Photo of the view over the valley outside the Château that I painted en plein air.
Was it a Dream?
I got a text from Judith the other day, a writer from Delaware I met during my Château d’Orquevaux artist residency. She ended with: “Sometimes the Chateau seems like a dream.”
“Sometimes the Château seems like a dream.”
Judith Crandall
My experience—and that of the others in my cohort of 25—all seem to feel the same way. We’ve continued to message each other on Instagram, through texts, and in WhatsApp. I’ve heard that sentiment several times, and I’ve thought it myself.
A Magical, Unexpected Gift
Our time at the Château d’Orquevaux Artist Residency was such a life-changing experience that it feels dreamlike and magical—outside the realm of the ordinary. I didn’t expect that.
I expected time to work on my art in a peaceful environment for two weeks.
- Beautiful environment? Check. The château and surrounding area were serene and breathtaking.
- Lots of time to paint? Check. I had a private studio in a former estate stable building to paint to my heart’s content.
But I got something I never anticipated.
I spent two weeks living in close quarters, sharing meals and vulnerable moments, presenting our work, laughing, dancing, swimming, walking—even performing a ritual under the Strawberry Moon—with an amazing group of creators.
Over and over, I noticed how this group came together with love, joy, kindness, openness, and mutual respect from the very beginning. It was a reprieve from a world that can often feel harsh and unyielding.
It feels to me that we formed a close bond that will outlive that finite time and carry forward with the feeling of being part of a sorority or fraternity.
“We formed a bond that I believe will outlast that brief time—something that feels like a sorority or fraternity of artists.”
I am forever grateful for that.
Stepping Outside the Lines
I also stepped out of my comfort zone—out of my usual practice of beginning paintings with careful drawings and tight realism in the controlled environment of a studio.
On our first full day, the sun rose over the far hill in a blaze of glowing light. The breathtaking scene inspired me to do something I’d long wanted to try but never had: paint en plein air.
Painting a landscape outdoors presents many challenges. You contend with the elements—buzzing insects tickling and stinging, shifting light, wind, heat, cold. It can send my mind into turmoil.
But, it’s also one of the most energizing and life-affirming experiences an artist can have.
A Memory Made Permanent
In the end, I’m pleased with the outcome of that session. I see things I’d like to improve, but the painting holds so many memories. For that reason, it’s a treasure to me.
That painting was selected to become part of the permanent collection in the Galerie Diderot in the village of Orquevaux.
It will live on in the enchanted world of the Château d’Orquevaux—and in my heart, brimming with memories of that idyllic experience.