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The Molten Medium:
Immersive Encaustic Art Residency & Retreat in Alpine Paradise

Disconnect from the noise and fuse your creative vision. Escape to a world away from the usual for an intimate, independent residency

designed for experienced encaustic artists.

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Logistics at a Glance

DATES: 10-15 May 2027

LOCATION:  La Clusaz, Haute-Savoie, France (Less than an hour from Geneva Airport)

 

Strictly Limited to a Small Group: 6 Artists (Minimum & Maximum)

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Come Join Me in My
Alpine Paradise
with a Heatgun and Hotplates!!

The Invitation & Our Homebase

There is a profound reason artists have long been drawn to the French Alps. The dramatic contrast of rugged peaks against sweeping, luminous skies provides an immediate sense of scale and creative clarity.

Our homebase for this experience will be the  creative center, Espace Créa-Tea-Vité, tucked into the heart of La Clusaz—one of the most beautiful, historic alpine villages in the Haute-Savoie region of France. Conveniently located less than an hour from the Geneva airport, this sanctuary feels worlds away from the noise of daily life.

As your host on this creative journey, my mission is to spark joy and unleash courageous, boundary-pushing creativity. My own artistic practice sits at the intersection of rigorous research and expression through my art; I have had the privilege of showcasing my work internationally, from Art Basel Miami, the Vienna Biennale, and the Asian Biennale, to solo and group exhibitions in Paris, London, New York, Kyoto, and Xi'an, China.

That same passion for discovery fuels my teaching. I have led creative workshops for industry giants and institutions like Apple, Adobe, Barclays, and Stanford University, as well as for innovators and artists of all ages. Believing that art is a powerful tool for connection, I have also spent years guiding at-risk communities, including refugees and homeless mothers.

At this residency, I am thrilled to merge my academic background in earth sciences with my formal training in fine art. As a self-proclaimed materials nerd, I will be hosting a dedicated masterclass on the material science of encaustics. You will  have the opportunity to learn how our mediums behave on a more chemical and physical level so you can maximize your own experimentation in a strictly archival fashion—or, at the very least, choose the non-archival route with conscious, creative intention.

Wherever you are in your artistic practice, my role is to help you transform technical challenges into breakthroughs, embrace your curiosity, and unlock your absolute fullest creative potential.

I am incredibly excited to share my absolute favorite places, art-making practices, and local activities with you here in the mountains. This residency is an invitation to step out of your routine, slip down the cobblestone passages of the village, and breathe in the crisp mountain air while melting into your practice.

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Five days of immersive encaustic practice designed to elevate not only your studio work, but the very way you see material and light—whether you fuse fluid layers, scrape back to find hidden histories, explore the alpine trails, or simply lose yourself in the zone. My wish is that you leave this mountain sanctuary refreshed, technically empowered, and ready to bring a fierce new creative confidence to your art.

Your Time, Your Practice,
Your Peak

The residency experience & Rhythm

Structured for Deep Focus. Built for True Creators.

Except for a dedicated (optional) technical masterclass on the science of the materials we use (think "will it stick, is this archival, and why"), this is a non-guided artist residency for experienced encaustic artists. We are gathering to hold space for one another, share insights, and learn collaboratively in the sanctuary of this mountain paradise.

To honor the deep creative flow that advanced work demands, our schedule is purposefully structured rather than fluid. You can count on a dependable daily cadence with dedicated open studio blocks every morning and afternoon, paused only for our curated local excursions.

Protect Your Zone: Group check-ins and sharing times are strictly scheduled and entirely optional. If you are in the middle of a technical breakthrough and want to keep your head down, your isolation is entirely respected. No unexpected disruptions, no guilt—just the time and space you need to maximize your practice.

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Day 1

Introduction 

  • Airport transfers 14:00

  • 17:00 Meet & Greet

  • Importance of Fun

  • Residency Basics

  • Relaxed evening aperitif — French-style pre-dinner drinks and nibbles

  • Savoyarde Group Dinner

 

 

The importance of suspending beliefs and having fun!!!

 

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Day 2

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Breakfast at your Residences- Fresh croissants and other goodies from the local boulangerie

  • Master Class on the Science of our Materials (Optional)

  • Open Studio

  • Buffet Picnic Lunch 

  • Open Studio

  • Dinner tonight is free time — explore local restaurants at your leisure.

 

 

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Day 3

Breakfast at your Residences

  • Group exchange on favorite techniques and materials (Optional)

  • Open Studio

  • Buffet Lunch

  • Open Studio

  • Sunset over Lac D'Annecy Group Dinner Excursion watching the paragliders fly by

What are the lenses we use to decipher our visuals and how do they affect our creativity?

 

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Day 4

​​​Breakfast at your Residences

  • Open Studio

  • Return to La clusaz to explore more local restaurants at your leisure.

What are the things, the moments, the visuals that make you feel alive, that frighten you, that make you laugh? The importance of risk taking and of listening to your heart.

 

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Day 5

​​Breakfast at your Residences

  • Group exchange on new discoveries (Optional)

  • Open Studio

  • Buffet Lunch

  • Open Studio Wrap-Up

 

  • Group Exchange and Sharing of Works Created

  • Group Farewell Dinner

 

 

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Is This Residency Right for

Me?

Anytime, Anywhere

Because this is a dedicated, independent residency rather than a standard step-by-step workshop, it is designed for a very specific creative rhythm and community dynamic. Use this quick checklist to see if our sanctuary in La Clusaz is the alignment you’ve been looking for.

     This is your perfect fit if:

  • You already know the basics: You understand encaustic safety, basic fusing, and how to set up your station. You don't need hand-holding; you need time.

  • You have a genuine spirit for sharing: You look forward to working alongside a sophisticated group of advanced artists. You are excited to swap technical tips, talk shop, and lift up your peers during our scheduled check-ins rather than guarding studio secrets.

  • You bring a healthy sense of humor: Let's face it—art can be messy, wax can sometimes have a mind of its own, and travel requires flexibility. You know how to laugh, keep things light, and embrace the happy accidents of the creative process.

  • You crave uninterrupted studio blocks: You want a structured daily cadence where your morning and afternoon studio time is fiercely protected.

  • You are a bit of a materials nerd: You are excited to learn the deep molecular science of your medium so you can push your archival (or non-archival) experimentation to the next level.

  • You want an alpine escape: You are ready to let the crisp mountain air, cobblestone village streets, and incredible Haute-Savoie gastronomy recharge your batteries.

     

      This might not be the right fit if:

  • You prefer a competitive or protective studio vibe: If you like to keep your techniques entirely to yourself or prefer a high-ego environment, this small, collaborative cohort won't feel like home.

  • You are a total beginner to encaustics: If you have never melted a puck of wax or used a heating tool before, this environment will feel overwhelming. (If this is you, reach out anyway! Let’s get you on the list for future foundational workshops.)

  • You want daily project prompts or continuous instruction: Outside of the materials science masterclass, there are no guided projects. You should arrive with your own concepts, references, or portfolio goals in mind.

  • You want a loose, unpredictable schedule: Our schedule is intentionally structured around dependable studio blocks and set excursions to keep the group grounded and focused.

The Bottom Line: If you are a self-directed artist with a generous spirit, a good sense of humor, a beautiful workspace requirement, and a desire to create in your own "zone" alongside an intimate peer group—you belong here.

Let’s make sure our creative dynamics align. Click below to book a brief, casual chat with me to talk about your practice and see if this 6-person cohort is your next big creative leap.

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Airport Transfers Included

Prices range from 3250 Euros- 3750 Euros, depending on accomodation choice made on the booking form you'll receive after a discovery call.

WhatsApp

+33749095492

All Text & Images Copyright 2025
Lisa Cirenza

74290 Talloires, France
siret 888 534 534 00019

 

Email

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ADDRESS

Atelier Lisa Cirenza

27 Passage du Mont Blanc

74220 La Clusaz, FRANCE

Art@Cirenza.com |

TEL.+33749095492

SIRET: 888 534 534 00019

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All texts, images, & works, copyright Lisa Cirenza Fine Art 2026

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