My Art - French Country

The first time I visited France as a young man, I realized that there was something very special here that I have to this day found nowhere else in the world. It is about the simple elegance, dignity and artistry that these people bring to all aspects of life.

The French have mastered the art of living well. Elegance and grace are effortless and everywhere. There seems not to be a distinction between stock broker and street sweeper and the elevation they both bring to savoring wine, appreciating conversation and their general awareness of the aesthetics that are everywhere in France. Women know just how to tie a scarf and arrange a hat. They seem to be dedicated to looking good at all times. Even children, dressed as practically as anywhere, appear somehow more tasteful.

Everywhere one visits in France there is art and artistry. No building in Paris has escaped detailing that would be considered extravagant in most cities. Simple homes in the hills of Provence draw the eye to casual but consciously created detail. The seemingly careless way a bike is left propped under a window, the countless terra cotta pots of geraniums which adorn abodes from the humble to the most elegant, all speak of an attention to aesthetics unique to this part of the world.

As an artist, I spent many years probing and painting Canada. Having been born and raised amongst the rocks and pines of the Canadian Shield, I have a good understanding and ability to record and present its greatness on canvas. After many visits to France, including one that lasted most of a year, I reached a point about a decade ago where I knew it was time to start painting 'French Country'.

Working with oil and canvas, I tackled my first few Provencal subjects with Canadian zest and disappointing results. I quickly realized how different is the light, especially in the South of France. By abandoning oils in favor of acrylics I found the light and vivid colour it generates. I have painted large and small homes, countless winding, arched village streets and with each work I discover and want more.

My wife and I continue to travel in France. The visual treasures there are never exhausted. We spent this past October in Paris. The more cafes, boulangeries and cobbled streets I paint, the more I realize that I will never finish.

Like thousands of artists who have gone before me, the passion of France's 'French Country' has captured my palette and what a privilege it is!

My company is ART by IVAN. In my Toronto studio, I work from thousands of photographs and sketches done on location in France. I market my work through art shows from Miami to Ottawa and via my website, www.artbyivan.com. My studio is open by appointment and you can contact me by email at info@artbyivan.com.