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Talking Art + Preserving Cherished Memories in a French Country Home

View from french parlour windows to front terrace, where I did most of my underpainting during a beautiful, sun-drenched day. 

View from french parlour windows to front terrace, where I did most of my underpainting during a beautiful, sun-drenched day. 

Creative Cross-pollination: now on ELLEN HAMPTON BOOKS blog >

My dear friend Ellen and her husband Claude recently sat for a destination-duet painting. They also opted to be part of my destination alternative painting option. Having been married for many years now, but in the process of selling the house in Médan, France (an hour outside of Paris on the Seine river), we arranged to do a suite of small still life/landscape paintings of their house in addition to the core duet painting of the couple. What better way to commemorate their lives spent in this house, raising their two boys, and growing together as a couple? As a historian, a university lecturer, and writer, Ellen is not only incredibly smart but very interesting to talk to; we had many conversations on art and life during the three day period of staying at their gorgeous home in France. It was especially meaningful to do these portraits since Ellen has been a champion of my work since I was an exchange student (and under her keep as university housing coordinator) in Paris in 2005. She and Claude acquired their first painting of mine, a view of the Andes mountains, as seen from a train en route to Machu PIcchu, back when I was a student. Ellen used to be a journalist in latin america, along with Claude, so this work really prompted fond memories for them. Fast forward almost a decade: I am feeling so grateful to have had the opportunity to do a destination series of their house in the countryside this May, especially knowing how much it meant to them. Upon leaving, Ellen mentioned to me how she was somewhat reluctant to sell the house. But, now she feels like the house is coming with them on their move to Paris. Ellen shares her thoughts on the process on her blog. It is absolutely worth reading. 

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Destination Painting, Mexican Style

First in a series of three Pancho Villa characters, providing shade for the patient couple.  

First in a series of three Pancho Villa characters, providing shade for the patient couple.  

I've just returned from Mexico, from an amazing destination painting for the wonderful DC based sweethearts (what I would call power couple!) Jordan and Viviana. They are definitely top 10 most genuine, loving and well-matched couples I've encountered. I have known Jordan since pre-K and was honored to have him and Viv as muses for a destination painting. This painting was unique not only because of location but because they had so many friends and family present during their post-wedding festivities. The painting session was, no joke, a BLAST. It was an incredible, early morning, coffee and joy-filled moment where the couple and I were surrounded with family and friends on the balcony of the resort in Puerto Vallarta. Yes, technically not an engagement painting -- very much a destination painting! But a very festive, let's-dress-up-once-more event, with friends in sombreros (shading the couple as I painted and as the hot noon sun rose) and room service, celebrating art, life, and love, with ocean and mountain views!  Quite possibly the most memorable painting to date.  Thank you dear Jordan and Viv!  XX



Photos: © 2014 Trevre Andrews and © 2014 Robert Rosales. Used with permission.

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