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.

KASLO EXHIBITION

Abstract Art Exhibition Install day in Kaslo BC - Julie Breton Art

There is something about Kaslo that has always inspired me—the mountains, the lake, the old houses and the feeling that time almost stops here for a moment. I’m so happy to now have a permanent exhibition at Bluebelle Bistro, one of my favourite places in this beautiful historic town. The walls bring together limited editions from my last three series, alongside exclusive prints, framed works and a small collection of stickers created especially for Bluebelle.

shop exhibition

I love the idea of art living outside the traditional gallery—somewhere you can discover it over coffee, lunch or an afternoon spent wandering through Kaslo. Artwork can be purchased directly at the bistro or ordered through my website, where additional sizes are also available, with free shipping. Come for the food, stay for the art, and take a little bit of Kaslo home with you.

SOLIDARTY - SOTHEBY'S INSTITUTE AUCTION

I’m pleased to be part of SolidArty, an art auction benefiting Doctors Without Borders. Organized by Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, the auction brings together 38 artists from 21 countries, with works selected by Amira Gad, formerly of the Serpentine Galleries; Witte de With; Emily Butler of Whitechapel Gallery; and Valeria Napoleone.

SOLIDARTY AUCTION

Curated as a dialogue between MFA graduates from leading London art schools and established artists, SolidArty provides a platform for a new generation of international artists while supporting the work of Doctors Without Borders.

The auction is live on Invaluable until July 17, 2020.

GALLERY MATTHIEU DUBUC PARIS

I’m pleased to share that a selection of my work is now available through Matthieu Dubuc Gallery in Paris.

As a French-Canadian artist, having my work shown in Paris is especially meaningful to me. I have long been drawn to the city’s extraordinary artistic history, particularly Paris at the beginning of the 20th century, when it became a meeting place for artists and new ideas. The work of Henri Matisse, particularly his fearless approach to colour, has had a lasting influence on the way I think about painting.

There is something wonderful about seeing paintings created in my studio find their way to a city that has occupied such an important place in my imagination. Seeing my own work there feels like a connection between the artists and places that have inspired me and the work I am creating today.

I’m honoured to have my work shown alongside established international artists including Piotr Strelnik, Daoud and Diana Sanchez. The gallery brings together artists from diverse backgrounds and practices, creating a dialogue between different cultures, perspectives and artistic voices.

For me, this is an exciting new chapter and an opportunity to deepen my connection with the Parisian art world.

GALERIE MATTHIEU DUBUC

ATMOSPHERE SERIES

The ATMOSPHERE series explores the direct relationship between weather and emotion—how changes in light, colour and atmospheric conditions can influence the way we feel. Created during the long, often stormy winters of British Columbia, the paintings reflect the shifting moods of the landscape and their emotional counterpart.

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Layers of blue, turquoise, soft pink and grey move across the surface, interrupted by darker passages and unexpected areas of colour. Rather than depicting a particular landscape, the paintings translate weather into an emotional experience, moving between calm and turbulence, lightness and intensity.

A selection of original paintings from the ATMOSPHERE series is available, along with limited edition in a range of sizes.

BELLAFLORA EXHIBITION

This summer you can see paintings from the ATMOSPHÈRE series at Bellaflora Studio in Nelson. Take a walk on the wild side and venture onto Herridge Lane, just behind Baker Street. You’ll see that downtown Nelson’s back alleys are filled with fantastic shops, restaurants, galleries and studios.

SHOP LIMITED EDITIONS

At Bellaflora, you can view and purchase original artwork, art prints and gifts, alongside fresh flowers and lush plants. This light-filled space is a florist with a twist, with its cathedral ceiling and time-worn exposed beams. Another hidden gem in Nelson’s historic downtown.

Located at 621b Herridge Lane, Nelson BC.

SPRING ART SHOWS

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

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!

BEST ARTIST, VOTE FOR ME!

I’m pleased to have been selected as a semi-finalist in the 2017 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, an international visual arts competition supporting emerging artists. My work was selected to take part in the competition leading to the SCOPE Miami Beach art event.

Being selected among artists from across North America was an exciting recognition of my work and an opportunity to introduce my paintings to a wider audience. It was wonderful to see the series reach beyond the studio and become part of a larger international art community.

SUMMER ART SHOWS

Abstrcat painting in pastel colors in a living room with pink chair — JULIE BRETON | PREMONITION

My new abstract painting series, Émotions, will be making its way through three summer exhibitions. Inspired by Flaubert’s Madame Bovary, the series will be shown at The Langham Cultural Centre in Kaslo, Bijou in Nelson, and The Cross in Vancouver’s Yaletown.

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I’ve loved working with this literary masterpiece and translating its world into abstract paintings—from its vivid descriptions of the French landscape to its themes of romance, desire, longing and the complexities of the human heart.

SKETCHBOOK

JULIE BRETON | SKETCH inspired by Ellsworth Kelly

This year, I’ve decided to find a way of sketching that works for me. I usually work on large canvases, where I have plenty of room to move, experiment and make a bit of a mess. Sketchbooks, by comparison, have always felt a little too precious and confining. So instead, I’ve started working on loose 3 × 4-inch pieces of paper.

I naturally reach for the same materials I use in my paintings—charcoal, graphite, pastel, acrylic and watercolour—but they aren’t always very practical on a sketchbook page. This year I want to experiment more with pen, markers, Conté and oil pastels, and see where they take me.

I also want these drawings to be something quite separate from my work on canvas. Sketching gives me a chance to study the work of artists I admire and learn from the way they observe and reduce a subject to its essential lines. This drawing was inspired by Ellsworth Kelly.

GREEN OBSESSION

Lately I’ve been obsessed with mixing greens—olive, moss, teal and everything in between—searching for the perfect shades to bring into my Émotions series. I’m especially inspired by the colours found in moss, lichen and decay, where greens become muted, layered and unexpectedly beautiful.

Here is a glimpse of the work in progress, along with some of the colour studies scattered around my studio.

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