Sunday, October 28, 2007

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



Sunday, October 21, 2007

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