Art tells us stories about specific times in history; it has given us specific knowledge about architecture, fashion, food, wars, and everyday life. Art can become a narrative that shares a story from an artist’s perspective. However, as the viewer, you may process the information differently than the artist. You might see a different story in the painting, and you will interpret it from your own experiences.
Works of art can portray a monumental historical event or a genre that depicts everyday life and an ordinary moment. That is a subject matter I zoom in on: those unexpected incidences. I catalog those moments with my camera for reference so I don’t forget them. Creating a personal reflection in my painting may mean something different to you and me.
Personal experiences shape storytelling in my work—narratives I infuse with my interpretation of something I have experienced.
My new painting entitled “Daily Baguette” is an example of one of the scenes. I remember visiting France when we had coffee on the streets of Bonneval; its history goes back to medieval times. I watched a man enter a bakery and walk away holding his baguette, no paper, no wrap, just his bare hands. Then he stopped to meet his friends in the café where we were sitting and set his baguette on a chair alongside him. After he finished his coffee, he picked up his loaf of bread and left. Au revoir!
The man wears jeans, a T-shirt, and a watch; it is contemporary. The streets are narrow, and the buildings have been there for generations. There’s history. I left out details that I found distracting and simplified entries, doorways, and windows. I removed modern pipes for draining and kept the “mouse hole” drains.
The old buildings were chalky and had remnants of color in the trim, shutters, and valance. I chose colors that worked together to show depth and movement in gauche paint, which is opaque compared to the transparency of watercolor on an aqua board surface.
I love how casual this is, his gait as he steps up on a stone curb, the casualness of his arm swinging as he walks—the thrust of his arm toward us. What if you were into “step in this man’s shoes?” Where would you go? What would you do with your baguette?
This narrative is about experiencing a moment in time of a gentleman’s daily routine. Maybe he will spread butter on his baguette and make a Gruyére cheese and ham sandwich. Bon appétit!
I would enjoy hearing your interpretation from your perspective and experience. Please feel free to leave your comments below.
