmaking Instructor Robynn Smith
Robynn is an internationally known exhibiting artist and experienced instructor. She is the founder of Print Day in May, an annual, global event in which tens of thousands of printmakers in 100 countries, make prints during a 24-hour period. Sharing their processes and output via social media and websites, Print Day in May celebrates printmaking and creativity while building a worldwide community. www.printdayinmay.com
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!
Included in Holiday
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6 days of instruction
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7 nights lodging at the Domaine La Richardière
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All breakfasts & lunches, plus the following 3 dinners:
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Welcome wine and cheese soirée
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Farm to Table dinner at farm
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Farewell 3 course haute cuisine dinner
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Van transport to and from Vendome TGV station
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Van excursions to visit local chateaux, an animal hospice farm, and the village of La Chartre-sur-Loir
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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Printmaking paper available for purchase
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Four dinners (on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Thursday -- allows you to try the local restaurants)
Cost
Lodging at Domaine La Richardière:
4 shared purpose-designed artist residences house 2 and 3 people in each with your own bed, 1 shared bathroom, kitchen, and living room
Shared apartment: 2700 euros
Per person
Add 350 euro Private Room supplement (only two available): 3050 euros SORRY, ALL TAKEN
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. Note that the print studio will be available after instruction hours.
Saturday
Arrival at Vendome TGV station -- van pick up, get settled at La Richardière
Saturday night
Welcome wine and cheese soirée on the grounds of La Richardière (dinner included)
Sunday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:30 am - 12:30 pm instruction in print studio
12:30 - 2:00 pm picnic lunch
2:00 - 5:00 pm instruction in print studio
7:30 pm Dinner out at local bistro of your choice or pick up groceries to make dinner in your apartment (dinner not included)
Monday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:30 am - 12:30 pm instruction in print studio
12:30 - 2:00 pm picnic lunch
2:00 - 5:00 pm instruction in print studio
7:30 pm Dinner out at local bistro of your choice or pick up groceries to make dinner in your apartment (dinner not included)
Tuesday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:30 am - 12:30 pm sketching at the Château de Courtanvaux & Château de Poncé
12:30 - 1:30 pm picnic lunch at Poncé
2:00 - 5:00 pm instruction in print studio
7:30 pm Dinner out at local bistro of your choice or pick up groceries to make dinner in your apartment (dinner not included)
Wednesday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:30 am - 12:30 pm instruction in print studio
12:30 - 2:00 pm picnic lunch
2:00 - 5:00 pm afternoon instruction and visit to animal hospice farm
7:30 pm Farm to Table Dinner at Farm (dinner included)
Thursday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:30 am - 12:30 pm instruction in print studio
12:30 - 2:00 pm picnic lunch
2:00 - 5:00 pm instruction in print studio
7:30 pm Dinner out at local bistro of your choice or pick up groceries to make dinner in your apartment (dinner not included)
Friday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
9:30 am - 12:30 pm instruction in print studio
12:30 - 2:00 pm picnic lunch
2:00 - 5:00 pm instruction in print studio
7:30 pm Farewell Haute Cuisine Dinner prepared and served at La Richardière (dinner included)
Saturday
8:00 - 9:00 am breakfast
Check out of La Richardière and van transport to Vendôme TGV station