Artisan workshops and painting holidays in Bokhoven
‍At Atelier De Heerlijkheid in Bokhoven, near ’s-Hertogenbosch, art, craft, and nature come together. In our workshops, you work with authentic materials: handmade paint, gesso, silverpoint, oriental ink, and pigments from the dye garden. You will experience how artists and craftspeople have worked for centuries – and apply these methods directly to your own painting and drawing practice. We work on a small scale, with a strong focus on tranquility, concentration, and the joy of creating. The monumental farmhouse, the dye garden, and the landscape along the Meuse form the backdrop for your creative period.
Our artisan workshops:
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Ink and Silence – Sumi-E workshop (oriental brush technique)In Ink and Silence, you work with Sumi-E, the ancient oriental brush technique where control, freedom, and expression meet. You will explore posture, breathing, rhythm, and brushwork, interspersed with quiet working time and moments outdoors in the floodplains of the Meuse. This is a Sumi-e workshop for anyone seeking to deepen their knowledge of oriental ink techniques, regardless of skill level.
‍Read more about Ink and Silence – Sumi-e workshop (oriental brush technique)
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From Flax to Paint – three-day art holiday with dye plantsFrom Flax to Paint is a three-day art/painting holiday where you go through the entire process: from dye plants in the garden to pigment, paint, ink, charcoal, and paper. You will harvest, extract pigment, make your own paint, and then work with your own materials in the studio and garden. Work, stay, and landscape all come together here.
‍Read more about From Flax to Paint – three-day art holiday with dye plants and pigment
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Life Drawing with Silverpoint - Da Vinci’s Silver StrokesDuring this workshop, you will draw from a nude model using silverpoint on specially prepared panels. You will work with concentration and refined hatching, experiencing how rich a silver line can be. This life drawing workshop with silverpoint is ideal for those who already draw and want to deepen their focus, anatomy, and observational skills.
Read more about Da Vinci’s Silver Strokes – life drawing workshop with silverpoint
‍Gesso and Priming – artisan preparation of panels and canvasA strong painting begins with the surface. In Gesso and Priming, you will learn how to prepare panels and canvases using traditional methods with hide glue, chalk, marble dust, pigment, and lime. You will create, among other things, classic panels for egg tempera and silverpoint, as well as canvases for oil paint and mixed media. This workshop on making gesso and preparing surfaces is for anyone who wants to deepen their painting process at the foundation level.Read more about Gesso and Priming – artisan preparation of panels and canvas
‍Artisan Paint Making – making your own paint with pigmentsIn Artisan Paint Making, you will experience the craft of making your own paint with pigments in a single day. You will work with historical and natural materials to create:
- watercolor paint
- egg tempera
- oil paint
- pastels
You will gain insight into the properties of pigments and binders, allowing you to paint more consciously and skillfully with store-bought paints as well.
Read more about Artisan Paint Making – workshop on making your own paint with historical and natural pigments
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Heerlijkheid Summer Studio – creative retreat in the dye garden & studioIn the Summer Studio, Rick and Marike open the studio and dye garden in June, July, August, and September for a creative retreat of two, four, six, or eight days. You will work on your own independent projects within a light structure: a short morning prompt, free working time in the studio or garden in the afternoon with feedback upon request, and a group discussion at the end of the day. There is space for painting, drawing, textiles, photography, writing, or sculptural work, as well as reading in a hammock, walking, or taking a dip in the Meuse. The Heerlijkheid Summer Studio is for those seeking concentration, inspiration, or stillness in the summer.
Read more about the Heerlijkheid Summer Studio – creative retreat in the dye garden and studio
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• visual artists (both beginners and advanced);
• illustrators and art educators;
• restorers and craft lovers who want to work with their hands;
• herbalists, garden and food forest enthusiasts with an interest in color and pigment;
• anyone curious about natural pigments, making their own paint, and ancient painting techniques.