A unique workshop retreat with four leading artists.
Be part of art history in the making.
The Americans in Paris Workshop.
Workshops in France congratulates the Americans in Paris Project & Exhibitions on its 10th anniversary. The groundbreaking project was created by Vanessa Rothe! This year we mark their achievements with an unforgettable workshop led by four leading artists. This château-based workshop combines painting in a Normandy Château, followed by a Paris Program including tours of the world’s most famous museums and painting on location in Paris.
Painter or art lover; you can join us for a unique workshop and retreat. This collaborative workshop by Workshops in France and Vanessa Rothe, curator and co-host for the Americans in Paris Art Projects and Exhibitions is a wonderful opportunity for guests to live and work together in a genuine French château in Normandy.
From the instructors, you will learn about refined realism, classical techniques, as well as alla prima applications of paint, and the bold use of color in the backgrounds to create a modern yet representational work of art. Vanessa Rothe will lecture and discuss the transition from the highly rendered paintings by Bouguereau, to light filled Impressionism, through to the use of decorative flat shapes as used by Bonnard and the Nabis artists. All this while painting on location in France with four instructors, in some of the most breathtaking landscapes and beautiful villages in the world.
The Program
Imagine yourself embracing Springtime in France, focusing on the art and culture found in one of the most inspiring places on Earth. The exciting workshop begins with a painting program at the château in Normandy, about one hour north of Paris, featuring daily painting sessions and instruction from four renown painters. Enjoy delightful excursions to inspiring painting locations, such as Gerberoy to paint Henri de Sidaner’s garden and Giverny to visit Monet’s Garden and home.
After our time in Normandy has concluded, we will head to Paris to experience the art and culture of France’s capital city. Our elite group of stellar instructors will be your guides at the essential Paris museums found on the banks of the Seine. You will be in their company for two in Paris as we experience all the city has to offer to artists and art lovers alike.
You will engage and learn from these contemporary master painters: Juliette Aristides, J Louis, Nicolas Martin and Vanessa Rothe. The program encompasses portraiture and figurative work, painting models in the environment, still life and landscape painting. There will also be slideshow talks about fine art and the influence of literature. You will take part in an immersive program to experience the Normandy region of France.
This workshop starts with a painting program at the château and continues with an enlightening cultural tour in Paris. The cost includes tuition, food, wine and accommodation at the château, as well as transport from Paris to the château. All entrances to museums; the Musée d’Orsay, the Rodin Museum and the Louvre, lunch at the Musée d’Orsay, and other venues with the accompanying instructors are also included.
The Americans in Paris Program and Workshop is part of the ongoing Americans in Paris Project created by Vanessa Rothe Fine Art.
Non-painting partners’ discount available.
The Americans in Paris Paint Paris Artists:
Juliette Aristides, J Louis, Nicolas Martin and Vanessa Françoise Rothe.
Who and What are the Americans in Paris?
The idea for Americans in Paris (AIP) is the brainchild of Vanessa Rothe. It began with a purpose to inspire contemporary American artists to travel to Paris and discover exciting ideas for their works of art in a place where historically so many important artists had found inspiration and formed connections. Following in the footsteps of the great American painters before them, such as Sargent, Whistler and Cassatt to name a few, a group of American realist and impressionist artists would travel to Paris to draw inspiration from the City of Light, architecture and fine art. There they would attend museums, examine the masters, absorb the culture, share ideas and paint together with the goal of reaching the next level of mastery in their work.
To raise capital for the trip, Rothe curated an exhibition at the Salmagundi Club in New York in the spring of 2016, where twelve invited American artists sold work and were able to fund their travel. The initial visit to Paris was created as a workshop, May 2017, organized by Rothe where the artists were able to study valuable art history. In addition, Sean Forester from the Golden Gate Atelier spoke on the humanities and gave his notes on group composition.
The twelve AIP artists painted in Paris together and at the Grande Chaumière Atelier for a week as they filled their sketchbooks and minds with ideas, some new and some inspired by the past. Echoing the ‘salons’ of the past, the AIP artists engaged in lively evening discussions based on specific topics, like earlier creative groups had done, such as the Impressionists or Hemingway and Fitzgerald’s writing gatherings held in Paris bistros and bars years before.
In spring 2018 it was time to show the result of their experiences with some new and exciting paintings. Rothe curated and organized two bi-continental exhibitions at the foremost galleries for Realism in America and France. These showcased the AIP artists’ original works by inspired by their stay in France, from Paris nocturnes to Louis XIV interiors, from winged figures and florals by the masters to figures in the landscape and from the literature and group discussions held in Paris. The first of these exhibitions was held at Arcadia Contemporary in Los Angeles, CA, April 2018 and the second at Galerie Prince de L’Oeil in Paris, France, May 2018. Both were met with great success.
The journey continues. Americans in Paris joins up with Workshops in France to present to you an exciting workshop opportunity and unique art experience both in the picturesque Normandy region at a château estate and afterwards in the iconic city of Paris, France, May 13—23, 2026. The trip includes art instruction with four of the Americans in Paris artists and re-creating for you much of what was shared and learned that week in Paris 2017. You are now invited to be a part of an unforgettable experience that will continue to inspire the artist and art lover alike.
Program and Itinerary for Americans in Paris Workshop
May 13—23, 2026
You are invited to become part of the historical workshop, Americans in Paris Paint Paris. This exclusive workshop is located at a château estate in the northern Normandy region of France. The workshop comprises of several days of instruction at the historic château followed by two-and-a-half days of touring Paris!
Experience one-on-one teaching and painting demos by these top artists, Juliette Aristides, J Louis, Nicolas Martin and Vanessa Rothe. Under their guidance, you will create portraits, paint figures in beautiful surroundings as well as still lifes and landscapes. The program is arranged for you to be able to study specific subjects with each of the 4 renowned artists. Your stay will be made even more meaningful when you enjoy fascinating talks by Vanessa Rothe giving key presentations and slideshows on relevant aspects of art and literature. Vanessa is a noted writer, lecturer and artist. Her insight and behind-the-scenes knowledge will connect you directly with the region and its artists, including the Impressionists and their movement.
You will follow a tradition of American and international painters traveling to France to live and work together. This is a definitive trip to become acquainted with the Normandy region of France, its wine, food and fine art alongside some important contemporary American painters.
The Itinerary
10 days total. Open to painters and collectors alike. Non-painters are welcome. An alternate program is available for non-painting partners.
For the comfort of the students and maximum time with the instructors, students will be split into 2 groups. No more than 12 to a class. There will be six days of instruction. You will study with all of the instructors. On uninstructed days, we will be ‘retreat mode’ where we all paint side-by-side.
Final Schedule TBD, dates and lessons will be announced later in the year. This is a model of what you can expect.
Daily Schedule at the Château includes instruction from 9:00-4:30, with a nice lunch break. Personal painting on the estate 4:30-6:30. Dinner 7:00-8:30. Wine and talks from 8:30 on.
Workshop Schedule
- May 13th. Pick up in Paris or Charles de Gaulle airport and transportation to the château in Normandy. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner and Champagne Reception.
- May 14th. Group A: Juliette Aristides, Figures interior of chateau or in the landscape.
Group B: Free painting on estate grounds.
Evening sideshow on AIP theme art history by Rothe: Bouguereau to Bonnard, Classical Realism to Decorative Abstraction. - May 15th. Both Groups: Vanessa Rothe Landscape & Atmospheric Perspective Slideshow in the morning 9:00-10:30.
Afternoon trip to Henri de Sidaner’s Garden and home, paint out in Gerberoy. Pack lunch.
8:30 PM Artist Panel discussion on various topics. - May 16th: Group A: Lesson from J Louis, creating figures with abstraction.
Group B: Nicolas Martin painting topics. - May 17th: Both Groups: non-paint, open markets morning trip to Rouen Cathedral 9am-12pm. Afternoon group painting set up with all 4 artists on location at château. Figures in the grass with picnic recreating Dejeuner Sur L’Herbe. 2-6pm.
- May 18st: Both Goups visit to Monet’s Garden and lunch in Giverny.
- May 19th: Group A: Nicolas Martin painting topics.
Group B: Lessons from J Louis, creating figures with abstraction. - May 20th: Group A: Painting on the estate grounds.
Group B: Juliette Aristides.
Evening Art Sale and Party
Paris
- May 21st: Transportation to Paris. Self-guided Louvre tour. Paris Paint Out on the Seine or Tuileries Garden in the late afternoon.
- May 22nd: 10:00 am tour of the Musée D’Orsay. 11:45 am, Special lunch at the D’Orsay. 3:30-5:30 Musée Rodin and garden sketching.
- May 23rd: Morning paint out. Departure Day.
The itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions and other scheduling concerns. Attendees are welcome to stay on the estate and paint instead of visiting local sites. You can paint as much as you want!
Use our contact page to ask for more information.
See you in Paris!
This workshop has a limited number of painters
This Workshop Includes:
- 11 days of artistic immersion.
- Paris includes tours with instructors to the Musée d’Orsay, the Rodin Museum, and the Louvre.
- Lunch at the Musée d’Orsay
- Ground transportation from Paris or Charles de Gaulle airport to the château in Normandy.
- Return to Paris transportation.
- All Inclusive: Tuition, fine food, wine, the château accommodation. We eat out an own expense – one/two lunches and one dinner are scheduled. Accommodations in Paris are not included. Airfare not included.
- Ongoing demos, presentations, discussions and evenings with the instructors.
- Paint, sketch and enjoy the good life in beautiful Paris and Normandy countryside surroundings.
- Model Fees
- Solvent, disposal painting items like paper towels, gloves, wipes, liquin, etc,.
- Daily painting locations: Private gardens, charming villages, markets (painting and excursion locations vary with weather).
- Balanced itinerary of painting, exploring and relaxation for artists of all media – all levels!
- Travel, live, learn and paint side-by-side with instructors and fellow artists.
- Plenty to do for non-painting partners! A limited number of non-painting partners accepted.
- Discount available for non-painting companions.
- Pick up at Charles de Gaulle. Drop off in Paris.
Americans In Paris Workshop - Unique Workshop in France
May 13 - 23, 2026
$6,700
Americans in Paris Paint Paris
Paris and Château estate located in Normandy. Limited number of guests.
Workshops in France would like to thank Vanessa Rothe Fine Art and her sponsors for their support in the Americans in Paris workshop.
The art history portion with tours at the beginning of the workshop set the state for feeling like we were Americans in Paris in 1874. From the home of Oscar Wilde to Rodin, the Orsay and Louvre, all capped off with a visit to the Sennelier shop was impactful. We really enjoyed the river cruise as well.
The quality and friendliness of the instructors was tremendous. The evening art lectures were great. The live band was perfect.
I had several breakthroughs within this workshop. First, the importance of art and artists was evident. It made me realize this art journey I am on is a legitimate pursuit. Second, CW reinforced the key points he has taught before but I feel like I saw them with new eyes and a greater understanding. Quang helped me simplify shapes and keep those main shapes sound within the underlying structure of the painting. I was weakening my work and he helped me see how and why. Last, I was challenged in subject matter by working through figures and portraits. These are two areas of work I don’t spend much time with.
The staff was on their game from the beginning. They were friendly and thoughtful.
– Steve D., Indiana, USA. AIP 2024