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Art collection update: I want to share some update

Art collection update: I want to share some updates from my personal collection. I am so glad I added this pastel “Portrait of a Young Soldier” to my collection 😍 Straight from Paris, created in the late 1700s. For me, art is not just about realism. I appreciate art that captures the essence of a person without trying. Vigée Le Brun and many of her contemporaries were incredibly good at it.

I enjoy art that makes me feel something, but also ask questions like who was this young man? Why was it created? Did he die in battle? Who was his family? ❤️ Of course, when I saw him, I had to have him simply because his portrait did just that!

How do you buy art?

#art #paris

Summer has proven a wonderful muse. I have started

Summer has proven a wonderful muse. I have started blocking in my angel, I found 2 incredible books and started drawing another painting I would like to try with oils. It will be called ‘The Laundress’.

Books:
1. Color mixing recipes for portraits by William Powell. This book also includes a plastic scale so when it is 1 part to 3 parts you can mix the exact amount.

2. Portrait Painting Atelier (Old Master Techniques). This is a more academic book - it offers detail from how to set your studio up to techniques. I personally really like it.

#art #painting #portrait

In addition to my own art, I also collect. And I’m

In addition to my own art, I also collect. And I’m excited that My art collection has expanded. I was lucky to pick up some incredible paintings recently - which are now hanging on my wall ❤️❤️ Art from the Gainsborough school (Portrait of a Lady in White), Baroness Maria Von Schwarzbek (Austrian c 1830) from the Baroness Lisolette von Schwarzbek, a 1950s ‘Mexican Shepardess in the style of Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta (1841–1920) and a beautiful oil painting of a English gentleman.

I have ONE more on the way and it’s my favorite. It’s a 1800s oil from Denmark that was part of a private Austrian collection and will share once it arrives 😍❤️✨🧑🏼‍🎨

For the past few weeks I’ve been developing ideas

For the past few weeks I’ve been developing ideas for larger painting (inspired by angels and mythology). As I worked through sketches and studies, a few of the figures began to take on lives of their own.

The start of this small portrait is one of those studies—part of a larger story, but also a painting in its own right.

Excited to share these studies soon on the store! 🎨🧑🏼‍🎨

Back on the easel again - if you have a long day,

Back on the easel again - if you have a long day, or feel blue, simply paint clouds. I don’t know where I’ll go with this one but I feel better already ✨☺️

How to show you’re an American in Paris without sa

How to show you’re an American in Paris without saying it? 😂😂😂❤️❤️❤️❤️ I’ll drink my cafe avec milche when I want 😂😂😜 ohhh Paris

Study 2: A Spring Ribbon. Original print. Medium:

Study 2: A Spring Ribbon. Original print. Medium: acrylic with gold leafing. 7x5”. Available to purchase. Includes Frame.

Summary: Practicing smaller mural designs and Spring themes.

Slowly but surely, this miniature is finding its w

Slowly but surely, this miniature is finding its way. A side step away from my usual landscapes—built layer by layer, detail by detail.

I’m only halfway through, but it’s already teaching me what the next one needs… or maybe the next two. A pair, or a set of three—so nothing gets left behind. #art #miniature

Detail — in this study, the work is in the brush.

Detail — in this study, the work is in the brush. What reads as softness from afar is built from small, imperfect marks.

The surface is intentionally textured — not smooth — so the landscape holds a sense of the outside. Nature, too, resolves this way: textured up close, softened at a distance. #artwork #painting

Landscape study 1 :: A Spring Day. Moody landsca

Landscape study 1 :: A Spring Day.

Moody landscape #1 complete. $100, framed and mounted - comment ‘sold’ to claim ❤️

Details: 7x9 canvas. Frame included. Medium: Acrylic.

✨ Over the next few months I’ll be doing more vintage style landscape studies and move towards vintage/historic style portraits. I will be doing studies on chiaroscuro, glazing and even oils. I’m also going to share some of my favorite tools, styles, and detail drawing studies for the process. I hope you join me on the journey, it’s the best part! ❤️ ✨

#artwork #landscapes #vintage #portraits

My latest treasure for my living room (that’s bein

My latest treasure for my living room (that’s being redone - swipe left!!) 😍 a huge thank you to @handpickedbyjules for finding this treasure!! It’s perfect!! ✨❤️

POV: Moody country landscape loading …. I’m dustin

POV: Moody country landscape loading …. I’m dusting off my brushes and creating a custom piece for Clairvalon and my letter society. This is just a study and practice piece, but the process is my favorite part. To paint is a peaceful, patient process. In a world - and a job - that rewards speed… this is a welcome request. ❤️🎨

I made my first Etsy sale ❤️✨ It may be small to

I made my first Etsy sale ❤️✨

It may be small to some, but to me—it’s the beginning of something I’ve dreamed about for a long time. A quiet little idea, slowly turning into something real!

To my first buyer… thank you! You’re not on my Instagram but that’s ok! Truly. You’ve no idea how much it means to me.

Here’s to building something beautiful, one order at a time.

— Julia, Clairvalon 🌿🙏🏼

Guillame Lethière edited by Esther Bell and Oliver

Guillame Lethière edited by Esther Bell and Oliver Meslay.

He was born in Sainte Anne, Guadeloupe (north of Martinique and Dominica, south of Antigua for reference)

So many paintings to choose from, I don’t know how to pick only a few for my article. But, locate and buy this book! It really brings to light his life (1760-1832), other minorities and French society as the l’Ancien régime fell and the new Republic was born - I mean, he started his own atelier around 1791/1792 and was rivaling Jacques-Louis David by 1794 😍✨ He saw the death of Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, the reign of terror and the rise of Napoleon. Incredible view of history through the eyes of a man many would ignore. Not to mention his very progressive attitude on women’s rights and enlightened thinking.

I’ll update this post and share the Substack article when it is ready ✍🏼✨❤️

#frenchhistory #arthistory

I’m in love with this 😍 #interiordesign

I’m in love with this 😍 #interiordesign

I love this little statue of ‘Blind Justice’ - not

I love this little statue of ‘Blind Justice’ - not an antique, a gift actually, but a beautiful reminder ❤️☺️✨

“Petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid” (Step by st

“Petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid” (Step by step, the bird makes its nest) #antiques #oldworld

It’s lovely weather here (around 20-25C) and I dec

It’s lovely weather here (around 20-25C) and I decided to take an evening walk. Throughout my quaint neighborhood the signs of Spring are everywhere 🌷🪻

In the midst of our fight (started by the ultra we

In the midst of our fight (started by the ultra wealthy) and politics - I can’t stop thinking of when I visited Pipcus cemetery in Paris. It is a private cemetery where nobility and 1,300 nobles/clergy/supporting commoners that were guillotine victims are buried (yes *1306* including Louis XVI sister Madame Elizabeth and Madame LaFayettes mother, sister and grandmother (the Noailles)).

(Swipe left) The 3rd picture are the 2 mass graves (that are 24 meters deep with a marker on top), the second is the resting place of General LaFayette and His wife Adrienne de #Noailles, and throughout this small cemetery are Duchesses and others.

This was the dumping spot during the Reign of Terror. The LaFayettes were in an Austrian prison when this occurred, and when Madame LaFayette died - her wish was to be buried close to her mother, sister and grandmother.

The small size is not captured well in my photos - it’s extremely small for that many people. They literally threw them away.

I don’t know what to think of Iran, our regime removing politicians and interfering in other countries elections, fear mongering and bullying people into their agenda - other than I wish I did live in a country where our voice mattered and we were not ruled by the ultra wealthy and incumbent politicians and corporations who only serve themselves.

I wonder what General LaFayette, General Rochambeau and Admiral de Grasse would think and say about it 🤔

I only hope the path we are on can be corrected before it’s too late. #frenchrevolution #LaFayette #Rochambeau #pipcuscemetary

POV: Thinking of France and the beautiful architec

POV: Thinking of France and the beautiful architecture of the past. I am looking forward to returning to Chambord (Blois), seeing the gardens of Versailles and the long lit evenings Paris offers ✨

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