“I feel there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” ~ Vincent Van Gogh
As a fellow artist, I have always felt befriended by French artists, Monet, Cèzanne, Van Gogh, and Matisse, as well as American artist, John Singer Sargent, who also painted from life and traveled to paint in Provence and Venice. Literally following in the footsteps of these masters, and painting some of the same lavender fields, mountain vineyards, and canal scenes, was at the top of my bucket list before “bucket list” could be defined by a computer.
Happily oil paint, easels, and all supplies checked on the plane arrived in Marsailles totally intact. We rented a car equipped with French speaking GPS, however, still managed to locate the hardware to purchase turpentine and linseed oil. And, lucky for us, the best painting supply store in Provence is just off the main exit in Avignon, about an hour from our chateau.
The French people are extremely fond of their amazing artistic heritage and are very warm and encouraging to plein air painters. With my easel set up on the narrow streets of the petit, ochre-colored hill towns, I was rewarded with big smiles and “bravo(s)” from passers by. In Aurel a small gathering of people accumulated where I was working. As people stopped to look at their streets through my eyes it began to rain and my new friends huddled around, protecting me and the paintings with their umbrellas. On another day, a band of bright-faced children ran out to see what I was doing as I assembled an easel in a sunflower field. As they watched, their lovely voices eagerly “très bon-ed” my painting…I think…and they asked many questions. Translation was done mostly through nods and wide-open smiles, conveying good will and happiness. Reliving the whole sunny experience still brings such joy.
In Venice, Italy, I left my baggage at Marco Polo Airport as the vaporettos and narrow stone walkways are no place for hauling luggage. In a smaller bag I packed a few necessities and a Ziplock bag of watercolor supplies. Painting in Venice I could imagine the passion Engish artist, J. M. W. Turner, must have felt when painting his dramatic scenes of Venice at Sunrise. I was completely arrested by the graceful antique architecture, the canals, gondolas, and the people.
The Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, once Peggy Guggenheim’s home, houses her extraordinary collection that includes many modern masterpieces. The day I visited the museum was a glorious one and out on the patio facing the Grand Canal I sat on the stone steps and took out my watercolor. Immediately I was surrounded by a group of astute, enthusiastic young college women from Korea. Each of the ladies were art majors, and even though worlds, and a couple of generations, apart, we shared a love for art and life, and a gorgeous few moments together appreciating the rich history of that place. When they asked if they could take a photo with me I was ecstatic, and now we are FBF’s forever!
One glimmering Sunday morning I lost my way through San Marco Square and beyond till I found no shops, only neighborhoods with laundry strung overhead, between the walled streets, and community squares with old stained, but exquisite, marble and granite churches, gilded inside with ancient paintings and statues. I was blessed to witness two beautiful services, both in Italian and Latin, amid kind-eyed, faithful Venetian people.
Not everyone in France speaks English, nonetheless, 2014 brought me much more than just a painting trip abroad. And, oh yeah, I learned a lot about painting and will share a few paintings from the trip in my March show at the Asheville Gallery of Art.
At home in Western North Carolina, I continue to find abundant inspiration for compositions in everyday scenes, rainy streets and the gorgeous blue mountains. Besides an opening at the Asheville Gallery of Art on March 6, 2015, plans for this year include teaching Plein Air Workshops through the Black Mountain Center for the Arts beginning April 9-10, 2015, and painting in several National and State Parks here in our beloved United States. I will demonstrate en plein air and paint with the Asheville Urban Landscape Painters and the Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters.
I am so energized by Asheville, and the other artists in the Wedge and River Arts District. I hope those interested in my painting excursions will sign up to receive my blog through my website, www.CherylKeefer.com.
