Art Retreat in France: Cotignac, a Provençal Village that Awakens Creativity
Stepping away from everyday life to reconnect with one’s creativity: this is the promise of an art retreat in Provence. In Cotignac, an emblematic village of the Haut-Var nestled at the foot of its towering tufa cliff, the light reveals new nuances with every season. The landscapes, colourful lanes and generous nature surrounding the village echo the inspiration that Provence has offered so many artists, from Cézanne to Van Gogh. In this setting conducive to creativity, a local artist guides you in expressing your emotions on paper.
Cotignac, an inspiring haven for an art retreat in France (Provence)
In the almost ethereal setting of a medieval town, cosy Provençal houses, and an epic troglodyte cliff, Cotignac — proudly listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France — is the perfect place to find the true artist within you. A dozen inspiring spots in the village have been selected to help you reveal the clarity of the subject and the emotion it evokes.
Using simple pencil and graphite drawing techniques to capture the balance of light and shadow, alongside a few touches of watercolor, Gilles will encourage you to create a series of small drawings and paintings in a sketchbook that can be cherished long after your retreat! Not to mention the skills you will gain by expressing yourself in this artistic way.
Gilles Dugenet, from architecture to painting
Gilles is a self-taught artist, who has loved painting and drawing since childhood. An architect by training, he quickly discovered that he didn’t feel inspired enough sitting in front of a computer screen. Originally from Saint-Raphaël, he was able to open his first artist workship in Entrecasteaux in 1998 with his wife Sandra, who is also an artist, more specifically stone and wood sculptor. Both Gilles and Sandra work together in their Provençal hamlet which is of course nestled in the heart of nature’s inspiration.
During his journey as an artist, Gilles tried out different media, starting with wood and then working exclusively with ocher clay in 3 colors. He went on to paint in oils, acrylics, and then watercolours, the medium with which he chose to bring his holiday sketches to life. During this time Gilles produced numerous murals for luxury villas. His style, which is both architectural and dreamlike, suits interior design projects in grand settings such as those. Interestingly, Gilles draws from nature but from memory – memory of a world that is no longer, since he feels that our modern world and society has damaged true nature and its original inspiration. For Gilles, his works are bubbles of serene calm, and a place where dreams thrive and humans cannot destroy.
Your art retreat in France (Provence)
- Breakfasts
- 6 hours of drawing lessons
- 2 entries to the Abbey of Thoronet
