Celebration of Color: Workshop in Provence, France
Art and Inspiration in the South of France with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze
Due to popular demand, we we have scheduled TWO sessions of this workshop in June/July 2018
Session 1: June 24 - 30, 2018, Sunday - Saturday
Session 2: July 4 - 10, 2018, Wednesday - Tuesday
Immerse yourself in a week-long experience that will leave you inspired and creatively invigorated for the rest of the year …
Enjoy the lavender in bloom, farm to table food, wine tasting, exploration of local markets and exhibits, and time to create in an inspiring studio environment.
Join professional mosaic artists and educators Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladzé at Valérie's Esprit Mosaïque Studio near Avignon, France, to explore and celebrate your creative spirit through mosaic art.
This very special, specifically curated trip will combine hands-on studio time, insider sightseeing, experiential learning, and amazing food...and wine...and cheese...and shopping in Provincial villages...and more.
Esprit Mosaïque Studio is full of inspiration and color, offering welcoming place to learn, create and spend time in community with other mosaic enthusiasts. The studio is stocked full of beautiful, unique materials from around the world for students to use in a personal project to take home that celebrates color and nature. Bases for mosaic in various shapes and sizes will be provided. Students can select from specific forms in the shape of birds, butterflies, dragonfly or on a more classic form.
Laurel and Valérie will share their over 40 years of combined experience with students, offering lessons focusing on various techniques including precision cutting and setting techniques for glass and ceramic.
Lessons offered will include:
- Use of common and not-so-common mosaic tools including those specific to France
- How to combine different materials and texture effectively
- Working with pigmented cement for an alternative to a mosaic background
- Grouting with tinted grout
- Special cuts for mirror and glass for exciting visual effects
- How to enjoy the act of creative expression in a relaxed, fun environment
Each student will work on one main project according to their experience level with one-on-one guidance. There will also be several small, fun exercises exploring light, color and texture.
No mosaic experience necessary…students of all levels are welcome!
Students will have the opportunity to contribute to the creation of a group project one afternoon - a mosaic mural element of a magical bird that will be installed outside the studio.
Mosaics studio sessions are scheduled in the mornings and afternoons, with some optional evening sessions, leaving plenty of time to create.
In addition to enjoying time in the studio, participants will have the chance to eat delicious meals together, stay in a quaint Provincial hotel, tour Avignon and nearby markets including St. Remy and Les Baux de Provence (medieval village with an incredible view and violet gelato), visit a breathtaking subterranean exhibit at Les Carrieres des Lumieres, and enjoy an educational wine tasting and Provincial backyard BBQ at the home of Valerie and her family.
The workshop experience will end with a picnic in a lavender field on the final afternoon and a visit to the Village of Sault, where village shops offer all things lavender.
The beauty of the lavender in bloom is indescribable and will stay with you well after you return home!
Our past trips have been wonderful... We can’t wait to offer this trip again this summer!
Investment includes:
Mosaic workshop instruction Accommodations for 8 nights .
Breakfast and lunches monday night BBQ at Valerie's
Transportation from train station or Avignon airport and to and from workshop
All touristic visits to markets and exhibits, Wine tastings
Cost:
$ 2350 in single room /8 nights ( 8 rooms available)
$ 2150 in double occupancy /8 nights ( 2 rooms available - 4 spots)
Cost does not include flight, dinners (except BBQ) and personal expenses.
Please email for registration information.
Valerie and Laurel are bi-lingual and workshop and activities will be in English and French.
To register for this workshop, please e-mail Valérie Nicoladzé at: espritmosaique@free.fr
Questions? Contact Valerie (above) or Laurel at laurel@TrueMosaics.com
We have only 12 spaces and expect this workshop to fill very quickly … register early !
Feedback from previous workshop/tour participants:
"Valerie's studio, project and supplies were the stuff of dreams! The accommodations were fantastic and the village we stayed in was like an American fantasy of what Provence could be...the excursions were all fantastic and the opportunity to have a meal at a French home as well as a picnic...I can't even express what precious memories those will remain for me! I mean really, the entire trip was great!" - Karen R, Toledo, Ohio
"I loved every second..." - Mary W, Seattle, WA
"The special people that I met will forever be in my heart and memories." - Susan R, Albany, NY
"Laurel and Valerie are an amazing French/English teaching team! They each have fantastic personalities and teaching styles. Great class for first timers or more advanced mosaicists. I loved the combination of creative time and exploring Provence time. Every part of this trip was amazing!" - Jennifer N, Carlsbad, CA
"Valerie hosted me at her beautiful home and studio in Provence and we decided to put together this workshop experience so that mosaic artists could come and enjoy the atmosphere of this amazing area and the warmth and hospitality of Valerie and her family and community. I came back from that trip bursting with energy, inspiration and a full heart, and can't wait to share this experience with my students!" -Laurel True, mosaic artist and co-instructor of workshop
" I welcome you to my studio and town, in the hopes that each participant/ student comes away with a feeling of having spent a wonderful week of creativity, sharing our mosaic passion and fun, discovering the most beautiful places in Provence, with the desire to come back to explore more! - Valerie Nicoladze, mosaic artist and co-instructor of workshop
