"LA FRANCE EST DANS MON AME"

I arrived back to the U.S. safe and sound, already missing my cottage and atelier in France. As I reflect on my time away I am struck with one strong feeling , "FRANCE IS IN MY SOUL".

Even though I am person who trys to live in the moment, I find it hard not to reminisce or plan ahead each time I set foot on this land. I find these voyages to France evoke a feeling of having lived in this country before. Another lifetime. The smells , tastes and vistas fill me with such strong familiarity, I begin to understand on a spiritual level that I have come home once again. Comfortable and secure.
And then,I get a shot of inspiration from the colors and shapes around me .The cerulean blue sky; cerise red of the sumac plant, celadon green of the fields and the raw sienna from the turning leaves on the poplar trees. There I am again , off to create my next painting, rushing forward to catch the muse.
During the last few days in France I began to paint outside "Plein Air"style. Utilizing the wonderful light that is prevalent throughout this beautiful country, this is one of the reasons I come to paint here ( along with all of my impressionists masters and mentors). Not an original thought, you might say, but one that will resonate deep inside me for a long time.
I am already planning my next year sabbatical to my adopted homeland, but first , I must return to the moment and pack up my studio in Orlando, return to my wonderful home and studio gallery in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and move forward with a new direction for my art and my life.
Until next time mes amis,
Love to all
Marti

Pech Merle Sanctuary

I have had the opportunity to visit many galleries and museums throughout my travels over the years, but my trip this week to the Pech Merle Grotte was an unexpected and magical artistic moment. Located in the Cele Valley in the Midi-Pyrenees near the village of Cabrerets.
I found a treasure of influential markings that will stay with me a long time.

As I descended into the center of the French earth, cool and damp, there among the stalagmites and stalactites were works of art from the prehistoric age, preserved in perfect condition.
This cave was found in 1922 by two teenagers from of village of Cabrerets. It had been sleeping for 24x600 year( you do the math). It consist of seven magnificent "rooms" of the sanctuary, connected by passageways and galleries exhibiting
Engravings, paintings, enigmatic signs, the marks of hands and footprints.
After almost a kilometer of galleries, the dappled horses of Pech Merle suddenly and miraculously appear, and there is a tangible presence of something that reaches from the far depths of time.

You will see the influences from the these Cro-Magnon artists in my new work, layered with my newly acquired knowledge of the intaglio etching process. I am energized by my this latest discovery and look forward to many hours of experimenting and painting and of course sharing this new direction with you all.
Thanks for your interest in my adventures, see you again soon.
http://www.quercy.net/pechmerle/english/introduction.html

Love to all
Marti

Mon Temps en Atelier Montmiral

Bonjour mes amis,
Once again I am in awe of the beauty of South France. The photo you see is a panoramic view of the medieval village of Castelnau de Montmiral,home of my French art school,Atelier Montmiral. High above the clouds in the Tarn region of France it is a magical and inspirational place for me.

I have spent ten wonderful days here emersed in study with art professors Mick and Bunny Newth. As I learn new processes of etching and begin creating new images and directions for my artwork, the influences of the surroundings surface from time to time. Using the words "emersed" and "surface" to describe my focus this year is very apropos and is a true reflection of my new direction as" WATER" seems to be the theme so far. A hint for those of you who might be wondering where I am headed with this collection.

Working hard to acquire the technical knowledge also of the Polymetaal Etching press housed here at the school, was another goal. I have ordered my own press from Holland and it will arrive in December at my studio in Santa Rosa Beach. So you can imagine how my hands and head are full of much needed information.

I am headed now to my beautiful cottage and studio in Roquecor, France for 2 weeks of work and rest. Can hardly wait to try my ideas on canvas.

Watch for another entry soon and thanks for letting me share this amazing time with you all.

Au revoir
Marti

Préparer à la France (Preparing for France)

I am packing my baret, gathering my art supplies and heading to the airport!
My annual sabbatical to France is almost here. I will leave in early October to contiune my studies in fine printmaking, attending Atelier Montmiral once again. www.ateliermontmiral.com.
My artwork is changing and the etching process is the next key for me .Keep an eye out for new images and processes this winter.I am really excited about it!!
There will be also two weeks at my beloved cottage and studio in Roquecor, there I will continue to develope my body of work for my show in Spring of 2008.
Take a peek at the new work on my website http://www.martischmidt.com,this is just the beginning.
Thanks for your support and interest in my artwork
Let me hear back from you on my new direction.
au revoir pour le moment
Marti

L'Artiste Marti Schmidt Studio-Gallery

Hello Dear Friends,
SOME EXCITING CHANGES TO ANNOUNCE !!
I am back at my beach house and have decided to open my
L'ARTISTE MARTI SCHMIDT STUDIO-GALLERY
right away!
You are invited to come by and view new works of art at any time, just call me first to make sure I am around.
Please tell your friends about the new location and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Thanks for your interest in my artwork
Marti

My new contact information is

L'Artiste Marti Schmidt
Studio-Gallery
63 Point Washington Court
Santa Rosa Beach
Florida 32459
850-974-8543