Celebration of Color: Mosaic Workshop and Creative Retreat in Provence, Summer 2023
Art and Inspiration in the South of France with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze
Session 1: June 25 - July 1, 2023
8 nights: Arrival day is June 24, departure day is July 2, 2023
Email us to get an early notification when registration opens.
Registration is almost open for our Mosaic Workshop and Creative Retreat in the South of France.
We’re so happy to be able celebrating our 10th year offering this amazing, creative experience.
We’ve welcomed participants from all over the world, with all experience levels. We’ve had participants in their teens and in their 80s…who have never traveled before and who have traveled the world. Always a wonderful mix of amazing humans. We hope you can join us next summer!
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Ready immerse yourself in a week-long creative retreat that will leave you inspired for the rest of the year?
Join mosaic artists Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladzé at Valérie's Esprit Mosaïque Studio near Avignon, France to explore and celebrate your creative spirit through mosaic art.
This carefully curated experience will combine hands-on studio time, insider sightseeing, experiential learning, amazing food and wine, visits to local markets, an invitation to an intimate garden family bbq and wine tasting, and a walk through the countryside when the lavender is in bloom. And more! And get this..the week ends with a picnic in the lavender fields. For reals.
Participants will enjoy time to create together in an inspiring studio environment with Valerie and Laurel, a dynamic teaching team with the shared love of color and the philosophy that creative expression is accessible to all.
Esprit Mosaïque Studio is full of inspiration and vitality, offering a welcoming place to learn, create and spend time in community with other creative seekers.
Students will create a personal mixed-media mosaic project during the week, guided by Valerie and Laurel, with personalized instruction. The focus of the workshop is on creative exploration, so we’ll keep it light and have lots of options for students. Those who want more scaffolding for a project can explore making a radial, mandala-inspired form. Those who would like less structure will have the option of working on a project of their choice that feels inspiring in the moment. No need to bring a design idea. There is enough inspiration in the studio to carry you through without needed preparation.
There will be a variety of fun surfaces to create on in various shapes and sizes that are sure to inspire.. All surfaces are two-dimensional and will easily fit in your carry on to take home (wrapping materials provided!) The studio is stocked full of beautiful, unique materials from around the world for students to use in their mosaics.
There is no mosaic or art experience required to take this workshop! Come as you are!
Participants have come from all over the world to participate in this unique workshop and creative retreat and have found peace, joy and a sense of creative community.
Laurel and Valérie will share their over 40 years of combined experience teaching mosaics to people of all ages and experience levels. They have taught and created artwork with communities around the globe, and offered specialized workshops and classes focusing on mosaic technique.
Instruction will include tips and techniques for:
Finding a unique creative voice that’s inspiring in the moment
Choosing colors and materials with confidence
Developing a design direction
Using mosaic tools properly (including lesser-known European tools)
Combining different materials and texture effectively
Setting mosaic with glass, mirror, ceramic and mixed media
Getting specialized cuts for mirror and glass for exciting visual effects
Grouting with various grades and shades of grout (France has great grout colors!)
Workshop details:
We’ll spend most days in the studio, except for the middle day of the retreat, when we will go on a creative adventure, straight into the beauty of Provence.
Studio sessions are scheduled in the mornings and afternoons, with an optional evening session. We’ll have lunches together during the week at a great local restaurant walking distance from the studio.
Workshop participants stay at Hotel de l’Atelier, a quaint, well-appointed hotel in Villeneuve les Avignon, a short ride from the studio (transportation to and from studio provided). Students have been well taken care of by Hotel de l’Atelier’s amazing staff.
Students have most evenings on their own to dine and explore the many restaurants in all price ranges within walking distance in Villeneuve or in Avignon, a short taxi ride away.
A very special garden bbq is hosted during the week by Valerie and her family. This special evening includes a wine tasting of regional and local wines, led by Valerie’s husband, Gilles Le Fur, a consultant in the world of French wine. Past participants have loved the educational information about wine production and tasting lessons offered in Gilles’ easy and humorous style. This special evening includes an enormous spread of savory Provencal treats, grilled specialties, a variety of French cheeses. and a special dessert course. This evening is a highlight of the week for many - an evening in Provence not to be forgotten.
Creative adventure!
On our tour day mid-week, we’ll head to a famous outdoor market in the village of St. Remy de Provence, where local delicacies, handicrafts, ceramics and Provincial fashion abound. Participants may also choose to visit the Van Gogh Museum in St. Rémy, showcasing work Van Gogh painted of the views around this village. We’ll have lunch at a chic Provincial restaurant among the olive trees. Later in the afternoon, we’ll visit the unforgettable Carrieres des Lumieres, a unique, immersive art exhibit in a former quarry with a stop in the medieval village Les Baux de Provence, which has an incredible view…and violet gelato!
On the final day, our mosaic workshop and creative retreat will end with a promenade around rural lavender fields and a picnic right there in the lavender fields! We have our favorite spot and would love to share it with you! We pack an epic lunch picnic and stop in the Village of Sault, where small shops offer all things lavender.
The beauty of the lavender in bloom is indescribable. This is a wonderful day, whatever the weather. This day has left an indelible mark in the memory of past retreat participants. Former participants have said the entire week-long experience was “life changing”, a “once-in a-lifetime experience”, and “the highlight of their year”. Friendships are made, adventure abounds, and color and warmth are infused into every part of the experience.
Note: Workshop and tour activities may need to be shifted around for logistical reasons or to accommodate unexpected weather changes.
Enrollment information:
Note: Workshop and activities will be in English with French translation as needed.
Costs for 2023 Retreat:
3500 Euro for single occupancy room + workshop and tour package
3200 Euro for double occupancy room + workshop and tour package
Your investment includes:
Mosaic workshop instruction
Accommodations for 8 nights
Breakfast and lunch
Evening garden bbq and wine tasting on Sunday
Transportation to and from workshop from hotel each day of workshop
All entry fees and touristic visits to markets and exhibits
Cost does not include flight, taxi to/ from train station to hotel, dinners (except bbq) or personal expenses.
A 50% payment is due at time of registration to hold your spot. Final installments are due by April 15, 2023. See cancellation policy below.
There are 12 spaces available and workshop to fills quickly so register early!
Note: You must have proof of covid vaccination to participate in the workshop retreat (and to enter France.)
How to register:
1. Email Laurel to request a registration form.
2. Print, fill out and scan or photograph your registration form and return to us via email.
3. Send your first payment in euros to Esprit Mosaique through Pay Pal to Valerie Nicoladze’s studio email address: espritmosaique@free.fr
4. Do a happy dance!
When steps 1-2 are completed above, you will receive a confirmation of registration from Valerie via email. You will receive a reminder email few days before the second payment is due.
Note: We strongly prefer Pay Pal for payment. Wire transfers are possible but will incur an additional $150 to cover the bank fees for each payment and. In the event of cancellation by registrant, registrant will incur an additional $150 in fees for return of deposit within cancellation window. (Bank fees in France are expensive!) In the even of cancellation of workshop due to travel ban, registrant and workshop hosts will share wire transfer fees for return of funds.
Note: Additional nights at hotel on either end might be possible and should be coordinated/ booked directly with the hotel.
Cancellation policy:
Cancellations until May 1st are refundable, minus $200 admin fee. (Plus any wire transfer fees should registrant not pay using Pay Pal.)
Cancellations after May 1st, 2023 are non-refundable, unless space is filled. In that case there will be a refund minus $200 admin fee. (Plus any wire transfer fees should registrant not pay using Pay Pal.)
If the workshop is cancelled by hosts for any reason registrants will receive a full refund.
If the workshop is cancelled due to a travel ban due to covid situation, registrants will receive a full refund. Registrants will not be reimbursed for any travel related costs associated with cancellation of workshop for any reason by any party.
If registrant can not attend workshop due to sickness, family emergency, or other unforeseen circumstances workshop fees are non-refundable as per cancellation policy.
Note: We strongly suggest travel insurance. Here are a few options to explore (we are not affiliated nor are we specifically endorsing these companies. www.travelinsured.com www.insuremytrip.com
Questions?
Find A Celebration of Color Workshop and Tour on Facebook & Instagram.
Feedback from previous participants
"The workshop exceeded my expectations. It was a magical "out of this world” experience."
— Jihan Mezaina, Dubai, UAE
"This was a seriously fabulous trip in every aspect, start to finish.I was so impressed with the planning and execution of details, thrilled with the studio, and deeply blessed to spend a week with so many beautiful women and one rocking’ guy. Bring it on in 2019!" — Pam Pardue Goode, Charlotte, NC
"Valerie's studio, project and supplies were the stuff of dreams! The accommodations were fantastic and the village we stayed in was like an American fantasy of what Provence could be...the excursions were all fantastic and the opportunity to have a meal at a French home as well as a picnic...I can't even express what precious memories those will remain for me! I mean really, the entire trip was great!” — Karen R, Toledo, OH
"I loved every second…" — Mary W, Seattle, WA
"The special people that I met will forever be in my heart and memories." —Susan R, Albany, NY
"Laurel and Valerie are an amazing teaching team! They each have fantastic personalities and teaching styles. Great class for first timers or more advanced mosaicists. I loved the combination of creative time and exploring Provence time. Every part of this trip was amazing!” — Jennifer N, Carlsbad, CA
“This trip was so much more than only a mosaic workshop. It was a wonderful experience in France that I will remember fondly! I can’t think of how any other mosaic workshop could even come close to this. I love the piece I created and it’s already on my bedroom wall. Thank you with all my heart!”
— Yolanda G, Southern California
