Another Eva. I don’t like my hands. I know about the technique to look and think in geometrical terms when it comes to hands, but I just fight at this point.
Funny enough, during the studio hours with Eva in France I already had problems with her hands.
I now go with Degas who was supposed to have said, that there is only true beauty, if there is an ugly part as well. O.K., I can live with that…
The Pastels of Henri Roché are known for its outstanding quality and among the artists‹ who used these are Degas, Chéret, Whistler and Sisley.
The family business was founded in 1720 and during the last years it was run by the two elderly sisters Denise and Giséle Roché, both aged 80 and only a small cliental was able to buy the pastels.
The business was handed over to Isabelle Roché and she has started to increase the production of the different colors, which once were available. In the 1930 they had a collection of over 1650 colors. Just imagine that!
Roche has a website in French and English, with interesting information, videos and links, where you can buy the pastels outside of France.
Der Traum aller Pastellmaler.This is a video about Isabelle Rochés work. It’s only in French, but it’s a feast for every pastelartists eyes.
Des Meisters persönliche Pastellbox.
Edgar Degas hat diesen Kasten benutzt.
These last days winter finally came to us in North Germany and everything looked liked as it was covered with icing suggar. This morning the sun came out too and the cold didn’t feel so bad. It’s funny how the same landscape can look completely different, if you turn around 180 degrees.
Pastell, 12×12cm,
2010 © Astrid Volquardsen
Up front there was the sun and in my back it looked like as if fresh snowfall would soon arrive.
Pastell, 13×21cm,
2010 © Astrid Volquardsen
Skizzenbuch,
2010 © Astrid Volquardsen
On the second day in Paris it was raining, but even then the city showed it’s somehow charming side.
On a boat ride along the Seine I did some quick sketches. The other one was done, while waiting for the boat. The raindrops on the sketch illustrate nicely what kind of weather we had.
Skizzenbuch,
2010 © Astrid VolquardsenI went to Paris last weekend to see the great Monet exhibition, which is on display at the Grand Palais. They were able to get hold of over 200 paintings, from all over the world. The exhibition gives an excellent insight in Monets work and I was very impressed.
Impressing also are the visitors numbers. App. 7000 visitors a day are coming! This is definately way to much, because you’re not able to have a look from the distance, so this doesn’t do justice to the pictures.
Well, this way I had to study closely his painting style and all the sudden I realized one of his working methods. Monet used beautifully mixed colored greys. Loads of broken color in every single picture. Beautiful, beautiful greys: It seems to be so simple…
2010 © Astrid Volquardsen
Skizzenbuch,In the film one could see parts of my sketchbook. From these sketches and studies the final picture evolved. I did take photos, but they aren’t essential for the making.
Skizzenbuch,
Skizzenbuch,
Pastell, 12×12cm,Same place, next morning. The night was warm and rainy. So it was damp, but the cold colors of the frost were missing.