Imagine visiting the picturesque medieval village, Bourmes-les-Mimosas in southeastern France, on the Mediterranean Sea. Ahhh, paradise found! Now imagine you are checking in at the Eden Rose Grand Hotel there for a nine-day artistic retreat featuring workshops led by Philippe and Kim Villard of Villard Studios in Provence and Boothbay Harbor, teaching the American Whiteline Woodblock printing technique.

There are four retreats to choose from in 2026: In January: "Mimosalia: The Symphony of Mimosas," (Jan. 24 – Feb.1); February: "Mardis Gras, A Carnival of Flowers" (Feb. 13-21): the 100th anniversary of the Flower Float Parade and festivities. In March: "Medieval Atmosphere: The Magic of a 12th Century Village” including castle ruins and secret hideaways; In April: “Easter in Provence and the European Celebration of Arts and Crafts.” Retreat workshop activities include sketching, printing, and historical tours.

I met with Philippe a week back at Villard Studios here in the the Harbor to find out more about the genesis of these incredible retreats and a bit more info about the workshops.

Working with the Office of Tourism, and others, a First Friday kind of event was set up for the Bormes-les-Mimosas  artists. The Villards have a gallery/studio in a small building, a garage, actually, in the village. Philippe said everyone came – from the village mayor to the director of the Eden Rose Grand Hotel. After seeing their work, the hotel director returned another day to talk about the Villards becoming the artists in residence there and to help create an event at the hotel.

“The first important gig that is putting us on the map is to be collaborating artists with the hotel,” noted Philippe. “During the workshops, we will first do a small printing session, like we do here, to accustom people about it. Then I will take them (on a guided tour) through the village with their cameras or iPhones or sketchbooks to capture images that they love. Also there will be lots of activities and many of our colleagues will be open.”

Philippe will teach participants how to capture those images; teach them to draw, when necessary. He’ll review their photos and/or drawings at their intown studio with each one and explain why, for example, a photo cannot be used, or why only part of one can be used. In addition to editing, everyone learns drawing, formatting; how to transfer an image to the woodblock and how to cut them. After this is completed he said Kim and and her crew of “wonderful young women" will lead the painting and printing.

One location Philippe will take workshop participants is in the neighboring vineyard, Domaine Sainte Marie, where he and Kim have permanent art installations and a place that he will take the workshop participants to visit the vineyards "We will taste the organic wines while looking at the art that we have created for that location," he said.

You may have seen the ad The Villards have been running in the Boothbay Register and Wiscasset Newspaper, and in a few others on The Cape that includes a QR code (image included with this article). Clicking on that QR code takes the curious and interested among us to the website with all the info about these incredible opportunities in a medieval village while staying in a four-star hotel.

“People love to travel and having something to show for it beyond a tan, which isn’t for everyone and perhaps, difficult to summarize…,” wrote Kim. “We are in our third decade of collaboration focused on a technique that is in a revival state due to its uniquely American origin. We have devoted our mutual careers to this fascinating genre of creativity. We want to share our enthusiasm and commitment to furthering the technique’s virtues and accessibility. We divide our time between two noteworthy cultures. What is remarkable? The inspiration they both feed can be shared and therein is our interest.”