# Enchanting Watercolor Retreat with Artist Ellen Crimi-Trent in France

Join Ellen Crimi-Trent for a vibrant watercolor retreat in the peaceful Lot-et-Garonne countryside of France. Over the course of a week, explore expressive landscapes, florals, and still life painting inspired by rolling hills, blooming gardens, and charming stone villages. Enjoy daily lessons, personalized feedback, and a relaxed, supportive atmosphere that fuels creativity and growth.Experience the cultural richness of the region with two full-day trips: wander the stone streets and brocantes of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, sketch by the river, and enjoy a leisurely lunch at a family-run restaurant; then head to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, perched high above the Lot River, before continuing on to Cahors for a guided riverboat tour past the 14th-century Pont Valentré and other medieval landmarks.Paint in a light-filled studio housed in a restored barn, or move outdoors to shaded terraces, quiet ponds, and garden paths. Use alternate spaces like the piano room or a smaller studio with garden access to vary your setting and inspiration. Stay in spacious ensuite rooms with scenic views, unwind by the heated pool, and relax in cozy shared spaces between sessions.

## Details

- **Dates:** June 27 - July 4, 2026
- **Location:** Sainte Alauzie, Lot-et-Garonne, France
- **Starting Price:** $4,850
- **Category:** Painting

## Program

### Enchanting Watercolor Retreat
Immerse yourself in a week of expressive watercolor painting with Ellen Crimi-Trent in the peaceful countryside of southwestern France. Surrounded by gardens, woodlands, and panoramic views, you’ll explore landscapes, florals, and still life subjects through daily sessions rooted in observation and personal expression. Learn how to mix expressive color palettes, work with wet-on-wet techniques, layer translucent washes, and add detail using pen and ink. Ellen will guide you with live demonstrations, gentle feedback, and one-on-one feedback to help you develop a confident, loose painting style.Embark on two inspiring day trips that will fill your sketchbook with fresh ideas and vivid memories. Spend a full day in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a medieval town nestled at the edge of the Aveyron Gorges. Wander cobbled streets lined with brocante stalls, photograph overflowing window boxes and ivy-covered façades, and sketch riverside views from the stone bridge. Pause for a relaxed lunch at a family-run restaurant tucked beside the river. Later in the week, visit the cliffside village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, where wisteria-draped houses and panoramic views of the Lot River offer endless composition ideas. Then head to Cahors and board a riverboat for a slow, scenic ride past the Pont Valentré and the dramatic silhouettes of towers, cathedrals, and cliffside ruins as the sun begins to dip behind the hills.The topics covered during your lessons will include:Create color palettesPlay with various watercolor techniques including wet-on-wet, expressive painting with brushes, and pen and inkCreate a compelling composition and layoutPaint nature and your surroundingsTake reference pictures and use them to create beautiful paintingsUse your sketchbook for future ideasDiscover your strengths and personal themes through experimentationCreate your own unique art collection...and many more.Stay on a private estate set across 75 acres of fields, forests, and manicured gardens in the heart of Lot-et-Garonne. Work in a light-filled converted barn studio, a smaller studio with garden access, or the piano room in the main house. The grounds include two ponds, a heated pool, walking trails, terraces, and a variety of outdoor seating areas perfect for sketching or quiet reflection. Between sessions, unwind in spacious ensuite rooms and comfortable shared spaces with views in every direction.

### Day 1: Arrival
Get transferred from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) at 3:00 PM, arriving at the venue by 4:00 PM. Settle into your room, then join Ellen and your fellow artists for an orientation tour, exploring the gardens, the lovely terraces, the creative studio, and communal spaces. Over a fabulous welcoming dinner, enjoy a relaxed conversation about the week ahead while savoring local flavors and a glass of regional wine, as well as non-alcoholic alternatives.

### Day 2: Art at the venue
Wake up to a fresh breakfast with Ellen, followed by a laid-back check-in over coffee to walk through the day’s creative flow. Get a glimpse of the day’s schedule and prepare for your first watercolor class.In the morning session, Ellen will guide you through foundational watercolor techniques such as wet-on-wet, layering transparent washes, and exploring color combinations. Work through loose landscapes, delicate florals, and still life arrangements drawn from the natural surroundings. Use expressive brushwork to build confidence and capture the energy of the French countryside.After a hearty lunch, return for the afternoon session, where you'll build on the day’s exercises. Ellen will encourage you to explore quick sketching, thumbnail studies, and experimental compositions drawn from garden corners, stone textures, and everyday still-life moments found throughout the estate. With her thoughtful guidance, you’ll keep developing a fluid, intuitive painting style.Later, take time to relax. Go for a walk, unwind by the pool, or continue working in the gardens, woodlands, or shaded terraces. In the evening, enjoy a three-course dinner paired with wine or non-alcoholic alternatives, and share the day’s highlights in warm company.

### Day 3: Trip to Saint-Cinq-Lapopie and Cahors riverboat tour
Share a relaxed breakfast with Ellen, then ease into the day over coffee as you check in with the group and get ready to head out.Leave the estate for a full-day trip into the Lot Valley, beginning with a one-hour drive to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Spend the morning sketching in this postcard-perfect village, where ivy climbs carved stone walls, roses and wisteria bloom along the paths, and the Lot River winds far below. Find a bench or ledge along the cliffside to capture the sweeping views, or wander the cobbled lanes and sketch floral details and medieval windows all in one sitting.After a short drive, arrive in Cahors and stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Spend the early afternoon exploring the old town at your own pace. Visit small shops, stroll shaded squares, and take time to sketch architectural details, shopfronts, or quiet corners before heading to the river. Board a riverboat at the edge of town, from Pont Valentré. Watch the towers of the Saint-Étienne Cathedral rise above the trees, pass beneath the Louis Philippe bridge, and take in the cliff-side silhouette of the Hanged Man’s Tower. Bring your sketchbook or simply take in the changing light and shapes for later reference.Return to the estate in the early evening. As evening settles in, gather for a three-course dinner with wine or non-alcoholic drinks and enjoy an easy, creative end to a full and inspiring day.

### Day 4: Art at the venue
Ease into the morning with a delicious breakfast and a check-in with Ellen over coffee to walk through the plan for the day.Begin the session outdoors or in the studio as Ellen leads you through watercolor exercises inspired by the surrounding landscape, native plants, and curated still-life setups. Focus on expressive brushwork while learning how to balance clear detail with soft, intuitive movement. Practice painting water in watercolor using nearby basins, fountains, or garden reflections as reference. Explore color mixing and layering techniques that bring energy and clarity into your compositions.Enjoy a refreshing lunch, then shift into an afternoon of plein air practice. With future painting trips in mind, you’ll practice sketching loosely and efficiently, capturing the essence of a scene without overworking it. Ellen will walk you through how to prepare your materials for painting in the field and help you build confidence in responding to your surroundings with spontaneity and ease.Afterward, take time to relax. In the evening, gather for a three-course dinner served with wine or non-alcoholic drinks and close out the day in the company of good conversation.

### Day 5: Trip to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val
Watch the early sun pour through the trees as you enjoy breakfast with Ellen, followed by a check-in over coffee to walk through the day’s plans.Leave for a full-day trip to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a medieval town nestled at the edge of the Aveyron Gorges. After a 45-minute drive, spend the morning exploring brocante markets and winding lanes lined with climbing roses, wisteria, and overflowing window boxes. Photograph florals tucked into alleyways, wide riverside views, and details from the local market to use as references for future still life work.Pause midday for lunch at a quiet riverside restaurant, once a village pharmacy, where original cabinetry and a shaded courtyard create a peaceful space to unwind. In the afternoon, paint on location with Ellen’s guidance. Work in your sketchbook or on loose sheets as you explore expressive floral studies of nearby blooms, or create quick watercolor impressions of the surrounding cliffs and river views.Experiment with loose outlines, layering translucent washes, and building compositions with color and spontaneity. Use elements collected or photographed earlier, such as fruit, flowers, or found objects, as inspiration for a still life setup with a personal twist. Stop briefly on the return drive at a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Aveyron Gorges. Take in the wide stretch of landscape, framed by limestone cliffs and winding water, and gather references for future landscape pieces.Return to the estate with time to rest, continue painting outdoors, or flip through your sketches before sitting down to a three-course dinner served with wine or non-alcoholic options.

### Day 6: Art at the venue
Feel the light begin to stretch across the hills as you enjoy breakfast with Ellen, followed by a relaxed check-in over coffee to map out the day ahead.Spend the morning drawing inspiration from the peaceful grounds surrounding you. Wander through the gardens, shaded terraces, and woodland paths, taking in the textures, colors, and light that shape the French countryside. Notice the shifting shadows on native plants, the weathered stone walls, and the way morning blooms catch the sun. In this relaxed setting, settle in with your watercolor materials and continue working on expressive pieces that reflect your impressions of the space. Ellen will be nearby to offer feedback, answer questions, and encourage you to trust your own creative rhythm.Enjoy a satisfying lunch, then return to the studio for a focused afternoon session. You can continue developing your morning piece or start something new inspired by the week’s earlier walks, village visits, and garden moments. Let your reference sketches and photographs guide your watercolor choices as you build compositions rooted in memory. Ellen will support you as you experiment with expressive mark-making, color layering, and thoughtful simplification to bring each piece to life.Later in the day, take time to unwind. Stroll through the gardens, rest by the pool, or keep painting in a shaded spot outdoors. In the evening, gather for a three-course dinner paired with wine or non-alcoholic options and close the day with conversation, calm, and color still fresh in your hands.

### Day 7: Art at the venue
Start your final full day with breakfast alongside Ellen, followed by a relaxed coffee check-in to reflect on your creative process and what still feels unfinished or open.Spend the morning bringing your watercolor work to a close. Focus on landscapes, florals, or still life pieces you’ve developed throughout the week, applying final layers, refining color choices, or adjusting composition. Ellen will move through the space, offering guidance and feedback as you make thoughtful decisions about what to finish and what to leave loose. Use this time to ask questions, revisit favorite techniques, or simply enjoy the relaxing rhythm of painting at your own pace.Pause for lunch, then take part in a casual mini-exhibition. Share your work, walk through the space to view what others have created, and take in the variety of styles and moments that emerged across the week. Whether you display one piece or several, this is a relaxed way to celebrate your time spent painting in the French countryside.Later in the day, unwind with some spare time. Walk through the gardens, take a final swim, or continue sketching in a shaded corner. In the evening, gather for a three-course farewell dinner paired with wine or non-alcoholic options and enjoy one last evening of conversation, reflection, and creative connection.

### Day 8: Departure
Enjoy breakfast with Ellen and your fellow artists, and get ready for your transfer to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, Toulouse (TLS). Check-out is at 10:00 AM, and you'll arrive at the airport at around 11:30 AM.

## Instructors

- **Ellen Crimi-Trent** - Artist and Designer

## Accommodation

### Historic French Estate

### Shared standard ensuite room (female only)

### Shared superior ensuite room (female only)

### Shared deluxe room - private ensuite bathrooms (female only)

### Single standard ensuite room

### Single superior ensuite room

### Single deluxe ensuite room

## Book This Retreat

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