Silk painting workshops in Paris and the Dordogne: one day or one week

Will you join us?

Silk artist René Shoemaker invites you to join her for a silk painting workshop. There are two options - a one day workshop in Paris, France, and another in the Dordogne region of France, a 6 day silk painting workshop held in a beautiful chàteau with very kind hosts.
•Ce cours est dispensé en anglais, mais je peux également vous accompagner en français.•

Questions?

Here is the October 14th class description, and of course you can contact me directly and I will answer your questions quickly.

​Introduction to silk painting with René Shoemaker​

René Shoemaker, an American artist based in France, will guide us as we create a painted design on silk to wear or display at home. In this introductory workshop, we will discuss design options, draw, then transfer our design onto the silk, while learning about color and ways to work with the dye. We will finish by learning how to set, or "fix," the dye once the artwork is completed, so you can take it home to complete the process once the silk has cured for 24 hours.

All levels are welcome, including those who have never created art nor painted on silk before. Questions and conversation are encouraged throughout the class: about technique, your artistic background, and your creative goals. While we will use the serti (white line) resist technique of silk painting, there will be room for experimentation using other styles.

Each participant will complete a 28 cm (11") silk square that can be worn as a scarf or displayed as artwork.

Prior to the workshop, think about something you might like to paint on silk: a flower, building, landscape, group of objects, or anything else that inspires you and bring your ideas or inspiration with you.

You don't need to consider yourself an artist to participate!

Ce cours est dispensé en anglais, mais je peux également vous accompagner en français.

Discover more of René Shoemaker's art at reneshoemaker.com​

Christina was delighted with her first experience of painting on silk

Also, in June of 2027, the silk painting workshop in the Dordogne will offer a more in-depth exploration of the world of silk painting. That program is open for registration at Manor & Maker Château website.

We had so much fun during our château workshop in 2024!

À bientôt,

-René

Learn silk painting in Paris

Working with Christina

- une étudiante formidable

After the quick-yet-delightful visit to Chartres, I dashed up to Paris—for the day! What was supposed to be a 9.5 hr visit in Paris, turned into a mere 5 hours due to train delays. But enough about that! I was able to get all my work done, see the people I needed to see, and even conduct a mini-silk painting course in preparation for our offering to the public on November 4th.

Teaching is always so very rewarding, and La Caféothèque coffee is always so delicious.

But once I arrived at Gare d'Austerlitz just fine, I hopped on the bus 91, dashed to Reid Hall and ... sat down and breathed. Christina and I caught up on our news, shared a coffee, then went to meet—the focus of he day— the director of Reid Hall, Brunhilde Biebuyck. What a delightful woman! We sat around her big table in her big office with light pouring in the windows and shared a love for adventure, creativity, architecture, travel, libraries and archives.

Ms Biebuyck loved my business card collection, and exclaimed that she must frame them!

After our meeting with Ms. Biebuyck, our mini-class session was held in the work-and-roasting room where the coffee roaster sits, (If you know me, you know how much I enjoy coffee, and all of the things related to it. La Caféothèque is top when it comes to coffee.)

The formidable coffee roaster that creates the best beans for our coffee drinking pleasure

Christina Chirouze Montenegro was my student; she was there to learn a skill and to share her new knowledge with other interested parties.

Christina mounting U.S. Highway 82, Georgetown, GA, USA with utmost care

I was amazed at how small my supplies suitcase was—with all of the supplies for the silk painting class—wooden frames, silks, dyes, dye cups, brushes, pencils, papers, handouts - oh my!

Silk painting supplies tumbled on the table

The silk painting class is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4th, from 2-5 pm - please sign up! It is very affordable, and you will take your own silk painting home with you.

A studious student - making beautiufl designs!

As we left Reid Hall for the day, I happened to notice that the Paris roofline was reflecting in my Amsterdam Ave and West 79th Street painting—truly bringing the sister cities of New York and Paris together to commune!

Christina calling it a day for Paris and New York City

Learn silk painting in Paris : Apprenez la peinture sur soie à Paris

Paris 2025 Exhibition

René Goes to Paris

Bonjour my friend,

Did you notice how I wrote "Paris 2025 exhibition" in the heading above?

I have a new exhibit on view in Paris, and I now intend to exhibit in Paris—or another major city—every year from now on.

This has been a grand dream of mine, something I've been steadily working towards. After the success of my 2024 San Francisco exhibition (which you can read about here), now feels like the perfect time to move forward without hesitation and make this dream a reality.

See the Caféologie book on the counter? That was written by Gloria Montenegro of La Caféothèque de Paris, and her daughter, Christina.

If you know me, you know that I've been working hard at learning all of the things: not only the art making, but the art of business, too. How do I serve my community and keep up with exactly what you need?

Christina and Franco about to drift away in the breeze...

Toutes voiles dedans is our title; it is poetic and brings images of sailing ships, fluttering sails, and a story of exploration and journey.

This dreamy art fits this space so beautifully.

I am happy to report that these business practices are taking hold, not only for exhibitions—but for sales, especially for a collection of works sold to a dear collector from the U.K. who lives part of the year in Aubusson.

Thank you, I. and T. P.; you have made my work fruitful and rewarding.

****

Now—on to discussions of PARIS!

Here, perfectly sited, is my painting of the Tropical Room at La Caféothèque de Paris in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, bringing the two cafés beatuifully together.

My dear friend Christina Chirouze Montenegro contacted me about a month ago to mount an exhibition at the Columbia University Global Studies Center. In the charming 6th arrondissement, tucked between Boulevard de Montparnasse and rue Notre-Dame des Champs, is nestled La Caféothèque Reid Hall. La Caféothèque was chosen to bring their expertise to the Global Studies Center as a result of their long-time relationship in building connections between cultures, "a high-quality café promoting humanitarian principles." There, in this prestigious center of learning, my large-scale art hangs fluttering in the breeze; inviting the students and faculty to study and discourse under the protection of my paintings.

Thank you, Christina, Reid Hall and La Caféothèque!

September 3 - November 6, 2025​
​​Toutes voiles dedans​
​La Caféothèque Reid Hall
4, rue de Chevreuse
Paris 6e​
75006 Paris, France

*Contact me for viewing appointment; reservation required*

SEEING INTO THE FUTURE

I’d like to share with you a pivotal moment in my career as an artist.

In 1998 I was in Cortona, Italy for the summer with my family, working as the librarian for the University of Georgia School of Art’’s study abroad program. I was an artist myself, but didn’t believe I could realize my artistic potential while raising a family and pursuing my career as a librarian. 

Working with the art students, many of whom were work-study students for the library, gave me the opportunity to get to know and bond with many of them. Although I was admittedly a little envious that I wasn’t able to study abroad myself when I was in art school, I admired their hunger to learn and to grow. I also came to know the art professors and attended their lectures describing their careers, artistic endeavors, styles, and works-in-progress. 

That summer was the source of one of my most important personal insights. For it was then I first realized that the artists who surrounded me were really no different from me, no better than I was. We were equals, artists in community. In other words, I saw for the first time,

I WAS A REAL ARTIST, TOO.

That recognition changed my life. At the end of the summer I returned home and took action. I worked hard and started being not shy about pursuing my art, acknowledging my determination, and honing my ability to share and talk about my artwork. Now, I had a vision.

You may have heard this part of the story before:
In 1998 I embarked on a 10-year plan (which ultimately took 12) to launch my career as a full-time artist once I retired from my job at UGA. I would no longer sit quietly and wait for life to happen to me. In those dozen years, I had 24 solo shows, participated in 83 group shows, won 6 awards, and created 5 large-scale installations.

This past year I realized that year 10 as a full-time artist was quickly approaching, and I knew that was a magical number. I didn’t know what it meant, but I knew it was going to be exciting!

Fast forward to 2019. Last week I attended a program at the Pompidou Center in Paris for the exhibition opening of “Cosmopolis #2” because one of my creations is on exhibit there! I was immensely excited, pleased, and proud. The dress I designed, painted, dyed, sewed, and styled is just a small part of one installation; although the exhibit was not mine and my name was not on the program, I was able to take part knowing that my art was in a MAJOR world museum. As I listened to the artists present their Cosmopolis #2 work in front of windows that looked out on the bustling Parisian life, with the citizens and architecture of Paris as a backdrop, I knew in my very bones that 
 

I COULD DO THAT.

I COULD BE SITTING IN THAT CHAIR

BEHIND THAT MICROPHONE

IN FRONT OF THAT ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE

AT THE POMPIDOU CENTER

IN PARIS.


YES, I COULD.

Seeing my dream take shape before my very eyes, I know success is on the way, speeding towards me like a French locomotive, driven by determination and belief in myself.

Many thanks to Christina Chirouze Montenegro, who made it happen. Here she is, above, modeling the dress when I first presented it to her.

We all have fears to face and obstacles to overcome. It’s hard when you have a vision and don’t know where to start. But I am happy to report that a motto I have believed in for many years has served me well:

Perseverance furthers.

Thank you, as always, for your time and your gracious support, and for following me on this adventure called life.

Simón Vega. Archipiélago de Intercambio (sketch), 2019

Save the Dates

Until December 23, 2019
Cosmopolis #2: Rethinking the Human
Centre Pompidou
Paris, France

June, 2020
Floral Heritage of Guatemala
La Caféotheque de Paris
Paris, France

August, 2020
Silk Works by René Shoemaker
Galerie des Marches
Aubusson, France

Expanding your art collection?
  Visit reneshoemaker.com/shop for original art and prints. 

My cards, postcards, and prints are carried by:
 KA Artist Shop  
where I teach the fine art of silk painting.
The next scheduled class is December 7-8, 2019.
Sign up now!