DIY with Valley Talents

By 2026, it will be ten years since the self-taught craftsman “Jonno” from Johannesburg founded his workshop, Rōnin Skis. As the name suggests, it’s inspired by Japan’s masterless samurai — free spirits who answered only to themselves. A spirit of independence and “no compromise” runs through every handmade freeride ski he produces and teaches others to craft in his immersive workshops. Three days of sawing, glueing, sanding, and finally, the pure joy of an environmentally friendly pair of skis, sharp as a katana, ready to carve through the powder. Created by and for you, they carry the scent of sawdust, effort, and pride.

333, Route des Moussoux - Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

06 16 21 91 38

Quiet, the wheel’s turning… Raquel Calleja is a ceramic artist, and Christopher Kerr is her very first student. Together, they founded Rūsc Studio — their workshop, gallery, and boutique all in one — where they welcome ceramic-throwing students, resident artists, and creative minds of all disciplines: upholsterers, sculptors, jewellers, photographers… and, of course, you. You (and your children) can create your own unique piece in workshops dedicated not only to ceramics but also to modelling, upholstery, or porcelain (for those of us less prone to clumsy hands).

Rūsc is a playground of materials, textures, and ideas — a space where each creation is born from attentiveness and care. Far from the buy-and-throw-away culture, it’s a manifesto for things made to endure.

99, Promenade Marie Paradis - Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

07 82 40 60 16

Don’t enrol expecting a light Sunday hobby — you’d be off on the wrong foot. Jean-Luc and his daughter Emma are pure enthusiasts and consummate professionals: he, a master engraver, author, and former advertiser; she, a visual artist, composer, and film-maker, recognised as a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters. In this digital age, their Atelier de Gravure is a rare haven where they teach the demanding techniques of intaglio and relief engraving to those who prefer to work directly into the material.

And when, at the end of the course, students — both beginners and seasoned artists (children included) — see their artwork come off the press, imperfect yet full of life, they finally understand why Picasso once told his printers: ‘Now we can begin the serious business of art’

275, chemin de l’Ordon - Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

06 80 40 34 99

At the Chamonix Art School, painting is as natural as breathing — spontaneous and free. Cat Kartal, a nomadic artist with a radiant teaching style and a motto that “life is pure movement,” inspires her students to let go of their thoughts and trust their instincts and gestures. Budding artists of all ages craft glass dreamcatchers in new-wave colours, decorate mobiles made from wood and clay, or wander into the forest to fill their travel journals with watercolour sketches. Here, art is inseparable from nature — and with Cat, nature is never still, but glowing with life.

102, Route des Trabets, Place de la Fruitière - Les Houches

06 33 02 17 61