Friday 8 May 2009

The Meeting

For this painting I used watercolour and gouache. It was inspired by a visit to Chateau Chanonceaux in the Loire Valley in France. I remember it as a very white, delicate building which almost appeared to float on the river as if in a dream.
A few months after I painted it, I recall reading the lively histories of some of the former inhabitants. What I discovered about Louise de Lorraine spooked me. She was married to a King Henry 111. Her appearance was described as blonde and painfuly thin in stature. After her husband was dramaticaly murdered by a monk (nothing as boring as a heart- attack) she spent the remainder of her grief-stricken life, wandering round the chateau and gardens dressed only in white.

13 comments:

  1. i can really feel the mood.beautiful sorrow...

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  2. It reminds me of el greco. a greek born spanishpainter during late renaissance period

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  3. Denise! thanks a loooot for your comments, so cool that somebody that doesn't know you face to face encourages you :) are you on facebook or any other network? would be awesome to connect with you somehow:)

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  4. Hi Olya, I'm not on anything at the moment apart from email. I'm thinking of joining facebook. Until then you can always email. Also, I've just signed up for skype but its so recent that I have not used it yet - so not sure how it all works! I'm the world's worst at new inventions! bye, Denise

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  5. Lovely. I gots to learn how to paint all over again. It's been years... as in since I was a child since I've seriously painted. If you decide to join FB, Olya and I are on it. We met at our DTS. Peace!

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  6. This is really strange! DTS - is that anything to do with YWAM? !

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  7. yep!are you somehow connected with ywam!?

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  8. please tell me your email! and if you have time can you check this link www.flickr.com/photos/klyuchik
    those are my photos, i really want to know what you think!

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  9. I'm indirectly connected to ywam through friends in Asia who work for them.
    My email is - deniseburden@lineone.net

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  10. Thanks for visiting and your lovely comments Denise, it's a pleasure to view your beautiful work - am pleased to be following.

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  11. I have always liked the way so many of your paintings tell stories - psychodramas is a better word in many cases. I'm reminded, I've said before I think, of Grayson Perry's pots - I'm not sure why.

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  12. Lovely at last - on my return from holiday - to find your blog going strong and your superb paintings featured on it. Look forward to more.

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