“Paint & Sketch”
A week for “Oil & Watercolor”, interpreting the beauty of nature in your medium of choice. Led by Jane Smithers.
July 20 - 27, 2008
View detailed week description
Spend a relaxing vacation exploring the French countryside and villages while experimenting with a variety of drawing and painting media and styles. Participants will use the "hand" to reflect what is seen by the "eye" and felt through the senses. The guest will create a record of images to use as a 
source of reflection on their adventure or as an inspiration for finished or future art works. The instruction will be individualized and appropriate for all levels, true beginner to experienced artist. Emphasis will be on relaxation and enjoyment of the beautiful environment.
Reservations can be made with the Chateau at chateauvillars@aol.com. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. The artist(s) leading the week can also give you more information. Please see the main introduction to our “Relax & Learn” weeks for how the weeks are run, what is included in your price, as well as how to book. All bookings can be made in either dollar or sterling equivalent.
We look forward to welcoming you to Chateau de Villars for this exciting week!
Jane Smithers’ paintings can be found at the following galleries:
Flanders Art Gallery, Left Bank Art Gallery, Carol Saunder's Gallery and at the Summit One Gallery.
Close description
“Yoga”
A week for “Mind & Body”, led by Laurie Amerson and Ursula Nix. A perfect combination of mindful exercise and a holiday at Chateau de Villars!
August 20 - 27, 2008
View detailed week description
Each day will include morning yoga. Optional yoga late afternoons or evening...
A typical day: - Tea/light breakfast
- Yoga on the deck by the pool or on the Chateau’s terrace
- Outing to village, market, ruins
- Return to Chateau
- Optional Gentle Yoga with meditation time prior to
- Sundowners
Reservations can be made with the Chateau at chateauvillars@aol.com. If you have any questions, please don’t hesititate to ask. The artist(s) leading the week can also give you more information. Please see the main introduction to our “Relax & Learn” weeks for how the weeks are run, what is included in your price, as well as how to book. All bookings can be made in either dollar or sterling equivalent. We look forward to welcoming you to Chateau de Villars for this exciting week!
Close description
“Creative Photography”
A week for "Lens & Eye" with camera, whether film or digital, on location in the countryside and villages of the Dordogne, creativity combined with the creation of a 'carnet de voyage', your own special photographic journal of the Perigord Vert in the manner of the "Grand Tour' traveler of the 19th century, led by Kevin Saunders.
2009
View detailed week description
“A Lens on the Perigord Vert”. You’ll enjoy a holiday in France with six days of “hands on” photography in the idyllic countryside of the Perigord Vert in the Northern Dordogne, while you also enjoy our usual hospitality, trips to local beauty sites and markets (which just happen to also be photographically inspiring). If you are accompanying a photographer or a beginner, you’ll have a marvelous time exploring with us and improving your travel photos, finding out of the way places for those perfect images to take home. We’ll utilize the light’s “magic” hours for our photographic expeditions and still have ample time in the day to rest, relax, discuss, walk, read – and work on your images.
Just bring your cameras, your lenses, your tripod and your imagination and creativity! We can have film waiting for you at the Chateau so you won’t have to be concerned with airport scans – just let us know. We’ll have to charge you for the film but not for any time we spend working on digital images with Kevin's profocient instruction.
You’ll learn from Kevin and from each other. We’ll critique the day’s images. We’ll chat about subjects from time to time – composition, exposure, tonality, technique, equipment – simple and advanced techniques to make your photographs more powerful – and still ultimately in your own style. And we’ll talk and learn about producing and printing the final image for your portfolio, gallery or wall at home! We’ll look at images of the photographic masters of our own time and earlier, while we enjoy a glass of local wine at the end of the day.
You’ll stay in an incredible 19th century Louis Philippe Chateau where images to tempt the eye are everywhere –whether you enjoy landscape or architectural photography, documentary, portrait or macro work.
The Chateau itself and its 9 acre grounds, the 15th century Chateau Puyghuilem and the ruins of Boschaud Abbey just up the road, the local villages we visit, the open air markets and the countryside... A Feast for the Lens & Eye.
The week is led by Chateau owner Kevin Saunders. His “architectural” photographs, with their distinctive style, whether gelatin silver prints or color pigment prints, are in American and European collections and museums. You can find out more about him on his website KJSImages.com. You will improve your travel photographs and take home some memorable images as a "Carnet de Voyage" for you, your family and friends.
Reservations can be made with the Chateau at chateauvillars@aol.com. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. The artist(s) leading the week can also give you more information. Please see the main introduction to our “Relax & Learn” weeks for how the weeks are run, what is included in your price, as well as how to book. All bookings can be made in either dollar or sterling equivalent.
We look forward to welcoming you to Chateau de Villars for this exciting week!
Kevin Saunders photography can be seen at the following galleries:
www.thomasdeans.com, www.raifordgallery.com and www.summitonegallery.com
You can also visit his own website: www.KJSimages.com as well as view his images here at Chateau de Villars.
Close description
“Bergerac Wineries”
A week for “Nose & Palate” with winery visits (including organic vineyards), tastings and talks.
2009
View detailed week description
Bergerac has been a source of fine wine for centuries. The best still rivals almost anything from Bordeaux made in family-owned vineyards set in the delightfully intimate scenery of the rolling green hills of the Dordogne Valley. Red wines are very much like those of Bordeaux but can be fuller and richer. Most are made, like St. Emilion, from the Merlot grape. 
The warm soils of Pécharmant are a good source, but there are many wonderful surprises. Remarkable dry whites, based on Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon are either fresh and fruity or rich, oaky and surprisingly age-worthy. The region makes delicious rosé too, but its real glory is the stunning, truly world-class dessert wines of Saussignac and Monbazillac. Many of the leading winemakers in Saussignac are enthusiastic advocates of organic viticulture – and this will form a special theme for our week.
From your Introductory wine tasting evening at the Chateau, you’ll travel out to vineyards, Bergerac Chateaux and Domaines, explore the local villages, bastides and the markets, lunch in village restaurants, visiting Perigueux and Bergerac itself, finishing with a celebratory last evening tasting appellations of south west France. Along with the beautiful Chateau location, we are convinced that this “Winery” week will fascinate your mind and your tastebuds. We hope you join us and we look forward to an amazing week of wine and fun in France!
Reservations can be made with the Chateau at chateauvillars@aol.com If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. 
The artist(s) leading the week can also give you more information. Please see the main introduction to our “Relax & Learn” weeks for how the weeks are run, what is included in your price, as well as how to book. All bookings can be made in either dollar or sterling equivalent.
We look forward to welcoming you to Chateau de Villars for this exciting week!
Our Chateau Wine Cellar is filled with wines selected by Helen Savage. More about Helen Savage, including her tasting notes, is available from her website at www.helensavage.com, and wines selected by her for the Chateau’s wine list are available through her company, NH Wines, Ltd. (www.nhwines.co.uk)
Close description
“Handbuilding Ceramics and Drawing: Creative Enabling"
A week for “Hand & Eye” learning the basic techniques in handbuilding ceramics and learning to see and draw as artists do naturally, led by Angelyn and Neal Chandler.
2009
View detailed week description
A week of learning the basic techniques in handbuilding ceramics and learning to see and draw as artists do naturally. You may/may not have drawn or played with clay since you were an adolescent. This course of clay and pencil drawing basics will provide the foundation for you to work in both media. It is also possible to do only one of the two if desired. If you have had some experience, the course can be tailored to your level. You may also work on your own if you wish.
Each day a project will be presented to you for improving your drawing skills and for translating your studies into a ceramic object. Projects will be related to the environment you will be experiencing in France and to French culture. By the end of the week you will be able to draw using skills that natural artists have and to use the three basic techniques for handbuilding.
Materials for this course will be supplied including a box for hand carrying your clay pieces home.
Angelyn S. Chandler has taught art for twenty years. She has taught numerous classes in drawing with an emphasis on learning to see as artists naturally do. The components of each lesson are broken down into parts so that every student will be able to draw in a representational manner. Many of her adult students who had not drawn anything since they were pre-teens have become competent, serious artists. Angelyn, a lifelong artist, has taught at the Holton Arms School in Washington, D.C., The Galloway School in Atlanta and in adult independent classes. She has studied at the John Herron Art Institute, Indianapolis, IN; the Art Students League of New York; and the Women’s Art University, Tokyo, Japan. Angelyn has participated in numerous group exhibits as well as several one person shows.
Neal Chandler is a retired medical doctor with a lifelong interest in art who began serious post-baccalaureate art study after retiring from medical practice. He received his art training at Georgia State University studying ceramics, sculpture and drawing. Neal has also studied sculpture at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden, Scotland. He currently works full time on his own ceramic and wood sculpture. He has exhibited and sold his ceramic work.
Reservations can be made with the Chateau at chateauvillars@aol.com. If you have any questions, please don’t hesititate to ask. The artist(s) leading the week can also give you more information. Please see the main introduction to our “Relax & Learn” weeks for how the weeks are run, what is included in your price, as well as how to book. All bookings can be made in either dollar or sterling equivalent.
We look forward to welcoming you to Chateau de Villars for this exciting week!
Close description
“Writer's Retreat”
A week of "Writing with Writers" - for those who journal, who write articles or short stories, or whose next book is in the making. Join with others who put pen to paper. Inspiration, support and conviviality - as well as all the leasures of a holiday at Chateau de Villars. Led by published American author, Mary Alice Monroe (www.maryalicemonroe.com).
2009
View detailed week description
Mary Alice Monroe, NY Times bestselling author, national speaker and teacher, will create a small, select writing class. The class will include:- Stimulating writing activities that help you connect to your own unique writing voice.
- The creation of powerful first draft writing and the chance to share your writing for critique, if you choose.
- A look into the world of publishing: how to get an agent, write a query letter, submit a proposal.
- Time to relax and unwind in the beautiful Dordogne area of France.
In this class you will be encouraged to write, not simply listen to others talk about writing.
Close description
“French Language, Culture & History”
A week of “Oh La La!” with friendly conversational French, market visits and history talks.
2009
View detailed week description
Information forthcoming.
Close description
All
content is copyright © Chateau de Villars, 2008. Design by Taleframe.
