JOURNAL

Art Journal of Julie Breton abstract painter, view new artwork, studio update & inspiration. | Journal de Julie Breton artiste peintre. Voyez les oeuvres, l'atelier & ce qui m'inspire.

STYLE AT HOME MAGAZINE

I am beyond excited to see my art featured in the July edition of Style at Home magazine in an article titled The New Modern. See how Joanna Vagelatos decorated around the homeowner's art collection in this elegant newly built home of East Vancouver Kensington-Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood. Interior Design by JV Design Group photography by Janis Nicolay.

This abstract painting on the right, titled Madame Bovary, is inspired from the French literary classic by Gustave Flaubert.

SPRING ART SHOWS

JULIE BRETON ART | BLOOM & GLOOM

JULIE BRETON ART | BLOOM & GLOOM

This year Blue Night Nelson and Oxygen Art Centre are joining forces to bring you a big night of art and creativity with multiple venues on May 25th. You can meander between art openings and exhibitions at 18 venues across downtown Nelson featuring works by over 100 artists and craftspeople. From 7-9pm.

OXYGEN ART CENTRE - ART MARKET 2017

OXYGEN ART CENTRE - ART MARKET 2017

Opening on the same night is the 8th Annual Oxygen Art Market studio sale of original work. This impressive salon style exhibition features works by local artists and is a fundraiser for Oxygen Art Centre. It runs on May 25, 26 & 27. I guaranty you it is worth the trip to see so many works by talented local artists under one roof. Plus you can own one of them!

LIVING WITH ART

CURATE & DISPLAY | KITCHEN RENO - ART BY BERIT MOGENSEN LOPEZ

CURATE & DISPLAY | KITCHEN RENO - ART BY BERIT MOGENSEN LOPEZ

How often did you see a fantastic piece of art and thought to yourself "maybe someday"? What if someday could be now? There are many ways you can incorporate art into your everyday life without investing your entire paycheck or digging into your emmergency fund.

My very favorite UK Stylist, Tiffany Grant-Riley a minimal design and slow living virtuoso, has found clever ways to incorporate art into her everyday life. Have a look at her latest project on Curate & Display, a kitchen reno in her very own Victorian Era Chatham House featuring art by moi, Julie Breton.

CURATE & DISPLAY | KITCHEN RENO - ART BY JULIE BRETON

CURATE & DISPLAY | KITCHEN RENO - ART BY JULIE BRETON

It's all about planning and making the right choices. First she made sure that key items like flooring and paint colour were the absolute perfect shade for her project. Followed by well curated accessories like fantastic French kitchen towells and a Miele coffee maker none the less!

When it came to the artwork, less is more. A perfectly framed print and small original abstract look stunning next to the Nordic Blue shade of the walls and cupboards. They are also easy to switch whenever you feel like a change. With the right frame choice, they look like upscale artwork and you get all the satisfaction and benefits of living an artful life!

BEST ARTIST, VOTE FOR ME!

JULIE BRETON | TRANSFORMATION

JULIE BRETON | TRANSFORMATION

JULIE BRETON | ABSTRACT DETAIL

JULIE BRETON | ABSTRACT DETAIL

I am a semi-finalist in the 2017 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series. Vote for me each day from Sept 14th to Nov 7th and I'll get a chance to be featured at the art event SCOPE Miami Beach.

Je suis finaliste pour le concours Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series 2017. Votez pour moi chaque jour du 14 septembre au 7 novembre pour me donner la chance de participer à l'évènement artistique SCOPE Miami Beach.

PRÉMONITION

JULIE BRETON ART | PRÉMONITION ABSTRACT PAINTING

JULIE BRETON ART | PRÉMONITION ABSTRACT PAINTING

JULIE BRETON ART | PRÉMONITION DETAIL

JULIE BRETON ART | PRÉMONITION DETAIL

This painting from the Émotions series inspired by the classic French novel Madam Bovary is one of my favorites. I had been searching for the perfect title for a few days when, on the eve of my 29th birthday (give or take 16 years), a meteorite entered the atmosphere passing over Nelson to crash in the mountains nearby. It produced a flash of light and a deafening rumble only Thor could be proud of. The next morning I knew this painting should be called Premonition. This can only mean that the next 45 years will be amazing. Hold on to your bérêt Picasso!

Cette peinture de la série Émotions, inspirée par le roman classique Madame Bovary, est une de mes préférées. J'étais à la recherche d'un titre depuis quelques jours quand, à la veille de ma fête, une météorite est entrée dans l'atmosphère au-dessus de Nelson pour atterrir dans les montagnes un peu plus loin. Cet événement atmosphérique rare a produit un éclat de lumière intense et un grondement digne de Thor. Le lendemain, je savais que cette peinture devait s'appeler Prémonition. Je crois que mes 45 prochaines années seront les meilleures.

SUMMER ART SHOWS

JULIE BRETON | TRANSFORMATION

JULIE BRETON | ARTWORK DETAIL

The big reveal for my new abstract painting series Émotions will take place during three summer art shows. The art, inspired by Flaubert's novel Madame Bovary, will be on show at The Langham Cultural Centre in Kaslo, Bijou in Nelson BC and The Cross in Vancouver's Yaletown.

I really enjoyed working with this literary master piece to achieve a series of layered abstract paintings reminiscent of the French country side, love, lust and all their intricacies.

Le dévoilement de ma nouvelle série de peintures abstraites Émotions prendra place durant trois expositions estivales. Les oeuvres inspirées du roman de Flaubert, Madame Bovary, seront en vue au Langham Cultural Centre à Kaslo, Bijou à Nelson, C-B ainsi qu'à la boutique The Cross à Vancouver

Quel privilège que de travailler avec ce chef d'oeuvre littéraire pour réaliser une série de peintures qui rapelle la province française, l'amour, le désir et toutes leurs intrigues.

ÉMOTIONS

JULIE BRETON | PASSION

JULIE BRETON | SCENTED BRISE

Emotions is a new painting series inspired by Gustave Flaubert's novel Madame Bovary. The novel takes place in 19th century provincial France and follows Emma Bovary's adulterous life. It's publication caused quite a commotion and public prosecutors attacked the novel for obscenity. Standards concerning obscenity having changed since 1850, the novel is now considered a French literature masterpiece.

An infinity of passion can be contained in one minute, like a crowd in a small space.
— Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary

Émotion est une nouvelle série inspirée par le roman de Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary. Le récit se déroule au 19ième siècle dans la France provinciale. Il raconte la vie d'Emma Bovary, femme adultère, incompris. La publication du roman a bouleversée la société du temps et à même amené son auteur en cours pour "Outrage à la morale publique, religieuse et aux bonnes moeurs". Les temps ayant changés, le roman est maintenant considéré comme un chef d'oeuvre de la littérature Française.

Un infini de passion peut tenir dans une minute, comme une foule dans un petit espace.
— Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary

The novel is inspiring for it's descriptions of the French provincial scenery, the unrealistic expectations of Emma and all the emotions the novel convey. It also has beautiful prose and quite a modern take on life and love. You can see the entire series in the gallery or see the shop for available original artwork.

Ce roman m'inspire par ses descriptions du paysage, les attentes irréalistes d'Emma et la foule d'émotions d'écrites dans ses pages. Il se démarque par son écriture poétique et sa philosophie moderne sur la vie et les relations amoureuses. Visitez la galerie pour voir la série entière ou la section shop pour les oeuvres originales disponibles.

SKETCHBOOK

JULIE BRETON | SKETCH inspired by Ellsworth Kelly

This year I am resolved to discover a sketching method that works for me. I usually work on large scale canvases that offer me freedom of movement and can withstand some abuse. I find sketchbooks somewhat precious and limiting, choosing to sketch on large 3"x4" pieces of paper instead.

When drawing, I like to incorporate the same mediums as when I paint; charcoal, graphite, pastels, acrylic and water. I find these are not necessarily suitable for sketchbook pages. In the year to come I will be trying to work with pen, markers, conté and oil pastels.

As for subject matter and because of scale, I find it much more interesting to stay away from the work I do on canvas. I sometimes even get inspired by the drawings of famous artists in hopes to learn. Here is a drawing inspired by Ellsworth Kelly.

JULIE BRETON | PASTELS

Cette année, j'ai pris comme résolution de découvrir une technique de croquis qui fonctionne pour moi. En générale, je travaille avec de grandes toiles très résistantes qui offre liberté de mouvement. Les carnets de croquis sont très fragiles. C'est pourquoi je choisi plus souvent faire mes ébauches sur un très grand papier.

Je préfère utiliser les mêmes matériaux que lorsque je peins; fusain, graphite, pastels, acrylique et eau. Ceux-ci ne sont pas les meilleurs choix pour ce qui est des esquisses sur carnet de croquis. Je me résous donc à utiliser stylo, feutre, conté et pastels à l'huile.

Pour ce qui est du sujet et en raison de la grandeur, je trouve qu'il est plus intéressant de m'éloigner de mon travail sur toile. Je m'inspire même, parfois, du travail d'artiste célèbres en espérant faire de nouvelles découvertes artistiques. Voici un dessin inspiré d'Ellsworth Kelly.

GREEN OBSESSION

JULIE BRETON | WORK IN PROGRES

JULIE BRETON | COLOUR SWATCH

Lately I have been obsessed with mixing green, olive and teal colours in search of the perfect shade to add to my Émotions painting series. I am inspired by moss, lichen and decay. Here is my work in progress and paint samples from the studio.

À la recherche de la teinte parfaite, je continue de mélanger de nouvelles couleurs vertes, olives et turquoises pour ma série Émotions. Je suis inspirée par les mousses forestières, le lichen et la décomposition. Voici mon travail en cours et mes échantillons de peinture.

BRIEF STORM

JULIE BRETON | TEMPÊTE BRÈVE No.2

Inpired by a poem from turn-of-the-century Montréal poet Emile Neligan The Golden Ship, I created a series of four 8"x8" paintings.

I first drew some marks in graphite and charcoal with the subject in mind. Then, I applied some colour washes followed by thicker paint using a painting knife to create some textural interest.

You can read the poem by following the link.

JULIE BRETON | BRIEF STORM SERIES

Inspiré par un poème d'Émile Nelligan Le vaisseau d'or, j'ai crée cette série de quatres peintures de 8"x8" qui s'intitule "Tempête brève."

Avec le sujet en tête, j'ai dessiné des marques de graphite et de fusain pour ensuite les recouvrir de lavi de couleur. Finalement, pour créer une texture intéressante j'ai appliqué de l'acrylique au couteau.

Vous pouvez lire le poème en suivant le liens.