How to Paint Like Eugene Boudin, musee Jacquemqrt-André

A little painting-sketching leçon today so you can draw like Eugene Boudin even if you can't make it over for the exhibit at Musée Jacquemart-André by July 22.

The day I visited the Boudin exhibit the sun was shining brightly.

Today it's continuous Paris drizzle but never mind. This is perfect to get you in a 'Boudin' frame of mind.

If there was another 19th century outdoor painter so in love with umbrellas I'd love to to know about it.

Is it only French rain that makes such nice shadow shapes?

Probably. This one mirrors exactly

The rough dog sketches of Boudin

That later turn up in a beach scene painting.

*Note at least 2 umbrellas.

Another rough preparatory sketch of Boudins that I copied above, first with tracing paper and then into watercolor. 

No umbrellas in the finished painting but these are working class so.

Another pencil sketch of beach loungers with their umbrellas and a good one to copy. Boudin loved to throw in just a touch of red to liven thing ups among all the neutral colors. Plus red paint was quite pricy back then so you had to be judicious with it.

Boudin, himself sitting out on a dock. He was really the first to get everyone out of the studio and painting in 'plein aire' including his good chum Monet. Do note his umbrella.

At the museum shop you can get a full painting outfit a bit more upscale than Boudin's supplied by the delightful left bank art shop Charvin.

The museum shop does not have any Boudin umbrellas on offer but they do have this darling lampshade for about 69 euros. Just practice tracing Boudin sketches and in no time you can make your own?

"The Caillebotte Brothers"

Before I left Paris I saw 'The Caillbotte Brothers Private World' at the Musee Jacquemart-Andre. 

Well-to-do brothers, Gustave painted while brother Martial took endless photographs, both recording daily quotidienne life in the mid-19th century, opening an intimate window into their priviledged Parisien lives.

Each brother visually influenced and mirrored the other's images. *Note the backlite silhouetted figure, the result of the slow view camera.

Echoed here in Gustave's painted silhouetted figure at the window.

Just like these two sharply delineated visitors at the musee Jacquemart-Andre. 

Two figures from Gustave's famous big painting, 'Paris Street, Rainy Day' in the Art Institute of Chicago, again backlit.

A preparatory etude/study for that painting.

Looking down from the balcon at promenaders dans la rue.

Again silhouetted figures contrasted against a light background.

And Martial's photo.

150 photos of Martial's were recently discovered and are grandly displayed actual size against wall-sized blowups immersing you in the atmosphere of their times.

Lots of eating included, like brother Gustave's petite niece licking out the copper jam cooking pot.

Or the family caught mid-slurp at dejeuner.

I loved all the glass in this 'Dejeuner' painting of Gustave's.

And was inspired to try my hand at some champagne glasses.

Champagne Celebration, art on Etsy, 9" x 11"

The Salon du The at the Jacquemart has terrific desserts. *Note the eaters are backlit on the terrace.

Miam-miam

Dessert Boxes(backlit), art on Etsy, 9" x 11"

~

BONJOUR BROTHERS CAILLBOTTE!

Jeffrey Bailey and Givenchy

Today's PB post I lay the blame completely at the feet of Hubert de Givenchy (pronounced gee-von-CHEE).

A shaggy dog story that requires your patience.

I left a comment on the Style Saloniste that I owned a watercolor sketch of Givenchy's salon. Terry of Square with Flare, big fan of Givenchy contacted me. "Is this image posted on your blog? I would love to see it". "Not yet Terry...I never thought of it. I'd have to think up a story to go with it”.

Et voila!

Back to the '90s, I spotted a gorgeous watercolor.

In a French magazine, Atmosphere, on Parisien watercolor artists.

I had to track down artist Jeffrey Bailey who is in fact American.

Turns out Jeffrey painted this preparatory 'sketch' whilst sitting right in Givenchy's salon. The final artwork, one of a series, made specialement for M. Givenchy, was a much tighter version, but I fell in love with the sketch. Somehow I twisted Jeffrey's arm to sell it to me. 

Jeffrey's loose yet precise washes are incredible.

I'm in awe.

So much detail described with such ease, economy and dash.

It's a delight to share Jeffrey's work with you.

I can't imagine living in this grand style, much less sitting amidst all this splendor and then painting it.

The Charmed Couple:The Art and Life of Walter and Matilda Gay is a lushly illustrated book about another American artist who also made it his specialty to paint interiors of great homes in France and New York. Edith Wharton, Henry James, Elsie de Wolfe to name a few of the 'grandees' painted by Walter Gay.

I've seen some exhibits of Gay's watercolors - exquisite non?

This one is only 7" x 9"

Gay painted inside the Musee Jacquemart-Andree back when it was a private mansion. We'll have to be patient and wait for the show the Frick Museum is putting on in Spring of 2012 of Gay's works.

I've never tackled a full interior watercolor, but painting a vignette is loads of fun. This one from the Chateau Vaux le Vicomte

And the musee Nisson de Camondo.

Merci for your patience dear PB readers - un gouter from the tea salon at the Jacquemart-Andree..
Jeffrey Bailey, where ever you are, I'd love to meet up again.

Musee Jacquemart Andre

A little tour today. I need to organize my million and one photos from the Saturday's macaron making class. These pretty macs were on exposition at the salon de the in the Musee Jacquemart-Andres.

Attempting to see a new exhibition in Paris as anywhere, is a challenge. But Sunday morning most people sleep in as anywhere, so arriving exactly at opening time - 10:00 AM the line was tres court/ short.

Built in 1870 by banker and art-lover Edouard Andre

and his wife, society portraitist Nelie Jacquemart, to hold their huge collection of mainly Italian artworks, the musee is open EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR! And well worth the entry of 9.50 euros.

YUM!

Up the grand stairway.

The entry fee includes an audio phone with details on everything in sight.

Facing the stairway, this magnificent fresco by Venetian painter Tiepolo. I loved Tiepolo's uniformly muted colors here - painting on wet white plaster will do that... This mural proved more inspiring than the Fragonard show for me.
The colors in all the rooms inspire too.

The perfect recipe of color, texture and pattern + Paris light streaming in the window in these rooms.

Of course no photos are allowed anywhere in the museum.


I know I could have been a spy, preferably for British MI5...

The early bird gets the worm.

Sunday brunch at the Musee Jacqumart

is an "in" Parisien thing to do.
I ordered the "Chardin" salad composee bien sur.


And a very swell salon de the it is too!

The museum gift shop has plenty of tresures

you can take home to feel like Marie-Antoinette.
I'm taking home these little porcelaine birds. I hope you'll see more of them in some watercolor still lifes soon.

Musee Jacquemart-Andre

158, Boulevard Haussemann

75008 Paris

Metro - Miromesnil

open 10am - 6 pm

If you arrive early you can wander the grand rooms and hallways and have the place to yourself. You feel like this is your place.