Tu Es Où?

Tu Es Où?

oil on linen canvas, 60x60cm

Tu est où?  Isnt' that the first thing we ask when we answer the telephone these days -- where are you?  Doesn't matter which language.  This painting is part of the Parisian Blue Hour paintings a series I've been working on since 2008.  

Finally, after more than four years I am understanding what it is that thrills me about painting the city.  These last three paintings along with Hotel du Louvre and Place Colette summarize the execution of the inspiration.  First it was people, then the color black, then it was night scenes and people, the long lasting blue sky, then it was neon signs. But these are the settings for the theme.

 It is the abstraction that night lights create first in my camera's lense; the big chunky spots of light that my spatula knife can spread onto a canvas like butter on bread. Yummy!

This will be for sale at stand 54  in the tent (chapiteau) at the Grand Marché d'Art Contemporain from 1-5 November

Contrescapre Soirée

Contrescarpe Soirée

oil on linen canvas 60x60 cm

This is from the Mouffetard series, part of the Parisian Heure Bleue series.  I'm happy with this painting, only if it were a larger canvas.  This will be on display and for sale at stand 54 of the GMAC Bastille, Paris 1-5 November. 

Russ on Muffetard

Russ on Mouffetard

oil on linen canvas

60x60 cm

This is all about  l'heure bleu, that is the blue, hour when the citylights and the sky are both light before night. Here in Paris, during the summer, it lasts for hours.  That day Russ was there.

And here is a photo of the kids paintings from the open studio day.

Great light I have, love this place, the kids did too.

Le Dome

Le Dome

60x60cm oil on linen

The Dome is one of those gorgeous historical cafe's on Boulevard Montparnasse, a great place for a continental breakfast and people watching.  This is another from the series of the Parisien Blue hour.

It feels good to finish a painting.  After all the parties the last few months I was seriously wondering if  I needed to hire some new elves, you know, the ones that paint while I socialize.  Isn't that what artists do? Yes, we hire elves to paint for us. 

Place Colette - Paris

Place Colette - Paris

60x60 cm, oil on linen.

Who doesn't know Colette, what a femme!

and here is a better photo of the Hotel du Louvre

Hotel Du Louvre

Hotel du Louvre

60x60cm oil on linen

This photo was taken with my HTC phone and doesn't do the painting justice.  So many colors are washed out.  When the batteries recharge on my serious camera I'll get a better image. 

Anyway the I like the painting because it is of that hour of the day in Paris which is so special, the BLUE HOUR.  It is my pet - the parisian blue hour - when all the terraces fill for the apero, especially on warmer days.  

Happy birthday Caterina V.!