french paintings - taking time to observe

I love to collect small paintings, framed or unframed I don't mind that much.  A casual display of mismatched pictures on canvas, board or even card just makes me happy.

The reason behind the huge charm of the old paintings is that they speak to us of another time when  knowing how to paint was a normal part of a good education and when  they took time to sit down and observe.

In the French school system there is little time given to nurturing a child's creativity, and even the students who specialise in an artistic discipline are no longer taught how to draw, the curriculum prefers to give them a good grounding in draughtsmen's software than charcoal and paints.  The result is that students who choose to study art or architecture at university, have to spend their first year going back to basics and learning how to ... observe.

Because surely that is what art is all about, be it drawing, painting or even writing : the ability to observe and interpret what we see.

Can you tell that I have a bee in my bonnet?!

Last week I was fortunate enough to buy several paintings from the French lady I told you about.  I kept this one painted on card, almost certainly by an amateur who just took pleasure in walking out with a box of paints and a folding stool until he found a view that appealed and sat down to paint.   He painted this pretty scene of a country lane, and then ....

flipped the card over and painted some trees beside a lake!  How could I possibly frame this one, I'd never be able to choose which side I like best!!

So because I know that this is a dying art, and that my children's generation favour a screen to an easel, I shall continue buying these pieces of amateur art whenever I have the opportunity.

Just yesterday I bought this little painting at our local auction house.  Not quite so amateur, since the painters name is known and displayed on the frame, but it still has its charm.  He took the time to sit down and paint an ordinary house, to observe, to transmit.  You can see more about the painting here.

How about you?  What is your favourite object that reminds you to slow down and take the time to observe?

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french oil paintings

I was beyond excited yesterday to find a couple of little paintings that I adore.    Bringing them home sent me into a flurry of relocating paintings.

I love groups of paintings , united by colour or theme.  Whenever I have the chance I pick up small paintings, generally oils, often on board rather than canvas.  I have them framed when I get around to it, otherwise they are stood on shelves, between books, behind a lamp.  Just can't have too many!

Today I grouped some above the table in our entrance hall, and some others above the tub in a bathroom.  Tell me what you think BTW if you think a couple aren't quite straight, you're probably right!  sorry I didn't see until the post went up then I ran out of time to reshoot !  sigh ... )

In the bathroom I assembled 10 canvases that are all about water, and happen to be in the same palette.

They started off standing up against the narrow shelf behind the tub,  then little by little they crept up on to the wall.  It's never that easy to find the right positions straight away, and as these canvases are very lightweight, I just use tiny copper tacks that can easily be moved around.

In the entrance hall it was more difficult.  All the paintings are landscapes, in similar colour ways, but some are framed, some not, and some just stood in frames temporarily.

The top picture was my main find yesterday (I love to 'borrow' stuff from the store until it finds a new home!).  It's a pretty oil on canvas of a village not far from here.

This little square scene, is the other one that I found yesterday , I just love the shadows falling across the track.

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Clark collection at Giverny

If you are in Normandy between now and October, please don't miss this show at the Impresionist Museum in Giverny.  72 glorious French master paintings have been graciously loaned to the museum  by the Clark Collection in Massachusetts.

Sterling and Francine Clark lived in Paris,  where he was a young,  and already wealthy,  lawyer and she was his young and beautiful French wife.  They started buying paintings around 1912, purchasing works they loved and which to them embodied all that was new and fresh in the modern impressionist movement.

What a life!!  They could have been characters plucked from an Edith Wharton novel, glamorous, interesting, part of the elite New York society, who felt at ease anywhere in the world.  How I would have loved to have lived at that time ....

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Shake Up Your Space With Color, Indoors or Out

(NewsUSA) - Economic news got you feeling the blues? A little jolt of color can take care of that. Budget-consciousness doesn't always mean having to abandon your dreams for a more colorful living space. Using a little creativity and materials such as spray paint, you can still enjoy a love affair with color, without a big commitment of time or money.


Do-it-yourselfers choose spray paint because it's fast and easy to apply and leaves a smooth finish with no brush marks. Krylon has introduced a unique 360-degree dial spray tip that makes it even faster and easier to spray in hard-to-reach places without runs or drips. By using spray paint for simple fix-ups, you can quickly and easily make a striking difference around the home and yard.

Brightening architectural details such as shutters, garden gates and light fixtures with a punch of color can increase a home's curb appeal. Indoors, strategic use of color can transform attic treasures and bargain finds ranging from tables and headboards to picture frames and wicker baskets into fresh accent pieces.

"The key color drivers this year are the economy, nature and fashion," says Donna Schroeder, who develops color palettes for the Krylon spray paint brand. "Neutral colors are always popular during economic downturns, but today's more educated consumer loves color and seeks shades that are enchanting and beautiful, honest and natural."

Color has been proven to affect mood. Magical colors infuse energy, counter despair and fulfill a genuine need for art, culture and beauty in life. Examples from Krylon's Indoor/Outdoor color palette include Rich Plum and Jade, Raspberry and Hyacinth -- floral hues that impart a dream-like aesthetic.

"At the same time, the green movement is in everyone's consciousness, so consumers are exploring natural, honest colors and textures," Schroeder says. She points to Pistachio and Pebble as colors that are ideal for refreshing and repurposing the home with soothing, nature-inspired tones.

Once you've introduced a color you love, Schroeder suggests building on it with flower arrangements, pillows, throws and other accessories. For inspiration and home-improvement hints, visit the Krylon Web site at www.krylon.com

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Interior Painting Tips

Unity Rules


Homeowners planning on interior painting often struggle over the issue of trim color during the planning process. Often they plan wall colors, on account of what they have seen in a magazine or while visiting a friend's home. Maybe they have a particular fabric in mind and want to match a color in the fabric for the walls in that room. Anyway, the problem arises with what to do with the trim for that room. Is it possible to use a different trim color than the existing trim being used in other areas of your home?

While there is no absolute rule about trim color, that if broken, would cause you to be arrested by the color scheme patrol, there are some things you should consider.

1. The trim and ceilings of your home are what establishes a unified look and feel throughout your home. You can change your walls to any color that you like, or that fits with the theme you have planned for the interior of your home. The use of one color on the trim and ceilings will give you a smooth transition between wall colors as you travel throughout your home. Without this consistency, your home takes on a feeling of disunity.

2. White trim and some off-white colors will go with any wall color. That is why it is used so often. It gives you much greater flexibility in interior color coordination and design. If you decide to paint all your trim a color, you will limit your options; however, I have seen some marvelous color co ordinations while using more color for trim.

If you really want to change the color of the trim for a particular room, then test the color. Try to get a feel for how it will impact the rooms or halls adjacent to that room. Will it be completely separated by a door? Will the door be closed most of the time? If the room is open to other areas of the house that are easily seen, how will that impact the color theme for the other parts of your home? You don't want to put a lot of time and effort into painting a room if in the long run you're not happy with how it makes the rest of your home look. Test the color on a door jamb or baseboard and then stand back and get a feel for what it does for unity of passage from other rooms to that room. It would be a good idea to wait a few days to see if you grow tired of the transition between colors. Often what we initially think looks good, loses its appeal over time.

About the Author: Nicky Taylor CEO of www.home-painting-services.com/interiorpainting.html Visit our web site for more information on how you can improve your own house painting projects.

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How to Go About Your Exterior Painting Project

Exterior painting maybe considered as the most vital home maintenance project as it is often the paint with the caulking that protects your home from damage caused by varying weather and other elements. This is especially true with homes in New York City because of the humid subtropical nature of its climate. Winters come mildly cold but summer days are often humid and extremely warm with occasional thunderstorms. The seasons in between poses erratic changes from hot to cool. The New York climate alone should prompt home owners to have exterior painting done but this job also has other benefits like beautification.

In exterior painting, the difference between a first-rate and poor job will eventually become very much evident especially in the case where a portion or in some cases the whole work is to be redone. Because this project is essential, home owners should think not about the costs as long as they are getting the best value out of their hard-earned cash. Aside from the funding part, time, materials and labor should be taken into careful consideration. With these factors to reflect on, hiring an NYC exterior painting contractor would be most ideal, if you are not an expert on this project yourself.

After evaluating the façade of your home, checking on in the physical condition and different surfaces, you are now ready to take on exterior paint preparation. This method is very important as any mistake done within this stage would surely lead to failure of the finish. To avoid future maintenance jobs, pay special attention to areas that may need to be repaired. Aside from obvious indications of damage, these can also be hinted by discolored areas, blistering or peeling of old coat.

In exterior painting preparation, it is important that all loose paint is removed as a clean and good foundation may spell success or failure of the job. This step involves the most laborious tasks such as pressure washing, a combination of scraping and sanding, and even wire brushing for rough wood. When the surface has totally been cleaned, caulking, masking and priming comes next.

Choosing the proper application method as well as the best suited finish paint is vital in your exterior painting project. What have worked for others may not produce the same results for your home as different surface, masonry and house type may require a different paint and painting technique. There are numerous exterior surfaces with the most common including masonite, wood siding, stucco, vinyl, steel, exterior brick and concrete block. In choosing your paint, go for the low maintenance type as these will surely last for a longer period of time.

Handing your exterior painting project to the experts will surely add more years to the life of your home's façade. The skills and practical experience of the hired contractor, incorporated with high quality materials and products will result to less repairs and lower maintenance in the future. When you decide which New York contractor to choose, consider the exterior painting preparation that they have in mind. You could also opt for someone who is also qualified to do repairs to avoid having to call for another contractor.

About the Author: Eugene Makeev helps home owners avoid the common pitfalls in home improvements by matching their needs with the right, prescreened NYC Exterior Painting Contractors. For your project, here's a great tool you can use: Exterior Painting Calculator.

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