Letters from Giverny by Eric Santoli

Letters from Giverny

 by Eric Santoli

 
{Photograph} of Artist Eric Santoli Portray In Monet’s Gardens, Giverny
Photograph by M. Jean Gaumy

  We are happy to listen to from artist, Eric Santoli, who’s relishing his three-month residency portray in Monet’s gardens in Giverny and the encircling countryside. Eric reviews to us after his first month on this “Letter from Giverny”. (Artists’ residencies in Monet’s gardens are by invitation solely. There isn’t any utility process.)

   Expensive Ann and John,

     Hope all is effectively.  I’m writing to you from Giverny and have at the moment been residing and portray as Artist-in-Residence in Claude Monet’s gardens for over a month.

   Every little thing right here is inspiring and I have been portray practically on a regular basis within the morning and night. The climate has been nice with an occasional storm interlaced. I have been informed that Normandy has a fame for temperamental climate, however I have been fortunate to this point. The sunshine right here could be very clear and I can see why so many painters have been (and are) drawn to this space.

Portray within the Clos Normand

Morning Scene     10.5 x 14″     Oil

Morning Scene, The Clos Norman     10 x 14″     Watercolor

   There are two predominant gardens right here at Monet’s property. The primary backyard is The Clos Normand, which has the well-known predominant path with rose arches and all kinds of lovely flowers. The opposite backyard is the Water Backyard which accommodates Monet’s well-known pond, Japanese bridge and a bamboo grove. The gardens are bigger than I believed they can be and are crammed with so many lovely crops and flowers. Once I arrived in Might, I used to be capable of benefit from the irises, which is my favourite flower. The range and quantity of irises within the backyard was actually beautiful. A pleasant byproduct of being right here is that I am studying rather a lot about horticulture and gardening. The gardeners are very pleasant and I really feel like I am a part of their neighborhood.

{Photograph} of the Japanese Bridge in Monet’s Water Backyard

Portray Setup in Monet’s Water Backyard

   Monet’s home itself can also be very inspiring and crammed with fascinating artistic endeavors. Many of the works on show are top quality reproductions as a result of authentic artistic endeavors can be too precious and susceptible—regardless, they nonetheless present a snapshot setting of what it was like when Monet and his household lived within the dwelling. I’ve been significantly influenced by Monet’s massive assortment of Japanese ukiyo-e prints. Monet (and lots of Impressionists) have been very excited by Japanese woodblock prints.  I’ve all the time loved Japanese aesthetics and the parallels with Impressionism.

   The countryside round Giverny can also be fairly lovely and hillier than I anticipated it to be. However there may be open pasture and fields surrounding the realm and it makes for a pleasant bicycle experience. Cows, chickens and another animals have been enjoyable to sketch.

My Courtyard in Giverny     10 x 14″     Watercolor

Portray Flower Packing containers, Giverny

Aspect Stairs to Monet’s Home     8.5 x 10.5″     Oil   

   For portray, I work en plein air and have been very busy. Once I first arrived, I used to be portray some smaller works and watercolors, however now I am specializing in some bigger, extra formidable work. Within the night, I stroll by the backyard with my sketchbook and consider spots that might be good to color. The gardens are very busy throughout open hours so I am not capable of paint in the course of the later morning and afternoon. To work round this, I rise early and catch the morning gentle after which I work once more within the night. The solar units round ten pm so I’ve loads of time within the night. Nevertheless, as most plein air painters know, the sunshine adjustments and I solely have a couple of two-hour window to work inside. For a bigger or extra sophisticated portray, I return the next day so long as the climate situations are about the identical.

Peonies     10 x 14″     Watercolor

   I am unable to absolutely categorical how grateful I’m to be right here—it is nonetheless very dreamlike and surreal to be standing in Monet’s footsteps, portray these iconic spots. And the portray historical past right here is crammed with so many nice artists, together with certainly one of my favorites: John Singer Sargent. Sargent and Monet have been really good associates.

   I might be right here for 3 months in complete so I’ve much more work to do. I have been retaining a each day journal and am at the moment engaged on a memoir which I’ll edit and search to have printed as soon as I am again dwelling in the US. I’m together with photographs of the backyard, countryside round Giverny and a few of my work and drawings. I’ve a Blog page and a Giverny Residency page on my web site the place folks can see extra. I hope they supply inspiration for others and I look ahead to sharing extra as I proceed my journey right here in Giverny. 

   Au revoir ,
   Eric

   Learn extra about Giverny’s gardens in two of our different articles:  Inspiration in Monet’s Gardens and The Different Artists of Giverny. Eric guarantees to ship us one other Letter from Giverny later this summer season. Thanks, Eric.

A Letter from Giverny by Artist-in-Residence, Eric Santoli