Loving Vincent.
By now, just about all artists who are on Social Media will have heard about, if they haven’t already seen, the first full-length feature film, hand-painted in oils, “Loving Vincent”. This remarkable masterpiece just received a Golden Globe nomination for the Best Animated Motion Picture.
It is impossible to overstate the impact of this film. We were impressed and moved by it on many levels. The craft and dedication invested into the work goes beyond imagination. Almost 67,000 individual paintings were created to tell this story. The scenes are right out of Vincent’s paintings, brought to life by a dedicated team of artists..
The film revealed much about Vincent’s Van Gogh’s life from the viewpoint of those who knew him. And since we recognize his paintings, we are familiar with these characters. They are the subjects of his work; his models and friends. They come to life on screen to discuss Vincent, his life and how he died. The writers and directors, Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman unfold the story based on the letters Vincent wrote to his brother Theo Van Gogh. He signed them as “your loving, Vincent”, which gave the film its title. The protagonist is Armand Roulin, who is in possession of a letter written by Vincent to his brother to Theo, and through his efforts to deliver it, we follow his journey as he meets the other characters we have come to know through Van Gogh’s artwork.
If you haven’t seen it yet – check it out. Technologically, it’s quite brilliant and a must-see for any artist. But more than this, it is a loving tribute to Vincent Van Gogh, his life and his work.
Listen to Hugh Welchman talk about the making of Loving Vincent.
And see the trailer here
Paint in Van Gogh’s Footsteps.
In 1889, Vincent Van Gogh spent a year living in an asylum in Saint-Rémy de Provence and painted many of his most famous works on the property. Our guests get a chance to literally paint in Van Gogh’s footsteps while we visit the asylum.
Check out more blogs about art workshops, tips and hacks for artists traveling in France and Scotland.
George Howard: Photographer at Large in Provence
Occasionally we meet a non-painting partner whose own work inspires the rest of us. The photographs by George Howard are immediately identifiable for their graphic color and beautiful light, the same qualities that artists seek in our work.
Yellow Ochre Lifted from Nature’s Palette
Yellow ochre is a naturally mined pigment used by artists everywhere. One of the must-see villages in Provence is Rousillon, where this multi-hued pigment was mined. You see it as orange, pink, and red on the walls of all houses and the red rock faces for the surrounding hills.
From Train Station to World Class Art Museum: Musée D’Orsay
From a train station to a world-class art museum, the Musée d’Orsay is the top choice for artists who want to view magnificent French art. The Musée D’Orsay has a fascinating history which began as a train station built of steel and glass and became a world-class art museum.