CHRISTMAS IN ANTIBES!!!
Freedom is not doing anything except send Christmas cards. Alec & I spent the week in Antibes – 14degrees and sunny !! Lots of lovely food and wine.
Plus … 2 visits to Musee Picasso. A medieval chateau set high on the coast. Originally part of the old town wall. Apart from photos, paintings and stuff about Picasso the bonus for me was Nicholas de Stael. What incredible paintings.
Was looking at Richard Deibenkorn just before our trip too.
Now can’t wait to get back and paint. Both artists have inspired me to try using blocks of colour in an atmospheric, reactionary manner. To recall the subject expressively but only semi-pictorially. These two artists said so much with such minimal brushstrokes yet retained the lines of their drawing….hard to explain.
Just found out a little more about de Stael. Such a tragedy but what an achievement in such a short life. I like that he preferred large canvases. His late style resonates with my painting of Aldeburgh Beach. Strange as I hadn’t looked at de Stael much at that time. The beach painting was a bit of a breakthrough for me so think I’ll go back there and maybe paint there again in the light of seeing de Stael’s work. Think it might help.
Also looking forward to painting Sophie in the style of Diebenkorn/Stael.
