Painting for fun in Suresnes, France

Tentative for introduction

"Welcome my friends" Diego (the Dora's cousin) would say. Those who don't have any kids can't understand this famous joke which by the way funny only with the french translation for the movie.

Three years ago, because of - or thanks to I should say - my dear neighbour and friend Xavier who was involved in this, I decided to have some painting lessons. He was novice and when I saw the paintings he was able to produce after few months lessons, I said "I want to be able to do this too !!!".

Then here you'll find my paintings. Novice I was, novice I'm again but at least I think we the progress (hoping you're sharing the same opinion...). Don't be surprised not to see some regular updates with many new paintings : my productivity is very limited. First because I only paint during this weekly lesson. Second because of the choices I make : I'm more and more interested by Pop Art and Figuration which requires details and some realistics features.

Enjoy this (short) visit.

Reproduction to learn

First painting (Q4 2004): Monet, not my favorite but a good compromise for a first tentative.

Thanks to a such first exercice I discovered painting: material, basics, ...

Te advantage of "eroduction to learn"is that you know what the result will be (or should be). This is fundamental to maintan a certain motivation.

After Monet, I wanted to paint something I like very much. Which could have been

uncompatible with my level of painting skill... I decided anyway to try: Ed Hopper and his wonderful "Night Hawks".

First crisis: the characters... but I found the solution : the size. Mine is very small (46 cm x 27 cm, Q1 2005).

A very good topic to understand how light is worked here.

After this very interesting exercice, I wanted something not complex but with a nice result for the eye (and my living). I discovered Roberto Avila's painting. And his old cars. After a light adaptation here is my painting (100 cm x 60 cm, Q2 2005) .

Next one has been a real challenge. I had proposed to my parents in law to choose one painting I could reproduce (new exercise for me) and they'd like to have in their living (as a present from me). They said... "Le déjeuner des canotiers" from Renoir.

Oups.
10 months later I was happy to finish this painting. I learnt very much with it. For sure when I saw the original at the "Duncan Philips collection" I visited in Paris few weeks later... I understood I was novice and no way to reach this perfection. Never. Nevertheless my parents in law are happy and everytime I visit them I've a very nice feeling by rediscovering it.
(Q4 2005, 100 cm x 80 cm)

Creations

Now, after some reproductions to learn, it's time to create. First key difference: no clear idea of what will be the result...

Wall Ride (Q2 2006) - 76 cm x 56 cm