Chateau Orquevaux artist residency was a rare experience and my giddiness continues weeks after returning. These two weeks will forever be etched into my art and will no doubt spark new growth that supports F.A.I.T.H (Faith, Art, Inspiration, Travel, Humor).Twenty seven people bonded ranging in age from 24-70ish(?)
Artists, poets, novelists and musicians were all at different stages of career, life, you name it. Our residency group is still in touch via an Instagram chat and I think it will continue for years to come. Bonus blessing!
A BIT ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
Orquevaux is a very small village. Population 70, it is nestled in rolling green hills and forest, pastures with cows, charming flower gardens and that’s it. No shops & no place to go other than the chateau!! The property was magical with rows of pinkish purple trees against a lush forest, bridges over a huge lily pond, groves of trees, an old vineyard, an intriguing abandoned cottage & on and on. Nature provides a backdrop with endless possibilities to paint sprinkled with a little imaginative color & if nothing else a calm setting in which to mull over new ideas. The chateau was just as one might imagine a maison built in the countryside…. Stately, elegant, architecturally divine & modernized in just the right ways made it feel like a luxury boutique hotel.
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Studio 3 was my studio in the “stables” which looked like another mansion. Relishing in this “room of my own” with space and time to create gave me a unique freedom to cut loose. So I did! New works took new directions and there is always knowledge to be had in this exploration. Our group of 10 artists in the stables truly bonded. Next door to my studio was a gal playing viola, composing her own melodies. Wow…an unexpected serenade for painting! So nice to have excellent international, as well as American people to chat with about our art and just to get out of our studios & take a break. The only thing I did NOT like were the bats upstairs in the stables. Ick!!! (where the bathroom was).
Other artists and writers had space or studios on the 3rd floor of the chateau. Charming spaces but for the scale of my work, I lucked out being at the stables!! Even the daily strolls up and down the hill from the chateau to the stables were meditative and inspiring.
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Given the fact that there were no distractions for my undiagnosed ADD (AmyDixonDixon) self, I worked a lot and was quite pleased with what I produced in such a secluded & focused, yet stunning environment. Hauling the work back was comically challenging. Lesson learned…don’t paint large canvases when traveling, even if they are rolled up!
VIDEO TOUR OF MY STUDIO
My dear friends, Allison Hull and Karen Hewitt Hagan chased me down on one of my first mornings and asked for a video. So, I thought I would also share it with you.
Meals were over the top & several deserving Michelin stars. Dessert EVERY night. Way too much to describe, so you'll have to trust me on this one. Supposedly the chateau is going to publish a cookbook. Fingers crossed.
Beulah and Ziggy & staff organized lectures & group activities here and there that were geared specifically for artists or writers. Optional but well worth attending. Gatherings in the salon of all of the residents gave everyone a chance to share a sampling of their work, which blew me away. So much talent on so many levels. The last day was a studio open house for everyone to stroll and soak in the goodness and creativity.
THE STAFF, OH THE STAFF!! All caps because there are no words to emphasize how professional, brilliant, helpful, creative, witty and inspiring they were. They were the whipped cream AND the cherries on top of being accepted to the residency. Bravo Bravo! Chateau Orquevaux earned international rankings that are well deserved. They are listed in the top TEN art residencies in the WORLD! There’s a first class reason for this and I’m here to validate it and congratulate them.
Lastly, if anyone reading this blog would like to contact me to ask any questions or chat, I’m completely open to this! If you are at ALL curious, just apply for the residency. You might want to read blogs written before I traveled to learn more, but don't hesitate to contact me.