Artnotes: Portfolio in Progress

 

I have spent most of this week taking care of technical issues so that we might dedicate ourselves entirely to our 6 week artist residency at Maison de Simon starting in February.  So I decided to share our "Portfolio" document in this week's Artnotes.

A Portfolio  in  Progress    Blair and Laurie PESSEMIER in 2023

In February, 2023, we are about to embark on a new adventure:  Artists in Residence, at  La Maison de Simon, in Fontaine-sous-Jouy, Normandie, France. ( https://maisonsimon.art/ ) we are taking a moment to put together a dozen or so of our paintings and artwork, that might describe,  who we are.

MBP

A Portfolio:  it should be the simplest thing in the world.  We have hundreds, maybe thousands of paintings, and other art pieces, created since 1993, when we both started painting ALL THE TIME.  We have had a great number of shows:  North America, Europe, Asia, Africa.  We look at some of our work and say, “what was I thinking?”  There are other times we can’t believe these paintings came from us, they look so beautiful.

LFP

So, here we are.  It is truly our life, our reason for being.  To make an artist’s statement?  It’s like asking “why do you breathe?”   We paint JOY.  It’s not for everyone.

We have owned and traveled with a dog most of our lives together.   A dog gives us perspective and lets us know what matters and what doesn’t.  A dog gives us something to think about besides  ourselves.

LFP

We left our “regular job” in Seattle, Washington and moved to Paris, France, where we painted every day and gave art workshops to tourists.

MBP

Of course we traveled, all around France. French people used to say, “you’ve been to more places in France than we have.”   Wherever we went we painted.

Blair was born in Seattle, Laurie is from Winsted, Connecticut.  Together we have lived in Seattle, Paris, Tunisia, and now, Italy.   We have painted on four continents.

We are always trying new media.  There is so much art to make. We hope to live to be 100.

INVITING All Artists to present their Work:   Paint, Literature, Crafts, Food.... Pessemier's Sunday Salon Weekly on Sunday  No Reservation Necessary   How it works: Bring a piece of your ART: that could be visual, like painting or printmaking; or literary, as in poetry or prose; or crafts, like metalwork or knitting; or food, or music.  Something you made, or feel particularly inspired by.  You have about 5 minutes to present, and we'll ooh, ahh, or answer questions you have.  You can also come and see how we work before diving in.  Just show up on Zoom at a minute or two before the hour.    No selling, no networking until after everyone has presented. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88093708954?pwd=M04zNHB4dFZkREp3bThweUd1YnVDZz09 Meeting ID: 880 9370 8954 Passcode: 886402 Rome 8PM; NY 2 PM; LosAngeles 11AM