Henri Le Sidaner’s Garden: A Living Painting in Gerberoy
At Workshops in France, we love discovering hidden gems — intriguing spots that spark creativity and make you reach for a brush. While scouting locations for our Normandy workshops, we stumbled upon a true artist’s paradise: the medieval village of Gerberoy and the enchanting gardens of Henri Le Sidaner.
A 48-Hour Artist’s Dream Trip to Paris
A 48-Hour Artist’s Dream Trip to Paris: The Perfect Itinerary for Art Lovers
If you’re an artist — or simply an art lover traveling to France, the question isn’t if you should visit Paris, but how to make the most of your time there. Whether you’re stopping over before or after an art retreat or painting workshops in Normandy, spending two days in Paris can be an unforgettable experience. The enchanting city is filled with world-class museums, inspiring neighborhoods, and charming cafés where some of the greatest painters once gathered.
Soup Tureen or Chamber Pot?
One of our favorite things to do while in France is to visit a vide-grenier. A vide-grenier is literally translated as “empty your attic” and rather than just being a flea market or village-wide yard sale, it can be an event filled with treasures.
Coffee is an Art Form in France
Coffee in France is an art form, and an art-form that we have researched intensively. We fully expect to spend the rest of our lives continuing our research, just to make sure we don’t miss any nuances.
Our conclusion so far? Yum!
Venetian Red—Loved by Painters, Hated by American Colonists
Like many colors used on the palettes of today’s artists, Venetian Red has a fascinating and dramatic backstory. In addition to its place in art, it holds a special place in British history and the American Revolution.
Rose Frantzen: A National Treasure
Rose Frantzen is a truly quintessential artist, personifying all that is unique and extraordinary about what it means to be a painter. Working primarily in oil, she specializes in figurative works, landscapes, still lifes, and thematic projects. We are very proud to be hosting a masterclass workshop with Rose Frantzen, which will take place in Provence, July 15-23, 2024. Portrait of Maquoketa After studying at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, with Richard Schmid at the Palette and Chisel Academy, and then with the late Deane G. Keller at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, Frantzen returned to her hometown of Maquoketa, Iowa, making it the center and study of her artistic endeavor. One landmark project undertaken by Frantzen is entitled Portrait of Maquoketa, which focuses exclusively on the citizens of the town. The project consists of 180 individual 12” X 12” oil portraits, painted over the course of a year from a Main Street storefront, of anyone in the town who wished to pose for her. This is how she describes the project on her web site, “I wanted to paint my neighbors and fellow Maquoketans without any selection or choice on my part, attempting to capture a direct portrayal of the people around me. Together, we could democratize portraiture, allowing anyone to be painted just by showing up and participating.” From 2009-2010, Portrait of Maquoketa was shown for eight months at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. Iowa Figge Art An expanded version of the project was shown in 2012-2013 at Davenport, Iowa’s Figge Art Museum. To complete her full vision for this exhibit, Frantzen painted a 315-square-foot landscape view of the town, which was broken up into 34 vertical panels. Seen from one end of the installation, the panels comprise what one would see if they were standing in the hills outside of Maquoteka. The 180 portraits of the townspeople are mounted on the reverse of the panels. Fritzen’s husband, Chuck Morris, assisted with mapping and engineering the landscape so that the panels coalesce from one point of view. John Frantzen, the artist’s brother, composed audio compositions to accompany the exhibit. The compositions include voices of the portrait subjects combined with the landscape’s natural sounds. Ultimately Portrait of Maquoketa was purchased by the Figge Art Museum, which alternately shows the installation in the museum, and tours it to other locations. In the Face of Illusion Another intriguing project undertaken by Frantzen is entitled In the Face of Illusion. This exhibit consists of portraits and figures that are integrated with optical illusions. Of the exhibit, Rose is quoted on her web site as asking, “Can we trust ourselves so much? Optical illusions remain persistent, even when we rationally know that we are seeing things incorrectly. If misperception happens with simple lines and shapes, why wouldn’t this also occur when we encounter something as complex as another human being or maybe even ourselves?” Frantzen’s other work has been widely exhibited at the Denver Historical Museum, the Butler Institute of American Art, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and she is a multi-award winner with the Portrait Society of America’s International Portrait Competition. In addition to showing her art at the Figge Art Museum, Franzen’s work is included in the permanent collections at the Brunnier Art Museum and the Dubuque Museum of Art. Frantzen’s paintings have also been pictured in international art magazines. Franzen frequently conducts art demonstrations, guest lectures, and participates in art discussion panels. In addition to their other work, Frantzen and her husband, Chuck Morris, operate the non-profit Maquoketa Art Experience on Main Street in Maquoketa. The Art Experience offers exhibitions of regional art, art classes, and a creativity café. Learn more about Rose Frantzen’s Workshop and sign up here.
The Deal With All the Kissing in France…and How to Handle It.
When coming to one of our French workshops for the first time—or simply making a visit to France—you may be startled and perhaps even thrown a curve by all the kissing that goes on. Legendary songwriter and painter Joni Mitchell, a frequent visitor to France, certainly noted it in her song, “In France They Kiss On Main Street.”
Susan Lyon: Faces and Figures, A Personal Vision
No doubt you have heard that Workshops in France is hosting a workshop given by world-renowned contemporary figure and portrait painter Susan Lyon. You won’t want to miss! You can see some of her art here. She not only creates breathtaking paintings, but she is also in high demand as an instructor. Her workshops sell out quickly, as do her many instructional DVDs. When Susan saw a feature on PBS about the artist, Georgia O’Keeffe, she was inspired to be an artist. This prompted her to enroll in the Art Institute of Chicago. Although she says she really learned nothing at the Institute, Susan considers herself fortunate that her father later steered her toward the American Academy of Art because he knew an instructor there. It was there that her career actually blossomed. Stepping Stones to Success It’s no surprise that Susan is valued so highly as an instructor, her teaching style is positive and highly encouraging. She comes by it honestly, as she was impressed by her Life Drawing teacher at the American Academy of Art, Mr. Parks. He inspired her to enter into a career in fine art. She describes Mr. Parks as “like a grandfather—loving, and everyone just melted toward him.” At the time, she was also taking a class in Creative Illustration, and the teacher of that class was quite the opposite. He sought to intimidate students rather than take them under his wing. It’s no surprise then, that she made her career decision based on the work of the kind, nurturing teacher. Susan went from there to the Palette and Chisel Club, where, at the age of 23, she become the youngest winner of their prestigious gold medal. It was also there that she met fellow student and her future husband, Scott Burdick. After their marriage they wanted to explore the world, inspired by artists such as John Singer Sargent who traveled extensively, painting faces and figures of many lands. When not traveling, they live in rural North Carolina. “Curious” and “Peonies” by Susan Lyon Susan and Scott have certainly made their dreams come true, as can be seen through their collective body of work. Today, they reign as a royal couple of the painting world—and the best-kept secret of Susan Lyon’s upcoming workshop is that her husband Scott Burdick, will also be there to mentor and engage with all the workshop attendees. The workshop includes painting models on the estate, and also in the Provencal countryside. Don’t miss it! Pictured here: Susan Lyon, programs coordinator for WorkshopsInFrance Julie Snyder, and Scott Burdick in the Piazza della Signoria, Florence where an impromptu meeting led to the creation of the Susan Lyon Workshop in Provence. Register Here Blogger: Julie Snyder Julie Snyder is a professional artist and also the programs director of Workshops In France. A native of Scotland, she is a seasoned traveler who splits her time between California and France. You can learn more about her role with Workshops in France here.
Can You Hear Me Now? Staying in Touch.
You are coming to France, Italy or anywhere in Europe for a one-of-a-kind art retreat, and will be immersed in the color, sight, sensation and utter creation of the experience. You don’t want it marred by aggravation when you can’t easily reach friends and loved ones back home…
Indian Yellow: The Ethics of Color
Indian yellow is a strong transparent pigment favored by many artists for its tinting properties. This yellow-orange color’s most alluring characteristic is that it can be used to warm up a color. Added to pink it makes that color turn red. Added to Cerulean Blue it makes a vibrant green.