Melrose Bay Art Gallery - Karen F. Rose Art Opening

We Are Not in Kansas Anymore 2013
6x6" pastel
© Karen F. Rose
available

          Very pleased to be invited to be the featured artist kicking off the New Year at the Melrose Bay Art Gallery in Melrose, FL. 

                      

                                  Karen F. Rose  The View From the Easel

                                    painting a poetic vision in oil and pastel

                                               

                                                Opening Reception          

                                           Sunday, January 13, 2013

                                                       2 - 5 PM

                                          Melrose Bay Art Gallery

                                          SR 26

                                          Melrose, FL

                                   Exhibit dates Jan.12 to Feb. 24, 2013 

Hope to see you there.                        

Paris Velib Bike Program and The Tour de France

Velib' Bike Rental Program Paris

Ok, confession time... instead of painting today I have been watching the Tour de France. As the cyclists spin their way through France headed toward Paris, I am reminded of the many Velib' stations located throughout the city. That rental program is the only way most of us will ever be riding a bike in Paris. 

Sorry Lance... for not making the team. 

I do like the the basket model velib bike. Perfect for art supplies and pastels from  La Maison du Pastel.

Seems there should be more emphasis on this kind of rental here in the States especially in college towns.  What do you think?

But whenever you ride your bike, please wear a bike helmet. 

A surprise at Sennelier in Paris

Sennelier in Paris
Photo Karen F. Rose

An artist in an art shop is like a kid in a candy store,

so having the opportunity to visit Sennelier at 3

Quai de Voltaire really set my heart racing.
Ah the pastels and oil colors, what joy, what excitement.

Wait a minute what are those guards doing in front

of Sennelier? I realize that there's lots of history

here...but guards?

Well apparently former French

president Jacques Chirac and his wife live in the

apartment above the store.
You just never know

who you'll run into on the way to pick up that

extra tube of French Ultramarine blue.
I hope he has taken up painting. How convenient

to walk downstairs for a new tube of paint!

Edgar Degas Pastel Box -1870

Photo © 2008 Karen F. Rose

A selection of over 500 H. Roche pastels from
La Maison du Pastel
on display at the musee d'Orsay

Photo ©  2008 Karen F. Rose

Edgar Degas pastel box from 1870. With all those
pastels- how to choose?

Photo © 2008 Karen F. Rose

Whenever I am involved in a workshop students

always buzz with conversation about equipment.

prochade boxes, the best easel to use

and their favorite brush or pastel.

Can you just imagine Edgar Degas with this

small little box of pastels at the Paris Opera!

La Maison du Pastel Paris

What an experience to meet
Isabelle Roché owner of La Maison
du Pastel, (founded in 1720) and to select a few
handmade pastels for my studio.


The sign on the door of the little shop open
only one day a week Thursday from 2 PM to 6 PM

Isabelle showing me pastels made with
the same skills that were inherited
from a family tradition and used
by artists Degas and Vuillard.

Outside the small shop at
20 rue Rambuteau, Paris

Click on this link for the web site

and a fascinating history.

http://www.lamaisondupastel.com/