Thinking of Monet

Monet's last years fall into the Belle Epoque....and his art reflected those carefree years before WWI changed the world for good. I have been absent from this blog for more than a year. My husband was diagnosed with a serious illness shortly after the previous blog. I nursed him, and lost him in May. As it goes, it took  a long time to pick up my art again...and I am glad to find that my blogs and my patient followers are still here.

In my new painting, I created a carefree landscape. It is inspired by spring and by matric dance photos I have seen. I am also posting some Monet images:

"Lilac Brollies" by artist Marie Theron
405mm x 305mm oil on canvas board
SOLD

I quite liked an earlier painting that I did in 2011, called "Busy Lizzies". On seeing a photo of figures in movement that I would love to paint, I immediately reverted back to that cool fresh style of painting. The new one is simply called "Lilac Brollies" to rhyme with the earlier name. To crown it all, the owner of the first painting, wants to buy the new painting as well.

"Busy Lizzies" (2011) by artist Marie Theron
405mm x 305 mm oil on board
SOLD

The freshness of the Great Masters of Impressionist painting, will always be appealing, and I decided to add some "wiki" images of Monet's umbrella ladies to this post for everyone to enjoy again and again!

MONET

MONET

MONET

MONET

Hats for Smart Wear

Towards 1927 smart suits were worn by women and "misses" alike. The world started a lasting love affair with crisp white shirts, also called overblouses in the Twenties as they were not always tucked into the skirts but had a band around the hips to round off the design. The blouses could be made from chiffon, a material called radium silk, and popular English broadcloth! Now why does that last material sound so strong and practical?

Feathers and porcupine quils were found on hats throughout the Twenties and I decided to use a Berti Borelli type of design for my belle with the unexposed hair, the black parts being part of the hat design and not hair! And, yes, you can buy vintage style hats on E-Bay today! And one last thought, one can still spot the Victorian bonnet in the style!

Wearing a scarf with Flair

There is one thing about a Frenchwoman: she definitely knows how to wear a scarf! In my bedroom there are some hooks brim-full with the most beautiful scarves which friends and family brought me.

Every Frenchwoman throws a scarf over her clothes, they say, and you should do it too! Do these lovely gifts suit me? No! If I do try one on, no matter where I wear it, it will seem as if I have headache, neck-ache or toothache! It does not help that many of my forebears were French!

This French Belle was one of the first I painted. She was adopted by a small company that sells imported French fruit drinks. Unlike me, my Belle knows what style of scarf will go with her white sun dress and beads!

The Little Black Dress # 2

180 x 180mm (18 x 18 cm)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

AVAILABLE in South Africa from January 2011

Price R400 + R50 Postage and Packaging

Wherever you go, however you celebrate this holiday season, have a wonderful time! Enjoy and keep well!

I have loved starting this blog and am full of ideas for 2011. I will be full-out busy with family commitments and travel, but on my bedside table and travel bag I have a stack of books on Art Deco, De Lempicka and fashion history. Already waiting in my studio are some wonderful paints I found: a very pale blue and quite a range of purple hues! It is going to be GREAT FUN for me to pursue this course.

For the final image of this year, 'the little black dress' and 'a timeless look'. The name of my painting is: "The Night is Still Young"

A Little Light Rain

180 x 180mm (18 x 18 cm)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

SOLD

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

Although I devote some of this blog to the Twenties, a period that often had very adverse publicity, I like to show the sweetness and innocence of the period and the feminine love of fashion. F.Scott Fitzgerald spoke about "the freshness of many dresses" That love for lots of fashions was always part of womenhood and it is still there today.

Parks and delivery bicycles are so Parisian! I hope you like this belle with her little umbrella strolling outside on a wonderful crisp morning.

Cosy and Chic

180 x 180mm (18 x 18 cm)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

SOLD

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

Before I started this blog I have already followed the blogs of Ronelle (living in France), Mangonette and Anne-Marie ( a French teacher in Canada).

All three blogs have the most tasteful and inspiring photos of food, fashion or interiors, lovely articles and poetic words. There is a lot of French style in these blogs and you'll love to follow them.

So to these three bloggers: I noticed today that your blogs related to c-o-l-d weather....so I will just sweat it out in sunny old Cape Town and present you with my cosily dressed French belle!

Off to the Opera

The French Belles in my paintings are forever living in the Twenties and Thirties. They were caught up in life between two great wars, and everything was out of their control. So they embraced life and tried to make it wonderful.

180 x 180mm (18 x 18 cm)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

RESERVED