“I wear myself out trying to render my subjects so they are not stiff…”
Berthe Morisot
Melissa and I have been chasing Impressionist art across Australia. There is a lot of it about at the moment. For me this work which we saw in Geelong, was one of the most engaging. It even has a nice back story. The first Impressionist exhibition was held in 1874, by the Societe anonyme des artistes, peintres, sculpteurs and graveurs. The venue was 35 Boulevard des Capucines. It was an act of rebellion against the conservatism of the nearby annual Paris Salon, an exhibition tightly controlled by the Academy de beaux arts. Thirty Academy rejected artists took part in the rebel exhibition, but only one was a woman. Berthe Morisot was typical of female painters of that time. Firstly, she was from a family of artists. How else would she get training and supplies? Secondly, she usually painted female portraits. How else could she expect to get commissions? This is her friend Paule Gobillard in a ball gown. I love the colours and loose, simple brushwork. #worhtthedrive #letsmakelemonade
Pen Paint and Scalpel 