Nature-inspired Printmaking and Drawing with Victoria
Learn to translate landscape through drawing, traditional etching, or woodcuts with printmaker Victoria in sunny Southern France. When you’re not in the studio, learn about the wine-making process from Victoria and her husband, sample wine from their vineyard, and explore the rural landscapes that inspired many of Van Gogh’s most iconic paintings.
- Snacks, Coffee, & Tea
Pricing
- One Guest
- USD $1535
- Additional guest(s) (max 4)
- USD $660
Accommodation
- One Guest
- USD $750
- Additional guest(s)
- USD $250
Meet the Artist
Victoria is an accomplished printmaker who explores landscapes through woodcuts, etchings, and large installations inspired from birdsongs. She works from her charming French countryside studio, drawing inspiration from outdoor walks and recorded sounds at dawn or dusk near her home.
Victoria's printmaking expertise spans non-toxic traditional etching, Japanese woodcut, Mokulito (wood lithography), and cyanotype. She excels in Chine collé and handprints on various Japanese papers. Her prints, often large-scale, have been showcased nationally and internationally. Her creative process focuses on slowing time and connecting with nature to notice subtle, imperceptible changes.
Victoria enjoys sharing her craft and encourages others to explore their paths by following their curiosity. She looks forward to introducing you to her world.
Victoria's printmaking expertise spans non-toxic traditional etching, Japanese woodcut, Mokulito (wood lithography), and cyanotype. She excels in Chine collé and handprints on various Japanese papers. Her prints, often large-scale, have been showcased nationally and internationally. Her creative process focuses on slowing time and connecting with nature to notice subtle, imperceptible changes.
Victoria enjoys sharing her craft and encourages others to explore their paths by following their curiosity. She looks forward to introducing you to her world.
VAWAA Includes:
- Explore drawing, etching or woodcuts.
- Collect ideas by sketching in various natural locations such as vineyards, olive groves, quarries, woods, and the Roman amphitheater in Nimes.
- For etching, learn how to prepare a zinc or copper plate, make marks, draw and create prints using chine collé. Advanced participants can delve into dry point and à la poupée techniques for multi-color prints.
- For woodcut, gain introduction to woodcut techniques from Moku Hanga small hand printed editions to contemporary woodcut with water based oil pigments.
- Explore techniques for plate registration, textured mark creation, pigmented ink printing, and watercolor mixing to create prints.
- For drawing, explore charcoal, collage or ink drawing with Chinese brushes on different papers. Develop your drawing skills through scale-changing exercises.
- Get inspired by Van Gogh and create your own visual vocabulary for mark-making.
- Taste local natural wines at Victoria and her husband's vineyard. (A day of natural wine making and sourdough pizza-making can be arranged for an additional fee).
- Visit Luma Arles or Nimes amphitheater, if time permits.
Stay at Victoria's
Stay in Victoria's garden guest house. It has 1 double bedroom downstairs, 1 double bedroom upstairs with 2 single beds, pellet burner stove in the lounge, fully equipped kitchen, and a living room with vaulted ceilings. The house is accessed by stone steps and uneven ground. There is an additional apartment on the property with 1 double bedroom, walk in closet, kitchen, lounge, shower and private terrace two flights up.
You'll have direct access to a shared lovely garden and swimming pool (from April - Oct) to relax. You will also be around a friendly dog and cat.
You'll have direct access to a shared lovely garden and swimming pool (from April - Oct) to relax. You will also be around a friendly dog and cat.
Explore Junas
Junas, a tranquil village renowned for its stunning beauty and yearly jazz festival, sits just 45 minutes away from Montpellier. Nearby, you'll find lively cities like Arles, known for the impressive Frank Gehry tower at the Luma Foundation, and Nimes, celebrated for its Roman ruins and top-notch museums. This area is nestled between the Mediterranean Sea, the rugged plateaus, gorges of Cevennes National Park, and the Camargues, a coastal region famous for its white horses. Here, you'll immerse yourself in the heart of Van Gogh County, surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, and evergreen oaks.
Additional Details
The best times to visit are in spring, when the weather and light are favorable and the birds are returning from their winter migrations, and in the Fall, during wine-making and picking season. It is best to avoid July and August, when hot summer temperatures make working outside uncomfortable.
This session is available for a longer duration, up to 6 days.
Guests must be 18 years old or older to participate. Children between 12-18 years of age are welcome but must be accompanied by parents or guardian at all times. The session can be adapted for children and elders. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access.
Victoria speaks English, French, and some Italian.
This session is available for a longer duration, up to 6 days.
Guests must be 18 years old or older to participate. Children between 12-18 years of age are welcome but must be accompanied by parents or guardian at all times. The session can be adapted for children and elders. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access.
Victoria speaks English, French, and some Italian.
Guest Reviews
Tanya O., New Zealand
I had a fantastic 4 days with Victoria learning etching from the beginning up... She was a wonderful teacher - very patient and helpful in helping me find my groove ! Lots to chat about in the studio and during beautifully prepared lunches prepared by Ferg. Heading home with some lovely prints and memories 😊 highly recommend.
