Inspired by the masters and living in the heart of the south of France I am facinated by the dance both color and a drawn line perform with eachother. Each drawing is unique. My inspiration comes from my deep love for Henri Matisse, Raoul Dufy, Cy Twombly and Egon Schiele. Each portrait is a poem, as I continue to mature and discover definitions of beauty that go beyond years of drawing lessons and perfect brush strokes.
These are drawings and paintings made with different techniques: ink, charcoal acrylic and oil. Each media allows me to use different textures and create different atmospheres. I sit in the place that I draw and paint and feel the space with my pen and paintbrush.
A unique portrait of the “salon chinois” of the famous Mirande Hotel in Provence. I painted, drew with charcoal, added some gold and loved this beautiful textured surface. Et voila the bliss of what I felt in this space when time stops and the dolce vita in Provence kicks in.
La terrace, a colorful portrait of a beautiful moment in Provence where everyone goes out to have a glass of wine and enjoy l’apéritif. Made with ink, acrylic paint, and charcoal.
Le salon rouge is where I come to nurture my creativity with a cup of tea and a good book. This painting is hanging in the suite of the beautiful Bed and breakfast called “Les jardins de Baracane” in Provence, Avignon. Ink, acrylic, charcoal and pen.
Jardin en Provence. The shade in this garden is many colors. I painted this with milk paints and then varnished it so that colors are bright and deep.
The beautiful cafe/ restaurant at the famous museum in Aix en Provence called “Maison de Chaumont”
I sat with my charcoal in one hand and enjoyed each moment I spent with Goya's "Los Caprichos". I chose the donkeys and I wanted to sit with these and experience each line with the understanding that Goya's line is that of a master carving his vision and mine is that of a crumbly piece of charcoal on canvas and my impatient eye. I love these they tell me a different story every time I look at them.
"I cook with my heart" by Jean-Claude Altmayer and Maxine Christensen / Editions Delirium, 80 pages, 2013
The chef and I collaborated to create an illustrated cookbook that tells this very unique chef's stories and offers a recipe for each anecdote.
La Mirande, Avignon, France
CEOL - The Irish Traditional Music Center, Dublin, Ireland created by Event Communications based in London.
Fun, interactive exhibits full of music and dance give visitors an exciting modern approach to Ireland's most prized tradition.
My illustrations were etched, printed, and sanded onto the walls and show cases of the entire exhibition, the hotel and the restaurant.
The Experience Museum, Dranouter, Belgium
A modern and interactive museum in Dranouter about traditionnal Belgian music, it's history, the instruments, the songs, traditional dances, famous musicians and the festivals.
My artwork can be seen throughout the entire space. I worked with the musicians, singers and dancers who performed in the videos shown in the exhibition. Each portrait reflects their unique identinty.