As the artist told Ponsonby News, “In June last year I arrived in Paris for a month’s stay and decided that I had to find something to do.
"I know the city well and was keen to escape the crowds of tourists that milled about in the summer heat.
“From Montmartre where I was staying, I walked down the hill to the main Sennelier shop opposite the Louvre on the Left Bank. I asked an assistant there if she knew of a good life-drawing class I could join and she recommended L’Academie de la Grande Chaumière – an old established art school in Montmartre. I read up about it online and turned up for class the following day.
“Chagall, Modigliani, Lempicka, Fernand Léger, Louise Bourgeois, Joan Miró and Chaïm Soutine (among others) studied at this school since it opened 120 years ago.
“The studio we worked in was large and airy with high ceilings that helped with the summer heat. You can sense the history as soon as you pass through the large wooden entrance doors, stone stairs are worn with 120 years of use as are the wooden floors, drawing boards and easels. Everything looked original.
“Paris works hard to retain its character and the school had a wonderful dusty ancient atmosphere. It was perfect.
“The courses they offer include painting, drawing from life (model vivant), sculpture and design. Some of the classes are untutored as was the case with the life drawing class I did. The models were actors and dancers with strong lyrical bodies and they were a delight to draw.
“It was fascinating to work amongst a group of eccentric Parisian artists and to feel integrated in a small way into the Parisian art world. They say that all things French have their origins in the Revolution and I had first-hand experience of this. The group dynamic was fascinating and I was interested to be part of it.“
The exhibition opens on 23 March at 639 Takatu Road, Matakana. There are further details on the website.
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Published: March 2024