La Cathedral e Notre Dame

SOLD

  I must say I really prefer this angle of the Cathedral much better than the head on look, or was that the back?  It was just so beautiful with the flowers and the trees beginning to bloom.  Notre Dame is in included in the Paris Museum Pass although I really don't remember a line, although I did not look for an official tour.  This is a great part of the city too.  I'm sure if you go you will enjoy it.  There's a bridge near by that I remember musicians playing on.  Really festive and fun!  Catherine returns from Paris today and I can not wait to hear all about her experiences and the museums she went to.  I wonder if she took any of the day trips to Chateaux museums included with the pass.  I also can not wait  for her to share photos.  I'm sure it was gorgeous with the buds coming out.  Ah Paris in spring.  I can still remember the magic even though it has been some 5 years....  Friendly reminder today is the last day of the April special, but don't worry for you fans in the East / other side of the world I extend it for the day in case you are sleeping when I post(:

Notre Dame, II

  BUY NOW! $100

  This might be my last week posting about Paris.  We'll see what other pieces I sneak in.  I think every painter that's a fan of impressionism needs to paint Notre Dame.  It really was cool covering the same ground as some of the masters that I've looked up too.  And wow seeing their originals works, well that was even more inspiring.  Catherine is still in Paris and I am so excited for her.  I hope the weather is gorgeous like we are having today in the North East - 70's.  Yipee!

Beauty Hidden Deep

  BUY NOW! $200

  It's Rick's Birthday.  Happy Birthday Rick!  So I am posting his favorite poem that he wrote inspired by my painting of these hydrangeas!  Here it is

"Beauty Hidden Deep"

 by

R.A. Martelle

 

The clouds break open

The sun’s rays fall

Upon the dilapidated

Abandoned estate

 The once grandiose

Cherry Springs mansion

In such disrepair

That no eye want of it

 The regality

Of the lush flowing gardens

Now rampant with overgrowth

Of monotonous knots and tangles

 But there are spaces

In the thick foliage

Opportunities

For the sun’s life to shine in

Life rains down

Upon a forgotten vase

Long since broken

And yet…

 Beauty endures!

 The precious blooms

Flourishing

Within/without its’ confines

Season after season

 Beauty endures

It cannot be stopped

Even if it must be

Beauty hidden deep

Ó 2010 Richard Martelle.  All rights reserved

Midnight Affair

  BUY NOW! $100

  Well it is almost the last Friday in April so here's a splash more color before I go back to writing about Paris next week.  We had a teaser spring day yesterday in the North East and now it is freezing again and windy and grey.  I love this tulip sort of looks like it's having an affair with it's shadow..... Nice to have color during the bleakness!

Somewhere Else in Paris

  BUY NOW!  $100

  Who knows where this is.  I can't remember and it really doesn't matter.  What matters is the feeling that I was left with from experiencing the City of Paris.  Love.  This can be yours too if your heart is open to it.  The place is just gorgeous.  Was the sky really pink that day?  It was for me.  Just being in that city gave me a set of rose colored glasses!  And believe me at that point in my life I needed them.  Just about every hidden corner had cherub water fountain marble statue with flowers all around.  It was as though classical music played everywhere and signs of love dotted the city.  What I found terrific about it's residents was the pride they took in making the city beautiful as well.  Red and violet colored flowers draped from window sills.  Shop owners prized their displays of fresh meals.  And you know I really don't remember seeing any trash on the streets. 

Somewhere in Paris

 

BUY NOW! $100

  Back to Paris, so there I was meandering the streets again just taking in the beauty and love of it all.  I just love the way the trees are reflecting in the water here.  My friend Catherine should be there by now and I lent her the map I told you about last week.  Some other tools you might want to consider reviewing before you go or bringing along are the Fodor's "Exploring Paris" and or the Fodor's "see it Paris".  I'm sure you can check these out of the library if you don't want to buy it (or get lucky like Catherine and borrow from a friend like me).  The "see it Paris" has good write ups of many of the museums, especially some that are a little less known.  I'm pretty sure it was at the Sainte-Chapelle Chapel or it could have been the Cluny museum where I purchased a hand made linen pocketbook that EVERYONE in the states that sees it wants one.  I am hoping Catherine goes and buys me a new one as mine is a little worn out, but still loveable.  Both books have so much in it you really need a year to really see Paris!

Over the Edge

  BUY NOW! $100

  Don't worry I'll get back to posting about Paris next week but want to throw some more dramatic colors onto the blog scene for now.  Here's one of my tulips that I liked scumbling (I think that is the right word) the paint over the canvas in layers to create that depth.  I really like it a little bit chunky like that as there's some texture to it.  And yes the shadow has fallen over the edge...

La Seine au Printemps, II

  BUY NOW! $100

  I meandered along the Seine for what seemed like hours at a time.  Really I was always heading to one museum or another or back to the hotel.  Besides the Louvre and Musee D'Orsay (twice I might add) I went to Musee de L'Orangerie.  That's the Monet circular exhibit of the water lilies and it is breath taking.  It is also located at the end of Jardin des Tuileries which I had no trouble walking through more than once as my hotel was about a 5 minute walk to the Louvre.  Buy a little ice cream cone in the beginning and walk the garden on the way to the museum!  Sooo Good!  My friend Catherine is leaving tomorrow for London then Paris the following week & is so excited.  Yes she is going to buy the Museum Pass I mentioned in the previous post & I lent her my Paris Map!  Bon Voyage! 

La Seine au Printemps, I

  BUY NOW! $100

  Back to my trip to France.  Now if you make the same sort of Pilgrimage to see some of the old masters, the first two things I suggest are purchasing "Artwise Paris, the museum map" as it is invaluable for getting around and knowing your important landmarks.  The next this is when you get to Paris you need to buy the "Paris Museum Pass".  I purchased mine at the Louvre, but if you can get it on line do it and avoid that ridiculous line!  Totally worth every penny.  It will get you into over 60 museums (number may be different now), and after the first purchase you can bypass all the long lines and even enter through secret back entrances.  Again, totally worth it.  Please don't ask me where this is.  I was just so in awe of the beauty of the city I just started snapping pictures along my river walk.  But I have no idea what building that is.  Does it really matter? Isn't it just gorgeous!

So Many Tulips

  SOLD/UNAVAILABLE

  Here is another one of Rick's poems that he made up for the couple that owns this painting

"Just LikeNick & Linda"

Just like

So many tulips

They have grown together

Strong

Rising together

In destiny

With cherished love

And imperishable passion

Admired by others

They are

What aspiring couples

Strive to be

They are encompassed

By the like-minded

Those who care

Selflessly

Those who would

Protect and defend

The very values

They hold true

Oh, to live

Live with one’s true soul mate

Just like

Nick & Linda

Ó 2010 Richard Martelle.  All rights reserved.

Waking Up ('

  BUY NOW! $100

  I know I've been working on posting the Paris series lately and I will get back to that story next week, but I thought since it's spring I'd share this tulip that I really enjoyed painting.  To me with the angle of the flower it looks a though this little guy is just waking up since he's not straight up yet.  You know that feeling when you first roll out of bed just starting the day.....

Musee D'Orsay

 SOLD/UNAVAILABLE

 My trip to Paris was a real pilgrimage to see the original works by Monet, Renoir, and other Impressionist.  And what an amazing city to just be in! I never imagined being able to paint works of the city, but here they are....  Musee D'Orsay was one of the best museums ever!  In fact I went twice even though I was only there a few days.  There's an incredible cafe on the top floor you just have to eat at for lunch and make sure you order quiche with a nice glass of wine.  Most enjoyable! 

Bonjour et voici "la Tour Eiffel"

SOLD

  Paris is indeed the most beautiful place on earth to be in during springtime.  My first series of paintings done back in 2008-2009 sold so well I went into my stash of images to create a new series of minis and of course I couldn't repeat what was done before because what's the fun in that?  I hope you will enjoy this little series coming up & take advantage of the April 2013 special I am running (see April 1 post if you missed it).  I love Paris.  It was simply beautiful..... more about it in the next posts.....

Mary Ann's Show & Paintings

  

   Hello all!  Here is a fabulous painting by Mary Ann Kline one of my "Texas Art Bubble" fellow painters.  Mary Ann and I met last summer in New York at a Carol Marine workshop and later we met up in the advanced class in Texas with Sue.  So totally awesome!  So Mary Ann has a show coming up in May 2013 and here are the details

Ocean City Arts Center

1735 Simpson Avenue

Ocean City, NJ

609-399-7628

Show dates are May 1 - May 31, 2013

Hours are M-F 9 to 9 and Saturday 9-3, closed Sundays

Opening reception is Friday, May 10, 2013 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

To see more of Mary Ann's work copy and paste the link below to the Ocean City Arts Center page 

http://www.oceancityartscenter.org/exhibit/2013/may.html

This piece is called "The Reflection" and sells for $125.  It will be available during the show & hope you can make it.  

  

Le Chat Noir Observateur

  BUY NOW $180!

  Here's the Hawaiian Chat Noir again observing his habitat at the Bishop Museum.  It was raining that day but this cat didn't seem to mind as he watched the gecko meandering through the grass, unaware of his lurking presence.  Original painting is not as bright, not sure what happened with the camera that day as I didn't take the photos, sorry...... He's still cool (: & remember April is BOGO month!

Turquoise Lotus

SOLD/UNAVAILABLE

  This lotus flower I did a little abstract and just let it flow out of my hands.  The piece was for a wedding present of some pretty heavy duty yogi's!