Participants accompanied by a guest who will not attend the workshop but will enjoy the retreat at the hotel are eligible for a discounted Stay rate.
- Non-Participant Guest
€850.00
INCLUDE:
- Trasport to the Station Modane
- 6 Nights at the Hotel
- Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Price From €850,00 to €1.500,00
ARTIST ROOM
- Artist WORKSHOP Participant
€1,500.00
INCLUDE:
- Trasport to the Station Modane
- 5 Days Landscape Painting Workshop WIth Mentors
- 6 Nights at the Hotel
- Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
OPTIONS
VIIVIEN MONTAZ
Host and manager at Les Mottets
Marketing and communications
Visual identity and social media
Painting instructor
Painting instructor
ELLEN VON WUNSTER
VALENTINA MORANDI
GIOTTO RIVA
DIANA PRISCILA SOLIS
STAFF
[APPLY NOW]
CONTACT
[APPLY NOW]
CONTACT
© 2025 / All Rigths reserved
© 2025 / All Rigths reserved
With the support of:
With the support of:
artretreat.info@gmail.com
artretreat.info@gmail.com
@artretreat
@artretreat
STAFF
ACCOMODATION
LANDSCAPE
PAINTING SPOT
LANDSCAPE
PAINTING SPOT
HOTEL LES MOTTETS ★★★
HOTEL LES MOTTETS ★★★
MODANE TRAIN STATION
MODANE
TRAIN STATION
LANDSCAPE PAINTING SPOT
WINE TASTING & GUIDED TOUR
Participants will stay at Hotel Les Mottets, a cozy alpine cottage nestled at the foot of the mountains in the village of Aussois, in the heart of the French Alps. Just two hours from Milan by train, and only a few kilometers from the Modane station, the hotel is both secluded and accessible.
Les Mottets is a rustic, family-run hotel with all the essentials for a relaxing stay — including a small spa. The rooms are spacious, warm, and full of natural light, offering views of the surrounding peaks and forests.
Aussois itself is a quiet alpine hamlet where life moves slowly. It’s the starting point of many scenic hiking trails and mountain paths, ideal for sketching, walking, or simply taking in the fresh air. In the village, you’ll also find local wine tastings, small artisan shops, and bakeries where you can sample traditional French products.
Throughout the retreat, you’ll enjoy daily breakfast, packed lunches for plein air sessions, and home-cooked dinners served at the hotel. It’s a place designed for rest, creativity, and connection with nature — the perfect base for a week of painting in the Alps.
Diana Priscila Solis
combines classical training with a contemporary vision. A graduate of the Florence Academy of Art and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, she has created works for both private and commercial clients, including Disney Music Group and Hollywood Records. Recognized by the Stobart Foundation and the Arte Laguna Prize, her work has been presented at Pitti Uomo, the Arsenale in Venice, and Milan Design Week. In parallel to her artistic practice, she teaches at leading art institutions worldwide.
Giotto Riva
blends classical trainingwith a contemporary approach to figurative art. A graduate of the Barcelona Academy of
Art, Riva’s work, influenced by late 19th-century realism, French post impressionism, and Italian Scapigliatura, spans themes from nudes exploring the body and identity to contemporary depictions of decadence. His art has been exhibited at prestigious venues, including the Museo della Permanente, ADI Museum of Design, Salone del Mobile, and Gallerie di Milano, as well as in Naples, Rome, and London. Giotto currently teaches classical drawing and painting at the Milan Painting Academy, where he shares his expertise with aspiring artists worldwide.
WITH WHOM
ACCOMODATION
Participants will stay at Hotel Les Mottets, a cozy alpine cottage nestled at the foot of the mountains in the village of Aussois, in the heart of the French Alps. Just two hours from Milan by train, and only a few kilometers from the Modane station, the hotel is both secluded and accessible.
Les Mottets is a rustic, family-run hotel with all the essentials for a relaxing stay — including a small spa. The rooms are spacious, warm, and full of natural light, offering views of the surrounding peaks and forests.
Aussois itself is a quiet alpine hamlet where life moves slowly. It’s the starting point of many scenic hiking trails and mountain paths, ideal for sketching, walking, or simply taking in the fresh air. In the village, you’ll also find local wine tastings, small artisan shops, and bakeries where you can sample traditional French products.
Throughout the retreat, you’ll enjoy daily breakfast, packed lunches for plein air sessions, and home-cooked dinners served at the hotel. It’s a place designed for rest, creativity, and connection with nature — the perfect base for a week of painting in the Alps.
Participants will stay at Hotel Les Mottets, a cozy alpine cottage nestled at the foot of the mountains in the village of Aussois, in the heart of the French Alps. Just two hours from Milan by train, and only a few kilometers from the Modane station, the hotel is both secluded and accessible.
Les Mottets is a rustic, family-run hotel with all the essentials for a relaxing stay — including a small spa. The rooms are spacious, warm, and full of natural light, offering views of the surrounding peaks and forests.
Aussois itself is a quiet alpine hamlet where life moves slowly. It’s the starting point of many scenic hiking trails and mountain paths, ideal for sketching, walking, or simply taking in the fresh air. In the village, you’ll also find local wine tastings, small artisan shops, and bakeries where you can sample traditional French products.
Throughout the retreat, you’ll enjoy daily breakfast, packed lunches for plein air sessions, and home-cooked dinners served at the hotel. It’s a place designed for rest, creativity, and connection with nature — the perfect base for a week of painting in the Alps.
LANDSCAPE
PAINTING SPOT
LANDSCAPE
PAINTING SPOT
HOTEL LES MOTTETS ★★★
HOTEL LES MOTTETS ★★★
HOTEL LES MOTTETS ★★★
MODANE TRAIN STATION
MODANE TRAIN STATION
MODANE
TRAIN STATION
MODANE
TRAIN STATION
LANDSCAPE PAINTING SPOT
LANDSCAPE PAINTING SPOT
WINE TASTING & GUIDED TOUR
WINE TASTING & GUIDED TOUR
OVERVIEW
ARRIVAL:
Sunday August 31st, 2025,
Pick up from Modane.
Welcome Dinner in the Evening
PAINTING DAYS:
From Monday September 1st, 2025
to Friday September 5th, 2025
MEALS:
Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
GUIDED TOUR OF THE AREA & CULTURAL INSIGHTS
WHAT WE PROVIDE:
we provide all essential studio materials (rags, studio easles, solvents, etc) you'll need to bring your personal painting supplies
CHECKOUT/DEPARTURE:
Morning of Saturday, September 6th.
Giotto Riva
blends classical trainingwith a contemporary approach to figurative art. A graduate of the Barcelona Academy of
Art, Riva’s work, influenced by late 19th-century realism, French post impressionism, and Italian Scapigliatura, spans themes from nudes exploring the body and identity to contemporary depictions of decadence. His art has been exhibited at prestigious venues, including the Museo della Permanente, ADI Museum of Design, Salone del Mobile, and Gallerie di Milano, as well as in Naples, Rome, and London. Giotto currently teaches classical drawing and painting at the Milan Painting Academy, where he shares his expertise with aspiring artists worldwide.
Diana Priscila Solis
combines classical training with a contemporary vision. A graduate of the Florence Academy of Art and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, she has created works for both private and commercial clients, including Disney Music Group and Hollywood Records. Recognized by the Stobart Foundation and the Arte Laguna Prize, her work has been presented at Pitti Uomo, the Arsenale in Venice, and Milan Design Week. In parallel to her artistic practice, she teaches at leading art institutions worldwide.
WITH WHOM
MORE INFO
MORE INFO
47 : 04 : 05
DAYS
HOURS
MINUTES
This landscape painting course is rooted in the tradition of impressionist plein air practice, offering a hands-on, immersive experience in direct observation.
Open to all skill levels, the course guides each participant through the essential stages of oil landscape painting, helping them refine their technique and cultivate a personal visual language.
The journey begins with a focus on materials: preparing the canvas, understanding grounds, and selecting the right tools. From there, the course unfolds in a progressive structure:
Initial sketching and compositional planning
Study of value relationships and tonal structure
Introduction to color theory and its practical application
Underpainting with a neutral base
Capturing the fleeting impression of light without overworking detail
Over the course of several sessions, and under the guidance of experienced painters, students will not only strengthen their technical foundation but also gain the confidence to approach landscape painting with clarity and intention.
Whether you're looking to deepen your practice or simply reconnect with the joy of painting outdoors, this course offers the space, structure, and support to grow.
This landscape painting course is rooted in the tradition of impressionist plein air practice, offering a hands-on, immersive experience in direct observation.
Open to all skill levels, the course guides each participant through the essential stages of oil landscape painting, helping them refine their technique and cultivate a personal visual language.
The journey begins with a focus on materials: preparing the canvas, understanding grounds, and selecting the right tools. From there, the course unfolds in a progressive structure:
Initial sketching and compositional planning
Study of value relationships and tonal structure
Introduction to color theory and its practical application
Underpainting with a neutral base
Capturing the fleeting impression of light without overworking detail
Over the course of several sessions, and under the guidance of experienced painters, students will not only strengthen their technical foundation but also gain the confidence to approach landscape painting with clarity and intention.
Whether you're looking to deepen your practice or simply reconnect with the joy of painting outdoors, this course offers the space, structure, and support to grow.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
A TYPICAL INTENSIVE WORKSHOP DAY CAN LOOK LIKE:
8.00 - 9.30 AM
Breakfast
9.30 - 12.30 AM
Class
1.00 - 02.00 PM
Lunch Break
2.30 - 05.30 PM
Class Resumes
5.30 PM
Transfer to Hotel
8.00 PM
Dinner at Hotel
MONDAY
9.30 AM - 12.30 AM
Presentation of the course
01 September
Demo & Intro
2.30 - 5.30 PM
Landscape Painting Class
TUESDAY
9.30 AM - 1.00 PM
Landscape Painting Class
02 September
Mountain
2.30 - 5.30 PM
Landscape Painting Class
Mountain
WEDNESDAY
9.30 AM - 1.00 PM
Figure, en Plein Air
03 September
With Model
2.30 - 5.30 PM
Figure, en Plein Air
THURSDAY
9.30 AM - 1.00 PM
Landscape Painting Class
04 September
Village
2.30 - 5.30 PM
Landscape Painting Class
Village
FRIDAY
9.30 AM - 1.00 PM
Landscape Painting Class
05 September
Mountain
2.30 - 5.30 PM
Visit
With Model
Required
painting
supplies
This landscape painting course is rooted in the tradition of impressionist plein air practice, offering a hands-on, immersive experience in direct observation.
Open to all skill levels, the course guides each participant through the essential stages of oil landscape painting, helping them refine their technique and cultivate a personal visual language.
The journey begins with a focus on materials: preparing the canvas, understanding grounds, and selecting the right tools. From there, the course unfolds in a progressive structure:
Initial sketching and compositional planning
Study of value relationships and tonal structure
Introduction to color theory and its practical application
Underpainting with a neutral base
Capturing the fleeting impression of light without overworking detail
Over the course of several sessions, and under the guidance of experienced painters, students will not only strengthen their technical foundation but also gain the confidence to approach landscape painting with clarity and intention.
Whether you're looking to deepen your practice or simply reconnect with the joy of painting outdoors, this course offers the space, structure, and support to grow.
SCHEDULE
A TYPICAL INTENSIVE WORKSHOP DAY CAN LOOK LIKE:
8.00 - 9.30 AM
Breakfast
9.30 - 12.30 AM
Class
1.00 - 02.00 PM
Lunch Break
2.30 - 05.30 PM
Class Resumes
5.30 PM
Transfer to Hotel
8.00 PM
Dinner at Hotel
MONDAY
9.30 AM - 12.30 AM
Presentation of the course
Demo & Intro
2.30 - 5.30 PM
Landscape Painting Class
TUESDAY
9.30 AM - 1.00 PM
Landscape Painting Class
02 September
Mountain
2.30 - 5.30 PM
Landscape Painting Class
Mountain
WEDNESDAY
9.30 AM - 1.00 PM
Figure, en Plein Air
03 September
With Model
2.30 - 5.30 PM
Figure, en Plein Air
THURSDAY
9.30 AM - 1.00 PM
Landscape Painting Class
04 September
Village
2.30 - 5.30 PM
Landscape Painting Class
Village
FRIDAY
9.30 AM - 1.00 PM
Landscape Painting Class
05 September
Mountain
2.30 - 5.30 PM
Visit
With Model
Required
painting
supplies
01 September
OVERVIEW
ARRIVAL:
Sunday August 31st, 2025,
Pick up from Modane.
Welcome Dinner in the Evening
PAINTING DAYS:
From Monday September 1st, 2025
to Friday September 5th, 2025
MEALS:
Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
GUIDED TOUR OF THE AREA & CULTURAL INSIGHTS
WHAT WE PROVIDE:
we provide all essential studio materials (rags, studio easles, solvents, etc) you'll need to bring your personal painting supplies
CHECKOUT/DEPARTURE:
Morning of Saturday, September 6th.
INFORMATIONS
Join us for an immersive art retreat in the heart of the French Alps, where breathtaking natural beauty becomes both your subject and your inspiration.
Over the course of six days, participants will explore the foundations of observational painting and the expressive possibilities of plein air oil painting.
Each day focuses on painting directly from life: mountains, forests, ancient castles, quiet fountains, and alpine skies. helping you develop a deeper understanding of landscape painting in a hands-on, supportive way.
Guided by artists and teachers Giotto Riva and Diana Priscila Solis, both based in Milan, the workshop offers a clear, step-by-step approach to creating a painting: from understanding materials, preparing sketches, and blocking in forms, to finishing with confident detail and light.
The group will stay at Hotel Les Mottets, a charming 70s-era hotel in the mountain village of Aussois.
In addition to outdoor sessions, a dedicated indoor studio space will be available for continued practice and exploration of technique and craft.
WHERE:
Aussois,French Alps
WHEN:
31 August - 6 September 2025
WHO:
Giotto Riva, Diana Priscila Solis
FEE:
from 1500€
OVERVIEW
ARRIVAL:
Sunday August 31st, 2025,
Pick up from Modane.
Welcome Dinner in the Evening
PAINTING DAYS:
From Monday September 1st, 2025
to Friday September 5th, 2025
MEALS:
Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
GUIDED TOUR OF THE AREA & CULTURAL INSIGHTS
WHAT WE PROVIDE:
we provide all essential studio materials (rags, studio easles, solvents, etc) you'll need to bring your personal painting supplies
CHECKOUT/DEPARTURE:
Morning of Saturday, September 6th.
06 SEPTEMBER
31 AUGUST
INFORMATIONS
WHERE:
Aussois,French Alps
WHERE:
Aussois,French Alps
WHEN:
31 August - 6 September 2025
WHEN:
31 August - 6 September 2025
WHO:
Giotto Riva, Diana Priscila Solis
WHO:
Giotto Riva, Diana Priscila Solis
FEE:
from 1500€
FEE:
from 1500€
Join us for an immersive art retreat in the heart of the French Alps, where breathtaking natural beauty becomes both your subject and your inspiration. Over the course of six days, participants will explore the foundations of observational painting and the expressive possibilities of plein air oil painting.
Each day focuses on painting directly from life—majestic mountains, lush forests, ancient castles, quiet fountains, and alpine skies—helping you develop a deeper understanding of landscape painting in a hands-on, supportive way.
Guided by artists and teachers Giotto Riva and Diana Priscila Solis, both based in Milan, the workshop offers a clear, step-by-step approach to creating a painting: from understanding materials, preparing sketches, and blocking in forms, to finishing with confident detail and light.
The group will stay at Hotel Les Mottets, a charming 70s-era hotel in the mountain village of Aussois. In addition to outdoor sessions, a dedicated indoor studio space will be available for continued practice and exploration of technique and craft.
Join us for an immersive art retreat in the heart of the French Alps, where breathtaking natural beauty becomes both your subject and your inspiration. Over the course of six days, participants will explore the foundations of observational painting and the expressive possibilities of plein air oil painting.
Each day focuses on painting directly from life—majestic mountains, lush forests, ancient castles, quiet fountains, and alpine skies—helping you develop a deeper understanding of landscape painting in a hands-on, supportive way.
Guided by artists and teachers Giotto Riva and Diana Priscila Solis, both based in Milan, the workshop offers a clear, step-by-step approach to creating a painting: from understanding materials, preparing sketches, and blocking in forms, to finishing with confident detail and light.
The group will stay at Hotel Les Mottets, a charming 70s-era hotel in the mountain village of Aussois. In addition to outdoor sessions, a dedicated indoor studio space will be available for continued practice and exploration of technique and craft.
Participants accompanied by a guest who will not attend the workshop but will enjoy the retreat at the hotel are eligible for a discounted Stay rate.
- Non-Participant Guest
€850.00
INCLUDE:
- Trasport to the Station Modane
- 6 Nights at the Hotel
- Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Price From €850,00 to €1.500,00
ARTIST ROOM
- Artist WORKSHOP Participant
€1,500.00
INCLUDE:
- Trasport to the Station Modane
- 5 Days Landscape Painting Workshop WIth Mentors
- 6 Nights at the Hotel
- Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
OPTIONS
VIIVIEN MONTAZ
Host and manager at Les Mottets
Marketing and communications
Visual identity and social media
Painting instructor
Painting instructor
ELLEN VON WUNSTER
VALENTINA MORANDI
GIOTTO RIVA
DIANA PRISCILA SOLIS
31 AUGUST
06 SEPTEMBER