An artist’s dream retreat is now within your grasp....
On June 24 to July 1st, 2023, join Margo Tantau and Ana Bianchi for a week-long creative retreat in the Côte du Rhone wine region of France, at the exquisitely appointed 12th Century Château de Rochessauve.
Your hosts, Margo and Ana lead the retreat with a wealth of experience and lots of creative panache. Margo brings decades of experience as an art director, connector, collaborator, and champion of a vast creative community. She is also the host of the beloved Windowsill Chats Podcast. Ana, a life-long artist, award-winning designer, illustrator and lover of all things color, will bring her vast experience in art inspiration and envisioning along with a wide range of techniques and a lineup of art making exercises that aim to improve your eye, your hand and help grow your personal expression through art.
The retreat's creative curriculum is planned around the principles of art and design: line, shape, composition, light, color and story.
Each day we will work on each as building blocks for good art using simple yet impactful exercises that will open up new ways to approach your art making, further develop your “good eye” and overall, make your art better in your own style, helping you take your art to the next level. Through demonstrations, salon-style conversations about art, creativity, inspiration and exclusive one-on-one sessions with Margo and Ana, you will return home with creative tools that will unleash your inner most creativity and personal expression through newly acquired drawing and painting techniques and better knowledge of what it means to do art for YOU.
Small group, limited spots available. Treat yourself to a creative adventure!
A peek inside Chateau de Rochessauve
Picture yourself making art at the Chateau’s lush and gorgeous grounds: the perfect setting for indoor and alfresco art making.
The chateau is perched on a hilltop with 360 degree views of mountains and valleys in absolute silence, serenaded only by an orchestra of birds. Hidden nooks primed for creative dreaming and a nostalgic charm are described by the current owner as imbuing “a place where magic blurs its way into daily life.”
Who is this for?
As Margo would say:
"It is for the creative and the creatively curious."
That means that no matter your level of expertise, whether you are a professional artist, a beginner at art, or a non-artist wanting to try your hand at creating, we will guide you through the exercises and conversations at whatever level you currently find yourself.
Ana will teach the very best exercises that brought change in her own art making, her best tricks to spark creativity and curiosity, and will give you advice on how to grow your own self-expression in your own style. Margo will lead crafting practices that complement the morning art building block and will initiate round tables and conversations about paths and possibilities to bring your art into the world.
What's Included
on the From Line to Color Retreat
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7 nights of accommodation at Château de Rochessauve, a beautifully restored 12c. estate beautifully decorated with art, antiques, and inspiring objects in Côte du Rhone wine region.
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Access to all the Château’s lush gardens and grounds, swimming pool, and badminton courts during free time.
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Chef prepared meals using high-quality local ingredients, AOC meats, delicious local cheese, regional wine, fresh produce, etc., spanning French, Provençale, Moroccan and Italian flavors. All meals are included except two meals on your own during field trips. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know by May 1st, 2023.
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Daily art-making workshop sessions led by Ana Bianchi, afternoon crafting sessions led by Margo Tantau, plus round tables and saloon-style conversations.
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One-hour one-on-one consultation about your art, inspiration, and techniques with Ana.
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One-hour one-on-one consultation about what you can do with your art both as a hobby and as a career with Margo.
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Basic art materials for specific exercises, plus an art SWAG bag.
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Two inspiring field trips to see the magnificent Chauvet cave paintings and the colorful ceramics town of Dieulefit. Private transportation to and from these destinations.
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Private transportation from and to Montelimar, the town where nougat was invented, before and at the end of the retreat. Montelimar is accessible by TGV train from Paris CDG airport (4 hours), Marseille (2 hours), Lyon (2 hours), etc., which is the closest train station.
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A list of regional wineries, restaurants, and art-inspiring visits for you to enjoy before or after the retreat.
AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST (to be booked two weeks before): Massages 65 euros for an hour. Pilates classes are 20 per person, based on a minimum of 4.
What's Not Included
on the From Line to Color Retreat
Airfare and train to Montelimar
Travel Insurance
Two lunches (during field trips)
Your favorite art materials, so pack your bag with that special paper, or your super watercolors or inks, or any other art material you can’t live without.
Extra costs attendees might incur on their own (massage, pilates, extra wine & food, etc.)
Any accommodation before or after the retreat’s dates.
Covid Policy:
We require a negative Covid test before coming to the retreat.
If you are sick last minute and cannot travel due to Covid: you will get a refund except for the non-refundable deposit.
If there is a big Covid outbreak, the June 2023 dates will be canceled, and the retreat will be postponed for a future date. You will be offered the choice of a full refund or saving your spot for a the new, rescheduled date at the price you paid.
Accommodation
Chateau Room:
Shared double bed with one bathroom
shared double $3700 | single $4850
Chateau Suite: 2 bedrooms with 1 bathroom
Main Room: shared double bed shared double $3650
Turret Room: 2 twin beds each twin $3650
Terrace Suite: 2 bedrooms with one bathroom
Room 1: 2 double beds shared double $3650
Room 2: 2 twin beds each twin $3650
The Nest: 1 bedroom with bathroom shared King size bed shared king $3950 not available as single.
The Rosebud: 1 bedroom with bathroom shared Double size bed shared double $3750 | single $4850
The Ivy: 1 bedroom with bathroom shared Double size bed shared double $3750 | single $4850
The Fireside: 1 bedroom with bathroom shared King size bed double $3950 not available as single
Garden House: 2 bedrooms with one bathroom
Room 1: double bed double $3800 | single $4850
Room 2: 2 twin beds each $3650
The Garden House: Terrace Suite and Chateau Suite can be by a group of 4 friends. We encourage sharing the room even if you are coming alone, this can be a great opportunity to make a lifelong artist friend.
The Itinerary
Arrival Day | June 24th
Arrival and welcome dinner!
Day One | June 25th
The Power of Art Making: Field trip to Grotte Chauvet
Day Two | June 26th
LINE: Exercises and crafts to make your line more fluid
Day Three | June 27th
FORM & SHAPE: Exercises to combine form & shapes for stronger visual impact
Day Four | June 28th
COMPOSITION & TONAL STRUCTURE: Exercises to better fill space for expressiveness & mood
Day Five | June 29th
COLOR: Morning field trip to Dieulefit, afternoon color exercises to create color-rich palettes, still lives, and sunset al-fresco art making
Day Six | June 30th
INTENTION, STORY & STYLE: Adding intention & story to your art. Candlelit dinner & surprise party.
Farewell | July 1st
ABOUT INSPIRATION & farewell
Download the Itinerary Here
RETREAT DEPOSIT
$800
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A non-refundable deposit of $800 is required
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Full payment is due March 1st, 2023
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Cancellation 2 months in advance is 75% refunded
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Cancellation 1 month in advance is 50% refunded
