Instructed by Olga Krimon — Workshops In France

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Contemporary Realism with Olga Krimon

Chateau in Normandy, May 20—28, 2025

If you are captivated by masterful compositions, daring brushwork, and luminous color, this workshop is your ideal artistic retreat. Join us in the enchanting French countryside near Paris for an unforgettable painting experience with the acclaimed artist Olga Krimon.

Olga Krimon is celebrated for her bold, expressive style and her exceptional ability to create compelling compositions. With a teaching approach that inspires both creativity and technical growth, she has guided artists worldwide toward artistic excellence. Normandy, with its storied past, charming villages, and atmospheric light, sets the perfect stage for an immersive creative adventure.

What You’ll Learn from Olga

This workshop is designed for artists of all levels, from beginners to advanced painters. Under Olga’s expert guidance, you’ll explore techniques for painting dynamic figures, figures within the landscape, and luscious florals—all while capturing the essence of Normandy’s enchanting scenery. With peony season in full bloom and poppies cropping up everywhere, expect to be inspired by the region’s stunning florals. Through live demonstrations and personalized instruction, you’ll elevate your skills, expand your artistic vision, and learn to create compelling works infused with life and color.

Over nine enriching days, you’ll refine your skills while painting captivating scenes of Normandy. From the historic city of Rouen, where Monet found endless inspiration, to the picturesque village of Auvers-sur-Oise, steeped in Van Gogh’s legacy, you’ll explore and paint in these iconic sites infused with artistic history.

Our program combines expert instruction with cultural immersion. You’ll stay at a charming château in Normandy, enjoying exceptional hospitality while soaking in France’s rich artistic and culinary heritage. With personalized guidance from Olga Krimon, you’ll push your artistic limits, strengthen your compositions, and learn how to create expressive, vibrant works you’ll treasure forever.

Join one of today’s most inspiring and dynamic artists for this exceptional painting retreat in the heart of Normandy. Spots are limited—reserve yours today and experience an unforgettable artistic journey!

A Personalized Artistic Journey

Olga’s instruction focuses on teaching you the tools to effectively compose and improve your work. Each day, she will guide you through demos, one-on-one sessions, critiques, and painting either in the studio or on an excursion. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, Olga’s tailored approach will help you explore techniques and deepen your artistic understanding and practice.

The Perfect Experience for Non-Painting Partners

Our workshop isn’t just for artists—non-painting partners/friends and relatives are warmly welcomed! While artists focus on their craft, partners will have opportunities to explore the stunning Normandy region at their own pace. From discovering historic towns and charming villages to capturing scenic landscapes through photography or simply enjoying quiet moments of relaxation, there’s something for everyone. Sharing this unforgettable journey to France allows the artist and their non-painting partner to experience its culture, beauty, and history side-by-side, creating lasting memories together. As a testament to the success of the non-painting partners’ program, we welcome back the same couples who return to our workshops and retreats again and again.

**Your Chateau Away from Home**

Normandy, France

Nestled in the picturesque Picardy region of Normandy, our enchanting chateau offers a comfortable and inspiring retreat during the Olga Krimon workshop. Live, create, and relax together with Olga and fellow artists in this historic 18th-century estate. Enjoy delicious and beautifully prepared meals crafted by our live-in chefs, shared around a communal table. Stroll the expansive grounds or unwind by the heated swimming pool, which will which we will transform into a striking setting for model photo shoots inspired by Olga’s iconic water paintings. We will be painting on the grounds, in the surrounding sites, and in our dedicated studio, with its breathtaking vaulted-ceiling and suit of armor on display. The Normandy Chateau provides the perfect environment for your artistic exploration.

Normandy, France, is a haven for artists seeking inspiration from its picturesque landscapes to charming coastal villages. Known for its enchanting light and verdant colors, Normandy has long been a favorite retreat for painters like Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh, who found an endless muse in the region’s lush gardens, serene rivers, and iconic cliffs. Vincent van Gogh found solitude and support from the people of Normandy. The region’s unique blend of pastoral countryside and dramatic seaside vistas provides a diverse array of subjects for painters, photographers, and sketch artists alike.

If you want to maximize your experience painting, consider joining us at the Petite Retreat for the week leading up to this workshop for maximum painting time. Before soaking in the tranquil beauty of Normandy, we highly recommend extending your stay with a short trip to Paris. The City of Light has been a cradle of artistic innovation for centuries, home to the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and countless galleries showcasing masterpieces from every era. Wandering through Montmartre, once the bohemian heart of Paris, artists can follow in the footsteps of many art legends such as Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir, Degas and Van Gogh, drawing inspiration from the lively atmosphere and historic charm. Recently, Notre Dame Cathedral has been reopened after its splendid renovation for worship and tourism. Together, Normandy and Paris offer a rich tapestry of experiences for any artist, blending serene natural beauty with the dynamic pulse of one of the world’s greatest cultural capitals.

Join like-minded artists to paint the figure in the French landscape with Olga Krimon.

The Olga Krimon Workshop in Normandy

Paint in Stunning Locations

Paint in Nature

Travel with Like Minded Artists

Paint Plein Air

Olga Krimon

Olga Krimon is a Ukranian born artist whose evocative figure paintings have received wide acclaim in exhibitions across the U.S.A. Born in Odessa, Olga Krimon received academic art education in Kazan, Russia where she was largely influenced by Repin, Serov, Brullov, Levitan, Kramskoy, Fechin and other Russian titans. She then discovered Sargent, Zorn, Sorolla and Cecilia Beaux and the inherent movement and bold brushstrokes in their pieces. Over time, she developed her own style grounded in fundamental principles of academic realism, sensitivity to subtle value and color transitions, and yet bold energy of movement and expressive brushstrokes.

She continued to grow and develop her skills later in America, through drawing classes with Glen Orbik and painting classes with Jeremy Lipking. Olga continues to refine her craft through independent studies and daily practice.

Olga’s Figurative and Still Life Paintings have been recognized with awards by the Portrait Society of America, Oil Painters of America and Art Renewal Center International Salon Competition.

See paintings below in the portfolio section.

Away by Olga Krimon

“I’ve always been, and I think always will be interested in the intimate personal spaces, in portraying the mood, the feeling, the transient light, the reflections on the water. It’s the world as I see it. To me, Art is beautiful and timeless. It makes you stop, take your breath, follow the world it leads you into. That’s what I want a viewer to experience in my paintings.”

Olga Krimon