THE LOST TRESURES

WITHIN THE RITES OF SPRING

reformed watercolor 2015

EXHIBITION GALERIE 3F

Jean-Michael Faudemer at his best

hanging "The Good Earth"

This will be my fourth exhibition in ten years at La Galerie 3F. I love the space and Jean Michael Faudemer the owner. He is so patience with me. 

Something new this time. "Reformed" water colors.

I am a devout Abstract Impressionist in every sense but format, 

I am now rearranging fragments of work and printing them on the same paper as they were originally made. I then finish the new image with my own brush.

I think the impact is striking.

I will not abandon in any way the intimacy of the small abstract works. They are my jewels.

MILLION DOLLAR VIEW

I found this on the internet today in an advertisement for short term rentals in Montmartre titled Million Dollar View Paris.
From Mark and Allison visiting from Australia-

How did a typical day in The Million Dollar View start / end for you?

I could say that we left our heart in the Million Dollar View apartment. This was our second stay there and we enjoyed it immensely. The apartment is really well-sized and perfectly located and we were happy to spend our time there. We did a lot of reading and relished many bottles of Champagne & Alsace Riesling, often sitting on the balcony and enjoying the picture-postcards views over the magical Paris our apartment had to offer.

http://studiosparis.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/mark-and-alison-from-australia-les-studios-de-paris-return-customers/ 

The colourful and friendly mosaics of Rue des Abbesses; Painting: Mary Blake

It was "nice" of them to use my painting with the comment from a 2012 renter. The painting was made in the year 2000. Nearly all my paintings of Paris street scene appear to the viewer that I am on the 2nd or 3rd floor. Perspective is not my forte. Here I am standing on the street.
 Rue des Abbesses is still glorious, but it is now a one-way street. There is a parking lane for motor-bikes and trees that are now ten years old. Le Vrai Paris was a great degenerate bar. It is now chic and snobby. When I last painted it a few years back the clientele was so aloof I undressed them.
Thus called "La Vrai Paris à Poil".

La Vrai Paris à Poil

NATIVITY

"Nativity" water color 2005

CHRISTMAS STORY

LE PROGES

cafe Le Proges

 It was painted in 2009 and bought on the spot by a Frenchman Claude, for the love of his life. A woman saw me painting on Place des Abbesses in September and said she had one of my paintings, "Le Progress". I said you're the one Claude loved so much. She looked very surprised then told me that said she thinks of him everyday but hasn't seen him in years.

SUNDAY ON THE LA PLACE DES ABBESSES

Friday September 26, 2014

Crossing the Place des Abbesses has always been an event. 

When I first arrived  in the Montmartre neighborhood, twenty years ago,  the boundaries were clear. The ivrognes or winos took the helm directly across the street from the tall brick church Saint Jean and a small grocery with a good variety of cheep red wine . The young voyous not yet graduated to being gang members, but old enough to leave their neighborhoods hung out near the entry to rue de la Veuxville. The beautiful art deco Guimard Metro in the center,  constantly streamed visitors to Montmartre's Sacre Coeur. Scattered around were always musicians  with varying degrees of talent. Some really exceptional.

A classic carousel was a great solution to ameliorate the first flash image coming up from the Metro. And I guess the little ones think they can tolerate school if they have a chance at the merry-go-round later on. 

It was late September bright and sunny. I decided to paint it again. I set up

on Friday late in the afternoon. The sun was behind me. Luck not on side.Gigi, the frustrated hard rock local musician set up his three amplifiers next to me. He was watching me as he began  playing and finally asked if he was disturbing me.I nodded. He pulled up shop. I thanked him.I looked to the sky.

"Thank you God. "

He was replaced by an young street talent  playing "La Vie En Rose" on an electric ukulel.
There is a nice garden on the far side of La Place. Behind the garden, a city retirement home.Francois, an 82 year old resident from the home began chatting me up. I realized that he  could be a captain concierge. He knew all the local gossip. He also introduced me to the best chausson de pomme I had ever eaten. A remarkable melt in your mouth treat for this afternoon. Francois knew all that was the best. Including himself.

Saturday afternoon

 Within minutes of setting my easel up, Francois was at my side recounting his adventures of La Fête des Vins the evening before. Some Asiatic tourists asked  Francois a question. He began spouting off directions in Japanese. Francois speaks six or seven languages. "Idiots" he said returning to my side, "They were looking for that stupid wall ... when you've got Le Louvre in Paris.  The "mur des je t'aime" is a large ceramic tiled structure in the garden with "I love you" written in 280 languages. A hot spot for honeymooners.
Another gentleman came up. He told me that he was an artist also. He built ukuleles. Another one. That's interesting. I introduced Ludwig to Francois and asked them to step aside so that I could work.
It took me three tries but it finally worked when I tried the grade-school-teacher-you've -been -bad- boys-intonation.
I  really was feeling the amazing energy. A group of very tall loud Latin Americans approached me.
We're looking for Notre Dame. I laughed. No. You're looking for Sacre Coeur. The leader turned to his companions. We're looking for Sacre Coeur.
"That will do." The leader responded. I began to get weary and turned my brushes over to Carmela.

CAFE KAKOO at the foot of Sacre Coeur

 September 17, 2014

Manuel, a friend and owner of the Café Kakoo asked me to make a painting of his bistro. I told him that I didn't paint in the street anymore. He had sold his part of the restaurant and would be leaving Paris at the end of the year.
"Please." he begged me with his sparkling eyes and gorgeous smile. I want one more Mary Blake painting to remember you by.

 I agreed. The next day I set up my easel for the attack on about the most crowded spot on earth -the entrance gate going up to Sacre Coeur.
Camera city.

THE  PHOTO TAKERS as opposed to photographers.
If I looked up and saw a camera aimed at me and the person made a gesture as if to say is it okay?
I would nod and return to my work.
The best was when I looked up and the photo taker pretended to be aiming at the sky or the building behind me. 
Unacceptable - Putting the camera in front of my face to take a photo of my painting in progress.
or the grinning housewife posing with her head next to my painting  with a victory sign. 
"Scat lady."

It was a real lesson in concentration, especially the way I paint. Always by trial and error. I arrange the colors first. When I find harmony approaching, I gradually weave in the subject.
A week later I presented the painting to Manuel

"It's wonderful!" he smiled. "That how I'll remember my café with the world steaming by."

LA GALERIE AUZERAL

"all that jazz"

le 3 au15 juin 2014

d'Orsay

"the stable"