Dear Friends and Collectors,
Spring is a joyous time in the South of France when the sun is warm on the earth and gardens are wild riots of color and new growth telling the story of time moving forward. The air is still milky and the weather keeps thinking we’re not yet done with winter with cold nights that sometime require a beanie to stay warm! Spring is also a time of intensive work for me as I’m preparing for two solo shows here this summer. I began my time with a wonderful residency at the Villa les Camélias on the French Riviera, just north of Monaco in Cap d’Ail. This is a private former residence of the Gramaglia family that opened the villa to exhibit their impressive collection of Basque artist Ramiro Arrue.
During my two-week residency at the Villa les Camélias, I completed four paintings that will be exhibited next year in an important solo show. Watch for an interesting video of my painting process on Insta and Facebook, as well links to a catalogue.
Next spring 2025 during the 5th Festival des Jardins de La Côte d’Azur, I have been offered a large 40 painting solo show in the same villa; it’s a great opportunity to showcase the different Mediterranean gardens I have painted, such as Domaine du Rayol, the many gardens of Menton, Hanbury Gardens, La Mortella in Ischia, Antibes, and my just completed residency at Cap d’Ail. Despite the horror of discovering a rat had been feasting on my oil paints in my painting cave in Bormes les Mimosas, I pulled out all of my work to take inventory and found some great thematic groupings for this exciting show, and I’m sharing some of these favorite works here. That’s the silver lining to that experience!
In Menton this spring, I will be exhibiting at the St. John’s English Library for two months. The opening is May 4 at 6:00pm. If you are on the French Riviera, please join us! This solo show features six paintings and five works on paper. It’s a great way to show my work to the large English community in this graceful city that I love so much.
I am also putting together my solo show at the winery of L’Aumérade in Provence for this June and July; there is much to do, so more on that in my next monthly news….
Sending blessings of spring from the Côte d’Azur!
Yours In Art,
Gianne