For two weeks, from August 26 to September 8, I had the wonderful opportunity to step away from my usual routines and immerse myself in creativity at the Château d'Orquevaux in France. There were 27 of us—writers, musicians, and visual artists—who came from the United States, South Africa, Australia, and Brazil. We arrived as strangers: with our own questions, and hopes for the residency. Before long, we became a lovely little community. It was so fun! Sharing meals, dips in the pond, conversations, walks, ideas.
The château and the surrounding countryside provided the perfect setting for this kind of creative retreat. The nearby village of Orquevaux was delightful, with quiet streets that seemed to invite a stroll at any time of day. In the morning, a group of us would head out for hikes through the forests and meadows surrounding the château. There was something grounding about beginning the day surrounded by trees, fields, birds, and cows.
For me, the residency was a wonderful opportunity to spend concentrated time with my Healing Garden series. The quiet of the countryside seemed to make space for new process and ideas. Painting became a natural part of the rhythm of the days. One of my Healing Garden paintings found a new home with a fellow artist: how special! If you want to see more of the work I created during the residency, click HERE and scroll through the updates to several blogs about this time and my paintings. Also, scroll below to the photos in this update: click on them to see the full size.
In just two weeks, friendships and connections can become surprisingly meaningful. We shared a very particular experience—living and creating together in a beautiful place. We saw each other's work develop, heard stories from different parts of the world, encouraged one another, and became part of each other's creative journeys.
Leaving the château was bittersweet. I was sad to say goodbye to the people, the village, the walks, the quiet mornings, and the wonderful creative energy that filled those two weeks. There are conversations about future visits and ways our paths might cross again. Merci, Château d'Orquevaux.
The château and the surrounding countryside provided the perfect setting for this kind of creative retreat. The nearby village of Orquevaux was delightful, with quiet streets that seemed to invite a stroll at any time of day. In the morning, a group of us would head out for hikes through the forests and meadows surrounding the château. There was something grounding about beginning the day surrounded by trees, fields, birds, and cows.
For me, the residency was a wonderful opportunity to spend concentrated time with my Healing Garden series. The quiet of the countryside seemed to make space for new process and ideas. Painting became a natural part of the rhythm of the days. One of my Healing Garden paintings found a new home with a fellow artist: how special! If you want to see more of the work I created during the residency, click HERE and scroll through the updates to several blogs about this time and my paintings. Also, scroll below to the photos in this update: click on them to see the full size.
In just two weeks, friendships and connections can become surprisingly meaningful. We shared a very particular experience—living and creating together in a beautiful place. We saw each other's work develop, heard stories from different parts of the world, encouraged one another, and became part of each other's creative journeys.
Leaving the château was bittersweet. I was sad to say goodbye to the people, the village, the walks, the quiet mornings, and the wonderful creative energy that filled those two weeks. There are conversations about future visits and ways our paths might cross again. Merci, Château d'Orquevaux.
