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In this 8-minute video, I talk about what has been at the heart of my work for several years: women, nature, light — and the deep conviction that joy is an act of courage.

I share the story behind my exhibition "Divines", shown at Galerie Exit in Aix-les-Bains, and my collaboration with Sabrina René, the gallerist who was the very first to believe in my work and to support my artistic journey from the very beginning.


A nice interview and a great complicity with Sabrina who owned the art galerie "Exit"


"Divines": celebrating possibility, not pain


l'artiste Caroline Venencie devant une de ces aquarelles d'icone au moment de l'exposition Divines, à la galerie Exit
Présentation of the exhibition Divines

With "Divines", I didn't want to create a militant exhibition in the traditional sense.


Yes, the place of women in the world matters deeply to me. Yes, nature is under threat. But I have never wanted to paint suffering.


I wanted to paint possibility.


Each watercolour in this exhibition is an invitation to imagine a world where the feminine enters into dialogue with nature, where the sacred meets the everyday, where the quiet strength of women lights the way to a shared future.


What I call artivism — art that is engaged, but carried by a luminous, generous and resolutely optimistic aesthetic.


Vernissage de l'exposition Divines par l'artiste Caroline Venencie à la galerie d'art Exit, à Aix-les-bains, en Savoie
Pre-opening of the exhibition Divines at the art gallery Exit, at Aix-les-Bains

The Icônes series: women from around the world, united by sisterhood


At the heart of "Divines" is my Icônes series — portraits of women from every corner of the world: Asia, Africa, Europe, the islands, even the digital world. Each is surrounded by a gold leaf halo — not as a religious symbol, but as an inner light, a silent crown, a sacred energy.


These women — real, imagined, or drawn from popular culture — are connected by an invisible thread: universal sisterhood. Across origins, cultures and languages, they share the same vibration, the same breath of shared humanity.


The gold leaf is not there for decoration. It is there to say: every woman is an icon.


Vernissage de l'exposition Divines par l'artiste peintre et aquarelliste Caroline Venencie à la galerie d'art moderne Exit, à Aix-les-bains
Live painting à la galerie d'art Exit, à Aix-les-bains

What Galerie Exit saw in my work


Sabrina René, director of Galerie Exit, was the first to exhibit my work.


In the video, she explains why she chose to support me — and what she saw in my paintings that she felt compelled to share with the world.


Her gallery and I share the same conviction: art must speak to the issues of our time, without ever losing its beauty, its generosity, its vital energy.


A little about my journey


Affiche de l'exposition sur les femmes "Divines" par l'artiste peintre Caroline Venencie de Savoie, à la galerie d'art d'Aix-les-Bains
L'affiche de l'exposition Divines

I trained as an architect and chose several years ago to dedicate myself entirely to painting.


Watercolour found me naturally: its fluidity, its unpredictability, the letting-go it demands with every brushstroke — that is exactly what I had been looking for.


Since then, my works have entered private collections in France, Switzerland, Mexico, the United States, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.


And I continue to exhibit, in galleries and art fairs, in France and internationally.


👉 Explore my online classes→ Very soon!! 👉 Book a studio workshop in Aix-les-Bains → here


 
 

A few weeks ago, I was invited onto Radio Grand Lac for their show "Grandit Ose" — a programme dedicated to unconventional paths, bold career changes, and people who dared to follow a different direction. My story fitted right in.

For over 30 minutes, I shared my journey — the one that led me, through a series of deliberate turns, all the way to watercolour. You can listen to it right here, without leaving this page (in french).


A nice interview and a beautiful encounter with Sonia


What I talk about in this show


l'artiste Caroline Venencie au micro de la Radio Grand lac
At the radio Grand Lac.

I start at the beginning: my studies.


A degree of architecture in the Beaux Arts of Paris (ENSAPM).


Then my first life in the USA, in textile design — a world I loved, and one that deeply shaped my sensitivity to texture, colour and composition. That first chapter gave me a strong foundation that I still draw on today in my watercolours.


Then comes the turning point. The career change.


The moment I decided to redirect everything towards painting. It wasn't impulsive — it was something that had been quietly building for years, and that I finally chose fully, with all the uncertainty and freedom that came with it.


I also talk about my journey as a painter: my first works, my first exhibitions, discovering watercolour as my medium of choice, and developing the vibrant, luminous style that has become my signature. And of course, a little about my classes — because sharing what I know has become an essential part of who I am.


detail de l'aquarelle aux zinnias
The artist travelling to Amsterdam

What this journey taught me


Daring to change your life is rarely comfortable.


But it's often where the most beautiful things begin.


Watercolour has taught me to trust the unexpected, to let go of control and be fully present in the gesture.


My career change taught me exactly the same thing — and I don't think that's a coincidence.


Artiste tenant son aquarelle
Live painting at the art gallery Exit, in Aix-les-bains


A little about me


I'm Caroline Venencie, a watercolour artist based in Aix-les-Bains, in the French Alps.


My world: women, flowers, animals, bold and luminous colours, with a contemporary pop twist that is entirely mine.


I exhibit regularly in galleries across France and internationally, and I teach watercolor in my studio in Aix-les-Bains and online, to students all over the world.



🌸✨ Explore my classes, online or in person right there : the watercolor's classes by Caroline Venencie .

 
 
cours d'aquarellle à la galerie d'art
An unusual place to take painting classes: an art gallery!

Are you looking to learn watercolor or try a creative and original activity in Aix-les-Bains (in Savoie, 15 minutes from Chambéry)? Why not join a watercolor workshop unlike any other, held in the warm and inspiring setting of the Concept Exit art gallery?


A unique and colorful approach


In my painting classes, there is no drowning in technical exercises or boring demonstrations. From the very first minutes, you dive straight into creation and painting. Guided step by step in very small groups of 4 to 6 people, you will create a real artwork while discovering the basics of watercolor.


exemple d'oeuvre réalisée pendant un cours d'aquarelle
Des oeuvres originales même pour les débutants!

Here, we move away from clichés about watercolor being pale or pastel. I love working with bright and fluorescent colors that bring character and energy to your creations.


When and where?

I offer two formats:


– Workshops for beginner to intermediate levels on Wednesday afternoons (3 hours), every two weeks


– One-day watercolor workshops for intermediate level on Sundays (5 hours), once a month


Beginner workshops take place every other Wednesday from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm at the Concept Exit art gallery in Aix-les-Bains, near Chambéry.


No equipment is required — I provide everything, and you will work with high-quality materials: Arches watercolor paper, fine professional paints from renowned and innovative brands, and quality brushes.

This creative break in the middle of the week is perfect for disconnecting from daily life, exploring your imagination, letting go, and leaving with a unique artwork.The workshop is open to children (from 8 years old with a mandatory accompanying adult, and from 12 years old without accompaniment).

You can attend a single session or several (a 6-session pass is available at a reduced price).



la galerie d'art Concept Exit à Aix-les-bains
Galerie d'art à Aix-les-bains où ont lieu les cours d'aquarelle

Intermediate watercolor workshops take place one Sunday per month, from 10 am to 4 pm, also at the Concept Exit art gallery.

No equipment is required — I provide everything, including top-quality materials: Arches paper, extra-fine watercolor paints from well-known brands (Winsor & Newton, Sennelier, Daniel Smith ...) and innovative pigments..


This creative Sunday is ideal to disconnect from everyday life, improve your technique, discover new approaches, explore your imagination, relax, and leave with a unique artwork.


These workshops are open to adults who already have basic watercolor skills.Each session has a predefined theme, and you can find the full program and : Book my watercolor stage .



You can attend a single workshop or several (a 6-session pass is available at a special price).


The Concept Exit art gallery is located in the heart of Aix-les-Bains, opposite the historic thermal baths, at 2 rue des Bains in Savoie (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region), in a welcoming and inspiring place where art truly comes to life. Just a few minutes from Chambéry, it is well worth the visit.


Why participate?


Whether you are a beginner or already comfortable with painting, this workshop is for you.


You will leave not only with your own artwork, but also with tips and techniques I have developed over many years as a professional artist, which you can reuse in your own creations.


aterlier d'aquarelle avec mes 6 éleves à la galerie d'art
Original watercolor classes in an art gallery with professional artist Caroline Venencie

So, feeling inspired to try something new? Come join us and reveal the artist within you!


For more information or to reserve your place in my original and colorful watercolor class, don’t hesitate to contact me directly or visit the “Reserve My Class” tab on this site. Spaces are limited to ensure personalized guidance.


See you soon at Concept Exit!


🖼 And if you feel like it, my original watercolors are also available in the shop, as well as art print versions, right [here] : https://www.caroline-venencie.fr/shop 



logo personnalisé par Caroline Venencie d'instagram
Compte instagram de Caroline Venencie

If you would like to follow my work day by day, you can also find me on Instagram: Caroline Venencie: profil Instagram Caroline Venencie 







 
 
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© 2022 by Caroline Venencie. 

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