Painting Workshop with Aldo Balding and Teresa Oaxaca

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Painting with Aldo Balding & Teresa Oaxaca

In a French Chateau

Chateau in Provence, France – May 6 – 14, 2023

This is a unique painting workshop with two of the art world’s leading figurative painters, Aldo Balding and Teresa Oaxaca. Our art adventure takes place in the south of France in an intimate medieval château. Here, students will discover and develop their technical skills learning by painting figures, the landscape, abundant florals, French interiors, and of course, the light. Oh, the legendary light of the south of France has drawn artists to the region for decades.

The magic takes place on the grounds of an authentic 13th-century chateau where the alchemy of classic art and romantic imagination come together to create the ideal workshop and art retreat environment. Our workshops are so much more than a classroom. You will spend the entire time living and working under the same roof as the instructors and other creative guests who share their passion for art and la belle vie!

We are not limited to the chateau grounds with plenty of excursions including Mirepoix and Carcassonne. This makes it an ideal destination for couples with non-painting partners, artist friends who want to travel and paint together, or even family members who share their artistry. Plenty to do for non-painting partners.

Get ready for some painting and an immersive experience in the Occitanie region in the south of France. This once-in-a-lifetime inspiring and instructive workshop will be unforgettable.

The workshop experience is open to artists of all levels. Aldo and Teresa will take turns in leading the sessions, so that you can learn from both of them. There will be demos, one-on-one painting sessions and critiques. You will explore different approaches and create art using the principles learned. You will also be plein air painting on the historic Château’s Estate. Sound like heaven? We thought so…

Between both Aldo Balding and Teresa Oaxaca you will experience a comprehensive learning experience for painting that you can use and refer to and further your own work. Both are skilled figurative, still life and landscape painters. We will have live models on-site painting them in and out of the studio. Both Aldo Balding and Teresa Oaxaca are familiar with the European landscape: Aldo lives in France and spends his time working from street scenes to figures in the studio while Teresa studied at the Florence Academy and spent four years immersing herself in the Italian tradition. Together, Aldo and Teresa will provide a wealth of knowledge to students.

The instruction and accommodations are in an 13th-century château estate. You will be able to venture out with the group and capture landscapes and scenes of life in France in the surrounding countryside. In addition to obtaining painting skills, you’ll also enjoy an immersive French experience.

You’ll be able to explore the neighboring villages, visit vineyards to taste the local vintages, and shop at local outdoor markets as part of your retail therapy. You can see our chateau featured below! See more images here.

Teresa Oaxaca

Teresa Oaxaca is an American-born artist based currently in Washington D.C. She is a full-time painter whose works can be seen in collections and galleries throughout the US and internationally. Her talent has been recognized and rewarded by museums and institutions such as the American Museum of the Cowboy, The former Corcoran Gallery of Art, The Art Renewal Center, The Elisabeth Greenshields Foundation, the Posey Foundation, and The Portrait Society of America and the Museu Europeu D’Art Modern in Barcelona.

Her training includes a four-year diploma at the Angel Academy of Art (Florence Italy, Graduate studies at the Florence Academy, an Apprenticeship with Odd Nerdrum in Norway, and studies at the Art League of Alexandria VA where she trained with Robert Liberace, Paul Lucchesi, and took many other courses. Currently, she teaches workshops around the United States and in Europe.

In addition to her studio work, she takes a variety of portrait commissions including Family Portraiture, Professional/Business, Custom, and Informal arrangements. She exhibits widely and sells her work on a regular basis. She also recently founded a fashion company called “House Of Oaxaca”, selling wares online at www.houseofoaxaca.com

Within Washington D.C. she has participated with local groups such as The Esperanza Education Fund, The Arts Club Of Washington, The Art League School in Alexandria, VA, and the National Education Association. In 2014 she became a member of the Young Partners Circle of The National Museum of Women In The Arts. She is also a registered member of the National Art Education Association (NAEA) and an Ambassador for the newly established Da Vinci Initiative, which designs and promotes skill-based learning and lesson plans for US K-12 public school educators. She is also a member of the Arts Club of Washington and the California Arts Club.

Aldo Balding

Aldo Balding was born and raised in the United Kingdom and currently lives in the South of France. He started off his career as an illustrator before moving to France to become a full-time artist. He is represented by a number of galleries around the world, such as the United Kingdom, United States of America, France and South Africa.

There is a narrative element to Balding’s work in which he sets up scenarios, with no specific outcome, leaving it up to the viewer to interpret and make their own. He believes that the way a person holds their body can say more about their feelings and intentions, than words. His subtle use of space distortion creates a sense that something is amiss or is about to happen. Similar talents were shown by great black and white movie filmmakers, like Hitchcock, in the sense that many of Balding’s works can be seen as stills from a movie. Balding considers himself a storyteller, he takes an idea and moulds it to his liking; furthermore, the colours, the figures and the scenery are all adjusted for the viewer based on what he wants them to see.

Some of Aldo’s Exhibitions include his solo Exhibition’s in Galerie Anagama Versailles France, the Galerie en Ré Bois Colombes Galerie Anagama, Versailles, Christopher Moller Art, Catto Gallery, Alexander Gallery.

In addition the Barcelona Museum of Modern Art MEAM Exhibition , ARC SALON, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, IAACC Pablo Serrano de Zaragoza Museum Exhibition, Barcelona Museum of Modern Art MEAM Exhibition, Thompsons Gallery London three man show, and the ROI exhibition.

See paintings below in the portfolio section.

Carcassonne France

Carcassonne France is a stunning World Heritage site and of course, a visit to the walled cité is on the itinerary. The history of the region is palpable throughout the Languedoc region of the South of France. This is the land of legends civilized since before the Roman times. But it was the Cathars and the Crusaders who shaped its recent history.

The region remains very unspoiled with its farmlands and vineyards. We will visit vineyards, Mirepoix and Carcassonne itself among other local destinations.Imagine the grounds of a small château where artists paint the landscape bathed in the legendary light of the south of France. Models will be provided for those who wish to paint them. In a recent meeting with Aldo and Teresa, it was hard to contain our excitement over the itinerary that our guests are going to love.