The Big Easel Preview Part 5-Paintings that Take Me Places

When I see a painting that gives me respite from a hectic day, reminds me of a special time or place, or takes me somewhere other than where I am, it is a magical thing..if only in my mind, I am not where my two feet are physically planted at that moment.

For this Big Easel Preview, I am featuring five paintings by artists who are participating in The Big Easel on Saturday, May 16th from 10 am-5 pm at Town Square-River Ranch, Lafayette, LA.

These five paintings were chosen because in the middle of stress and chaos, they brought me some peace.

Image 1:

"Getaway Camp" by Muriel Dauterive

Oil on Canvas, 18" x 24"

Muriel Dauterive is a resident of Madisonville, LA.  A retired nurse, Dauterive has studied painting with several artists but is primarily a "self-taught artist." Mainly painting in oil, Dauterive uses her travels and photographs as inspiration.  Galleries in Lafayette, Covington, Mandeville, New Iberia, and New Orleans have featured Muriel's work. 

This particular piece reminded me of my childhood.  Outside of my home town (Claxton, GA) there was a cabin on the banks of the Canoochee River.  It was called The Claxton Bank Cabin and I was there many times for parties and picnics that were always fun.  Very much like the cabin in Muriel Dauterive's painting, the cabin was perched on a small hill along a very pretty stretch of the river.

To see more of Muriel Dauterive's work, go to www.murieldauterive.com

Image 2:

"Flower Market" by Isabelle Jacopin

Pastel, 16" x 24"

Isabelle Jacopin is an artist that I met through friends in New Orleans.  Isabelle lives part of the year in New Orleans and part of the year in the Dordogne region of France.  In New Orleans, Jacopin lives and works in a typical French Quarter shotgun double (apartment).  It is only when you step inside that you realize you are in a very special place.  The personality and spirit of Isabelle is wonderful and it is a real treat to be in her company.  I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase a small mixed media painting of a rose. I see it every day at home. It reminds me of Isabelle, flowers that I love, and New Orleans.

When I saw "Flower Market" from a series of paintings that Isabelle did of French Marche (Market) scenes, I immediately wanted to come along with Isabelle to her native France to experience her life there and see the countryside and all of France the ways she does.

Although I have never been to France, being around Isabelle and seeing her paintings took me there for just a bit..if only in my mind.

Jacopin's work is collected world wide.  Galleries in France, New Orleans, and Atlanta, GA have shown her work.  And Rue du Pont Galerie et Studio in Breaux Bridge, LA, will have a two month show of Isabelle's paintings later this year.

To learn more about Isabelle Jacopin, check out these two websites:

www.passe-partout.fr/jacopin

www.isabellejacopin.com

Image 3:

"Canals of Venice" by Dana Manly

Acrylic on Canvas, 16" x 20"

Another place that I have never been is Venice.  I have always heard how beautiful, mysterious, and interesting Venice is.  After seeing this painting by Dana Manly (www.ddmanly.com) of Lafayette, I want to be on the gondola (sitting, of course!) traversing the city via water.

A native of New Orleans, Dana attended University of Louisiana-Lafayette where she studied fine art and received her masters in counseling.

Dana Manly's work has been shown at Gallery 549 in Lafayette, City Club in Lafayette, galleries in New Orleans, and Rue du Pont Galerie et Studio in Breaux Bridge will feature Dana Manly's work in July of this year.

Image 4:

"Mardi Gras" by Adrian Fulton

mixed media, 60" x 48"

New Orleans is one of my favorite places.  Each time I am there I discover one more thing that I love about the city.  Not only is it absolutely beautiful architecturally and filled with such incredible history, the joie de vivre that exists provides pure freedom and bliss. New Orleans IS laissez les bon temps rouler!

Adrian Fulton (www.laughyet-la.us/)is a Lafayette based artist who is primarily known in this area for his paintings of people..celebrities and "real" people alike.  I had never seen a painting of a scene by Adrian until I saw this painting of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  I immediately was reminded of the city I love and wanted to be there right at that moment.  I love the depth that is given by Adrian's layering effect and the movement that the brush strokes provide.

Image 5:

"Thick Clouds" by Sandi Stewart

Acrylic on Wood, 24" x 24"

Doesn't everyone love to be on a blanket having a picnic under a beautiful blue sky and perfect white clouds? I certainly do.

Sandi Stewart is a native of New Iberia, LA, but now calls Lafayette, LA, home.  Jefferson Street Market in Lafayette, Tsunami in Lafayette, and Paul Schexnayder Gallery in New Iberia have all shown Sandi's work.

I hope my journey from place to place has inspired you to buy art that takes you some place and travel!

Come see these five artists plus 57 more on Saturday, May 16th from 10 am-5 pm in Town Square at River Ranch in Lafayette, LA!

The Big Easel Preview-Part 4-Trees

Trees make any landscape special. As I write this I am at my parents house in south Georgia. Fortunately for me, the computer desk is in the "kids den" and I can look out through glass doors to the backyard where 35 plus year old oak and pine trees are. Spring has brought new leaves to the trees and the trees are loaded with that special chartreuse green color of new growth. I love being here this time of year when the landscape is so beautiful.

Southwest Louisiana is known for its abundance of cypress and oak trees that fill the swamps, marshes, and yards. For this Big Easel Preview, I have chosen three paintings of trees by Ramsey Ayers, Tony Bernard, and Melissa Bonin.


Image 1:
"One Special Tree" by Ramsey Ayers
Although quite a bit more colorful than a real tree, Ramsey's whimsical and layered style of mixed media paintings produces a result that is very charming. Even if not exactly what you would see in your yard or local park, don't you just want to sit under this tree and let the day go by? Ramsey has described her paintings as "depicting the life of a fictitious world, a land I find perfect in every way." An escape-something we all need every now and then-is what I would call it.
Ramsey has shown at galleries in Lafayette, New Orleans, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, and Breaux Bridge. The latest show of Ramsey's work will open on April 11th during ArtWalk in Lafayette at Galerie Eclaireuse (www.galerie-eclaireuse.com), one of my favorite galleries. To see more of Ramsey's work, visit her website (www.ramseyayers.com), visit Galerie Eclaireuse, and be at The Big Easel on Saturday, May 16th, at Town Square in River Ranch, Lafayette, LA.



Image 2:
"Just the Two of Us" by Tony Bernard
This acrylic on canvas painting perfectly depicts what makes the landscape of Southwest Louisiana so beautiful and special. Scenes similar to this one are always right around a curve or corner and take your breath away when they appear. The dripping moss and wide trunks possess their own appeal; add the ever changing sky and a masterpiece is born.
When I first saw Tony Bernard's work, I thought he only painted LSU pieces. I was pleasantly surprised to see his vast body of work include these gorgeous landscapes. To see more of Tony's work, visit www.bernardstudio.com. I know that Tony is working on large scale landscapes for his tent at The Big Easel and I can't wait to see them!























Image 3:
"Listen to the Lilt of the Trees" by Melissa Bonin
New Iberia, LA, native Melissa Bonin has a masterful way with color. In her Lafayette, LA, home studio, Wolf Kahn-esque paintings of trees stole my eyes away from the bayou scenes that Melissa has become so well known for. Wolf Kahn is one of my favorite painters. I do not pass on the compliment of comparing a painters work to Kahn's unless I really mean it. The purples and greens of this particular painting by Bonin soothes the soul and is one that I could look at again and again and never tire of it.
Melissa has described her work as possessing "a unique language of color, light, and spatial relationships." I couldn't agree more. To see more of Melissa Bonin's work, please visit her website at www.melissabonin.com.



Wherever you are, pay attention to the trees..I hope you find ones as beautiful as what I am looking at right now.

And I hope you will attend The Big Easel Art Show on Saturday, May 16th from 10 am-5 pm at Town Square in River Ranch, Lafayette, LA, to see what new works Ramsey, Tony, and Melissa have produced!