As I am working on this website, please know that this area will be a reverse chronologic journal of my artistic adventures,
Working on a mural 2019
I was pleased to get a commission for a mural to be done in a meditation room at a local memory care assisted living facility.
At 5 feet x 10 feet, this was the largest artwork I had done. Here’s the process and the final product.
Luncheon of the Cycling Party: final oil painting. 30 x 40 Jan, 2018
Renior used a canvas approximately 30 ” x 40 ‘. It is a masterpiece and hangs in the Phillips Gallery in Washington, D.C.
My original hands at the Cafe Espresso in Portsmouth, N.H. I did send a larger canvas print to elliptiGO headquarters in California.
I
I deceided to use a canvas the same size. I had never worked on such a size of oil painting. I worked on the painting for one month in studio. This was the final product.
You may get copies, prints on paper and on canvas,etc. at my website
http://www.artbyfrancois.com. Enjoy.
Luncheon Post 5 A pastel sketch
Now, with digital image and new pastel sketch of the still life on the table, I put them both together in a pastel painting. I had some posters of this made up and sent it to the participants. They are from as near as New Hampshire and as distant as the Holland. Quite the project.
Next time: full on Renior, an oil painting.
Luncheon Post 4
Who’s Hungry?
Finally, I was able to complete my digital photo to a more complete rendition.
But the “ Luncheon” had NO FOOD!
In Renoir’s painting, an entire repast was reprsented as a still life.
I asked my elliptiGO friends for suggestions.
Wine and Beer and Water
Clif Bars
Fruit
Bagels and butter- carbs, you know.
I went to the store and got a supply, then put it out on the table to create my own still life. We ate very well for that week!
Next: create a pastel painting.
Luncheon, Post 3
Filling in the painting with colors, a dog decision.
compiling all the drawings onto one sheet, re- creating Renoir’ proportions, I found that the dog was too big. I changed the dog to a puppy, or I wouldn’t be able to put anything on the table.
Next: Who’s hungry?
Luncheon, Post 2 See post 1 below
The enthusiasm builds.
Perhaps, maybe unsurprisingly, I started to recieve photos of my prospective fellow cyclists in poses that that they were assigned.
Using an app called Adobe Draw, I was able to sketch the cyclists, send back for feed back and begin the process of long- distance artwork.
I am located in Maine, USA. No other cyclists were in Maine.
Next Post: creating a digital painting
Re-imagining “ Luncheon of the Boating Party” by Renoir, 1881. Part 1
After a 50k charity cyclist event on my elliptiGO cycle (www.elliptigo.com), my son, Andre and I were treated to a lunch by the event organizers.
This luncheon with so many colors of jerseys and so many cyclists made me recall one of my favorite Renoir paintings. #”Luncheon of the Boating Party” Renoir had painted 13 friends enjoying a luncheon at a cafe overlooking the Seine. The painting took several sessions and was a landscape, a still life of the table foods and 13 portraits. Done in 1881, the painting was critically acclaimed as a masterpiece.
The task was daunting. For one thing, the 13 cyclists I knew from my facebook group,
ElliptiGO Group were all over the world!
I mapped out the painting and gave each member a number.
Then I sent them the following message via facebook messanger:
Hi .
In 1881, Pierre Auguste Renoir painted his masterpiece: “Luncheon of the Boating Party.” Many of his friends and acquaintances had to gather on location, many times to act as models for his famous painting.
This year, I will attempt my parody painting “ Luncheon of the Cycling Party” I have already engaged the on-line community to offer suggestions about what fare should be on the table.
Here’s the scenario. After an early morning 50 k event, our 13 intrepid cyclist are meeting for lunch under the same canopy and balcony overlooking the Seine that Renoir used- yes it is still there!
Now I need your help.
1. Would you consider being in the painting as one of my models?
2. If you would, I would need you to wear a very bright and fancy cycling shirt and helmet
3. using the painting as a guide, have someone take your photo. For example, if you were Number 9, you would pose astride a chair, facing a table with one hand on the table.
4. I will try to work with you to create a reasonable portrait of you, but you must realize, It will not be perfect.
5. At any rate, I wish to thank you in advance for participating in my project.
I am assigning you image number two, the boater leaning back on the railing.
I am sending you some images to clarify this.
Thanks.
Next post: enthusiasm builds.
