Chateau Orquevaux
Kelsey Howard and I arrived at Chateau Orquevaux in mid-May, alongside 21 artists and writers, excited to spend the next two weeks as artists-in-residence in the picturesque French countryside.
The residency is located in Orquevaux, a small community that’s home to approximately 60 people, three hours outside of Paris.
It’s quant, quiet and oh so peaceful. You stroll by sheep grazing, streams lined with flowers, and cow fields down dirt roads.
The original chateau (which was later demolished) was built in the 1700s, home to Denis Diderot, a philosopher. The existing chateau was completed in the 1890s, and is now home to the Chateau Orquevaux International Artists and Writers Residency.
Kelsey and I stayed in the village at The Vine House. A sweet little home just a short walk from the chateau and our studios in the stables.
There was no shortage of inspiration as the chateau and the grounds are stunning! I loved looking out over the pond to the rolling hills as I sipped my cappuccino in the mornings.
One afternoon when I finished up painting for the day, I walked along the pond and found a hammock nestled in a pocket of trees. The bees buzzed among the wildflowers, as I looked up into a window of sky between the leaves. These little moments, amongst the flurry of creativity, and the deep conversations with fast friends are what makes this place so special.
We picked lots of wildflower bouquets, ate the most delicious food (thanks to the talented Chef Marie), visited each other’s studios, wandered through the countryside, chatted over wine in the evenings, and of course did a lot of painting!
I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to paint alongside other creative souls at such a dreamy residency. It is truly a dream come true!
I learned so much from this talented group of artists and writers, especially my amazing studio neighbor, Robyn Markey.
Seeing Robyn evolve in her own work (which is absolutely stunning) was an inspiration. Especially after I learned more about the story behind her art. Robyn encouraged me as I pushed the boundaries on my own artistic practice, and I can’t thank her enough!
To the incredible team at Chateau Orquevaux, thank you for all of the hard work you put in to make this residency a wonderful experience!
If you are an upcoming resident or are considering applying, this residency is setup so you can make of it what you want! Chateau Orquevaux provides a beautiful, peaceful environment, free from distraction, where you can grow in your creativity!
You can:
a. Create.
b. Explore.
c. Rest and recharge.
d. Or a combo of all of the above.
The choice is entirely up to you! My best advice is to be open to inspiration and follow that thread wherever it leads you!
