# Telling Your Story through Abstract Art Retreat with Artist Judy Woods in France

Immerse yourself in a transformative art retreat with acclaimed artist Judy Woods, set in the peaceful countryside of Occitanie, southern France. Guided by Judy’s expert instruction and daily hands-on demonstrations, you’ll explore the expressive world of intuitive mixed-media painting. With an emphasis on bringing a personal story into your work (whether biographical or drawn from your experiences during the retreat), you’ll develop your unique visual language and experiment with bold techniques, pushing creative boundaries to develop a meaningful collection of abstract artworks to take home.Your stay unfolds at a charming rural estate, where beautifully prepared meals and a close-knit group of fellow artists create a warm, inspiring atmosphere. Throughout the retreat, you’ll draw inspiration from curated excursions: meander through the medieval streets of Albi, reflect in the quiet beauty of a French garden, and spend an afternoon at a historic winery, soaking in its rich colors and textures. Return home with refined techniques, a renewed artistic perspective, and a vibrant body of work that captures the essence of your creative journey in France.

## Details

- **Dates:** May 21 - 28, 2026
- **Location:** Teyssode, Occitanie, France
- **Starting Price:** $4,100
- **Category:** Painting

## Program

### Telling Your Story through Abstract Art
Join artist Judy Woods for an inspiring retreat in the enchanting countryside of Occitanie, southern France. Surrounded by rolling hills, ancient villages, and the region’s golden light, you’ll explore abstract painting in a setting that invites both curiosity and personal reflection. With her warm and intuitive guidance, Judy will help you unlock your artistic voice through a process of exploration, play, and self-expression, encouraging you to bring your own story into the work, whether rooted in personal history or drawn from your experience on the retreat. All experience levels are welcome.Each day, you’ll take part in immersive sessions with Judy, where you’ll experiment with new materials, explore bold techniques, and push the boundaries of your creativity. From wet and dry media to collage and composition, you’ll be invited to take creative risks and shape a visual language that feels deeply personal. Judy’s thoughtful feedback and supportive teaching will help you build confidence, refine your style, and connect more closely with the emotional and narrative layers within your work.Throughout the week, you’ll enjoy three unforgettable art trips that immerse you in the beauty, history, and sensory richness of southern France. Wander the medieval streets of Albi, where sun-warmed stone buildings, Gothic spires, and the evocative Toulouse-Lautrec Museum offer a feast of visual inspiration. Meander through a serene French botanical garden, alive with color, texture, and elegance. Then, spend an indulgent afternoon at a centuries-old vineyard, where you’ll sip local wines amid vine-laced hills, soaking in the atmosphere as you gather imagery and ideas for your next abstract piece.You’ll leave not just with a beautiful body of work shaped by France, but with a renewed spirit and a circle of creative friends to inspire you well beyond the retreat.The topics covered during your lessons will include:Working with collageUnderstanding design for successful resultsFinding your voice and telling your storyThe joy of taking risksPainting more intuitivelyMixing wet and dry mediaIncorporating drawing into the paintingBuilding a painting in layersAchieving harmony with colorLearning to trust your intuition and silence your inner critic...and many more.Your accommodation for the retreat will be a charming, restored estate in the countryside, offering the perfect environment for creative exploration. Outside of classes, you’ll enjoy wholesome French cuisine, relax by the pool, and connect with your fellow artists in a welcoming, supportive atmosphere.

### Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport and join the 3:00 PM transfer to your retreat venue. After settling into your room, take a moment to unwind and absorb the tranquil surroundings. Meet your fellow artists and get acquainted with Judy Woods, your instructor for the retreat. As part of an orientation tour, explore the estate’s charming garden, the historic watchtower, and inviting communal spaces. In the evening, toast to the start of your creative journey with cocktails and bite-sized canapés, followed by a beautifully prepared three-course dinner, perfectly complemented by local wines.

### Day 2: Art classes at the venue
Kick off your day with a bold, feel-good breakfast that gets your brain firing and your creativity buzzing. Grab your coffee and head straight into lively conversation with Judy and your crew of artists. Then take a slow stroll around the venue, soaking up every detail: wild textures, color-drenched skies, or weird shadows that might just become your next masterpiece.The morning will be filled with energy and enthusiasm. Throw your struggles onto the canvas. Literally. Scribble down the blocks holding you back and slap them on a giant shared surface with your group. Suddenly, the mess in your head feels less lonely. With that weight off, you’re free to start. Judy walks you through your materials…and then it’s go time! As Judy quickly teaches you new techniques, you'll start working on a series of four paintings, building depth and rich texture through expert layering to lay the foundations of your artwork.Pause midday for a delicious lunch and take the time to relax, stretch your legs, talk through your ideas, or grab a quiet moment to regroup.The afternoon is where your art gets really personal. With Judy’s guidance you’ll dive deep into your authentic visual language, finding meaningful shapes and motifs to tell your story. Judy will demonstrate how these threads can weave your signature style throughout your work, and you’ll experiment with your own template shapes using a variety of wet and dry media.In the evening, enjoy an unforgettable three-course dinner, glass of local wine in hand, surrounded by new friends who just went on the same creative roller-coaster.

### Day 3: Art trip to Albi
Enjoy a wholesome breakfast with fresh coffee and dive into a lively conversation with Judy about the creative adventure ahead. Bring your sketchbook and camera and get ready to head out toward the medieval town of Albi, where history and art will collide in the best possible way. You will take a scenic one-hour drive through rolling French countryside before arriving in a city bursting with red brick towers, tangled alleys, and sweeping river views that will love to be painted.The moment you arrive, Albi's spirit will captivate you. Its soaring Basilica of Saint Cecilia will rise dramatically above the skyline, carved with jaw-dropping Gothic detail. The Pont Vieux bridge will offer a perfect spot to stop and sketch, with the Tarn River stretching calmly below. Stroll through streets lined with centuries-old homes, each one dripping with flower-filled balconies and bold, paintable storefronts.After taking it all in, you will sit down for a peaceful riverside lunch and recharge while the town’s charm keeps working its way into your imagination. Then you will step inside the Palais de la Berbie, a former fortress now filled with Toulouse Lautrec’s expressive, daring work. His fierce color choices and raw energy will offer plenty of inspiration as you move into the afternoon. Later, you will settle into the palace gardens, where you will take reference photos, sketch, and capture whatever moments speak loudest.As the sun starts to fade and the colors shift once more, you will return to the venue for a beautifully prepared three-course dinner and a glass of wine.

### Day 4: Art trip to French jardins
Start your day with a satisfying breakfast, then grab your sketchbook and in just thirty minutes, you will arrive at a breathtaking French botanical garden bursting with life and color.Step into a wonderland of vibrant blooms, lush greenery, and sparkling water features! You will wander through paths lined with riotous color, stop to sketch reflections dancing in lotus ponds, and zoom in on the delicate structures of tropical plants. As you take reference photos and sketch on the spot, you will sharpen your eye for composition, shapes and line, and the incredible range of colors nature throws at you.After a refreshing and delicious lunch at the venue, you will return for an afternoon of focused painting. Let the impressions of the morning spill onto your page. Judy will demonstrate her process for creating harmony with color and show how she finds the “right” color for the moment. You will get to play, mix, and explore the power of bold contrast and gentle nuance bringing your paintings to life as you integrate shapes and line. Judy will guide you to choose your Color Heroes and help you unlock the palette that reflects your unique style!Later in the day, you will have time to unwind. As evening arrives, you will gather for a well-earned, joy-filled dinner with a glass of wine in hand.

### Day 5: Art classes at the venue
After a hearty breakfast and a strong cup of coffee, gather with the group and dive into a lively check-in to share your progress and fuel your creative fire for the day ahead.Settle into the studio and keep the momentum going as you continue developing your paintings, Judy will kick things off with a round of Blind Contour Drawings that will sharpen your observation skills and loosen up your drawing hand in the best way possible. Learn to work with wet and dry media to build that story into your painting, showing how drawing can add energy, emotion, and narrative into an abstract surface. Then, using reference photos and sparks of inspiration from the local French landscape, you’ll begin drawing your Retreat Story directly into your work, making each piece more personal, more layered, and more you!Following a relaxed and satisfying lunch, you will dive even deeper into the world of abstraction. Judy will guide you through her process of uncovering the essence of a painting, helping you zero in on what truly excites you about your work. Learn how to step back, ask powerful questions, and make your next moves with confidence and clarity.As the afternoon begins to fade, you will have time to slow down and recharge in whatever way feels right. Come evening, everyone will gather once more for a beautifully prepared dinner, complete with a glass of French wine and the joy of a day packed with breakthroughs, laughter, and pure creative magic.

### Day 6: Art at the venue & wine tasting
Begin your day with a hearty breakfast and a coffee check-in with Judy to set the vibe for a full-on creative deep dive.The morning will be all about building your paintings layer by layer, pushing your work further using acrylics, collage, and mixed media. Let the bold textures and earthy colors of the French landscape spark new ideas as you lean into intuition, play, and freedom. Start fresh pieces if you're ready, or take your current ones to the next level. With everything you’ve learned about design and color, you’ll surprise yourself with where your paintings will go. Get ready for big discoveries and unexpected breakthroughs!After a satisfying lunch back at the venue, you’ll head out for a relaxed afternoon at a nearby château winery. Step into the world of French winemaking, where tradition, storytelling, and flavor collide. Walk through sunlit vineyards, learn how the grapes transform from vine to bottle, and hear what really goes into each vintage. Then comes the tasting; raise your glass and sample a variety of locally made wines.Return to the venue in the late afternoon with time to recharge. As evening settles in, gather once more for a thoughtfully prepared three-course dinner and a well-earned glass of wine.

### Day 7: Art classes at the venue
Start your final full day with a relaxed breakfast and a cup of coffee or tea while you chat with the group about the creative celebration ahead.Then join Judy for your last art session, where you will add those final, satisfying touches to your work with her guidance. Learn how to present your paintings for viewing and get the chance to ask any final questions you’ve been saving. Judy will offer one-on-one feedback and help you bring everything together with clarity and confidence.After a satisfying lunch, it’s time to share your work in a joyful mini-exhibition! Walk around, soak in the incredible progress of the group, and celebrate how far you’ve come. This informal show will give everyone a chance to reflect, offer kind feedback, and cheer each other on. Judy will speak to each artist about their series and offer personal next steps to take home. There will be a toast, of course, because this deserves celebration!As the retreat nears its close, you will gather one last time for a beautifully prepared farewell dinner.

### Day 8: Departure
After enjoying a satisfying breakfast with Judy and the art group, it's time to bid farewell and exchange any last contact details. Prepare for your transfer to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, scheduled for 10:00 AM, with an estimated arrival time of 11:00 AM.

## Instructors

- **Judy Woods** - Abstract artist, painting coach

## Accommodation

### Historic French Estate

### Shared ensuite attic room (female only)

### Shared standard ensuite room (female only)

### Shared superior ensuite room

### Shared bathroom - single room (female only)

### Single room - adjacent bathroom

### Single ensuite room

## Book This Retreat

Visit [https://uptrek.com/retreat/telling-your-story-through-abstract-art-retreat-artist-judy-woods-france](https://uptrek.com/retreat/telling-your-story-through-abstract-art-retreat-artist-judy-woods-france) to make a reservation.

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