Camille and the lake
“She is Camille, he is the lake with its mineral decor revealing the stones at the bottom and the small poles which were disturbed by the arrival of the swimmer. A scene that I like to observe every summer season with this very particular ritual, in a somewhat perilous access which differs from one period to another by the level of the water….”
The lake a source of inspiration
Camille and the lake has almost become a recurring theme in my artistic work, because it takes up all the elements that make up my research work which revolves around human posture and the space used. In addition, the lake offers this diversity of textures and colors which are specific to it and which bring additional fascination to this enchanting space. The first work worked on this theme in 2020 was a triptych entitled “ Invitation au bain ” and composed of a main work measuring 103 x 74 and two small canvases measuring 40 x 40. This work in three paintings is based on a narration and an emotional journey through evocative elements. Made at that time with the necessity of a need for abstraction and symbolism.
INVITATION TO THE BATH - 2020
A work in triptych 1X 103 x 74 and 2X 40 x 40
Acrylic on canvas protected by anti UV varnish
The work entitled “ The time of cherries ” produced in 2021 took place in an area bordering the lake, a few steps from the previous painting mentioned. The lake had then been replaced by cherries, like the delicacy of leaving the bath, but Camille's gaze was focused on the lake from which she had just come out. The seat on which she sat was a molded armchair by a great designer covered with a white canvas cover, perfectly adjusted in the upper part and with an exaggerated amplitude for the lower part.
CHERRY TIME - 2021
Acrylic on canvas 70 x 70 - protected by anti UV varnish
“ Bare Back ” and “ Grain of Beauty ” are two works produced in 2024 with this necessity which pushed me to work with the support of the canvas by integrating the white space specific to these two paintings as a compositional necessity, without doubt a question about the reflection of water... fullness and emptiness...
BACKLESS - 2024
Acrylic on canvas 70 x 70 - protected by anti-UV varnish
BEAUTY GRAIN - 2024
Acrylic work on canvas 70 x 50
protected by satin anti-UV varnish
A more recent work led me to work on the route and the almost routine progression of this approach to the lake, the canvas entitled “ The girl in blue ” was painted in 2024 on a format of 70 x 70 from a sketch made on site. This somewhat unique and distinctive place is adorned with two hundred-year-old trees with very dense foliage.
THE GIRL IN BLUE - 2024
Acrylic work on canvas 70 x 70
protected by satin anti-UV varnish
The preliminary sketches
In all the works presented here, sketch work was carried out beforehand. Graphite, blue or black pen, feather, etc. depending on the tool available in my kit. It is essential for me to be able to capture the posture and support points of the subject which I then wish to rework on a frame.
The sketches are drawn up very quickly and sometimes reworked in my workshop before reproducing them on the canvas at the desired scale. Sometimes I complete the sketch with a photo of the place to help me choose the color palette. The work of reproducing the sketch on the canvas is done through an old-fashioned grid by superimposing a grid rodoid on my basic sketch.
For me, sketches are essential elements of my painting because they allow me to take possession of the atmosphere during the different phases of observation.
A summer posture
The hidden dimension of a summer ritual whose only variable is the water level. The latter varies regularly depending on the season and temperatures, more or less revealing the rocks at the bottom. This year the level was rather low, making access somewhat perilous, but the unique dimension of this enchanting setting inspired me to create the work entitled “ The girl by the lake ”, an acrylic painting on canvas measuring 120 x 120 on reinforced frame with a thickness of 4 cm. I was able to capture the escape of three small poles while Camille was probing the water temperature.
I loved working on the shape of the rocks at the bottom of the water and the gradual slope of this lakeside as well as the reflections at the end of the day. The choice of the composition of this work was naturally put in place to present the purpose of the access path, the stones with moss from the shore and the position of the rocks. The curled up posture of the swimmer takes place as evidence at the intersection of these elements.
Good discovery and I remain available to discuss.
See you soon
THE GIRL BY THE LAKE - 2024
An acrylic work on canvas 120 x 120
protected by satin anti-UV varnish
