The beach (L’Anse Rouge)

This painting was commissioned 2 years ago… and delivered in Paris just 2 days before lock down. This is how I could escape to the island of Noirmoutier just in time, instead of going back to my Amsterdam studio. I had just one day left to walk on this beach before all access were banned for long weeks.

I have painted this subject 3 times in 10 years. I love this view that reminds me sailing sessions in those days of perfect quiet weather when we can sail by high tide so close to the rocks. The painting was a gift to a very nice person, who happens to own the nicest cabin of this beach.

Samaria

They went through the Gorges de Samaria then reached a small pier at the end. Swimming was non negotiable. Dive after dive, the temperature has become a little bit more bearable. Her hand is about to grab this beautifully rusted chain and she will go up. This is only a matter of seconds. Just the time to straighten up on the quay, to scan a never endless bright Mediterranean surface, start to feel the epidermis already heating up, marvel at the water transparency, and at the abstract sea floor design… And dive again!

Inspired by  Jules Renault  photography.

TM-Samaria-antoinerenault-art copie 2

samaria-antoinerenault-art-oilpainting-saatchiart-Fin-zoom 2 

Lia

Lia-antoinerenault-art-saatchiart-9There are 2 great joys in my life as an artist: the creative process by itself, and the connections triggered by the result of it. Once upon a time, there was a Catalan art lover who used to follow my work and chat through Instagram. Her Canadian New-Brunswicker lover, who happens to work in Amsterdam, started asking if there would be a way, by any chance, to celebrate their anniversary with a portrait of his soul mate. A first secret meeting with him takes place in my studio. We browse through available pictures while tasting some goof wine… hoping one of them would be triggering the inspiration. It actually happens with that image. I liked the attitude a lot. The eyes looking down, as if lost in her thoughts. The long hair that doesn’t stop spinning right under the warm Canarian wind. This interesting hand that hesitates between a gesture of control or thinking. Many stories can start from there. 

Work starts in may. In october, the canvas is varnished. November: we celebrate the final piece together in Amsterdam. December: the painting reaches its new sweet home in Barcelone. I have two new friends. Feeling lucky.

 

 

 

Lia-antoinerenault-art-saatchiart-TM

Lia-antoinerenault-art-saatchiart-8

Greetings!

greetings-antoinerenault-art-saatchiart-7This one came by surprise. In my mail box. A greetings card sent by my very first collectors. I like the image a lot. Months later, it has become a painting. Not easy to make but I really liked those siblings in single file walking on the pool edge. The reflections and above all the posture of the youngest one in foreground. He creates a story. One can imagine a conversation. I have to thank the parents for letting me paint this first painting of him from the back. Promised: he will have his portrait one day!

greetings-antoinerenault-art-saatchiartgreetings-antoinerenault-art-saatchiart-10 greetings-antoinerenault-art-saatchiart-11

Buy art… and let young pirates set sails!

antoinerenault-noirmoutier-lachaloupe-venteauxencheres-7“Only love and art make life bearable”. That’s what novelist William Sommerset Maugham thought. We can state in a simpler way that art is good for health: proven by neuroscience! Treating oneself with art or offering art is even better. Clear enough, art buying is a pleasure business, but… there is a supreme level of happiness: To treat yourself to art while supporting an inspiring program.

antoinerenault-noirmoutier-lachaloupe-venteauxencheres-4Good news for you guys, you can reach that by participating into the auction sales that takes place in Noirmoutier until August 17th, organized by the association La Chaloupe. My painting “l’échouage” (the beaching) won the contest for the poster of the 30th classic yachting regatta (Régates du Bois de la Chaise). I decided to donate the original painting to the association in order to support their program “boarding for children”. The auction benefits will fund the renovation of “La Fringante”, an old wooden ship that already helped thousands of kids to set sail for the first time. This boat requires some structural repair work.

Details of the auction are there (excuse my French…).I can help translate or participate if needed.

The original painting can be seen at “Le café Noir” on the old harbour of Noirmoutier

“Bois de la Chaise” regatta. Poster of the 30th edition

They were there already in the late 19th century. In Noirmoutier island. They are today one of the largest gatherings of traditional sailing units on the Atlantic coast. Reborn 30 years ago thanks to the association La Chaloupe, les régates du bois de la Chaise bring together sailing, ship carpentry and image lovers. Three reasons why I feel so close to this event. My Dad competed and won many years in his category with “Sterna“, a tiny dinghy he built by himself. My son spent years observing both the regatta and the carpenter workshop. That may well be part of what inspired him to become a ship carpenter. I started to paint in those years. Every summer, the new poster unveiling was an exciting opportunity to discover another painter.

regates-boisdelachaise-affiche-antoinerenault-artI was so happy when asked to create the poster for the 2015 regatta. Also excited to compete for the  30 years anniversary poster. Honored to win that contest. Very pleased to help promote this event which remains so true to its original values. 

Tiana Kameni red thread

“Loved by all”. This is the Malagasy first name of the model. She leans by the pool on the terrace of a troglodyte house, just below Oia.

Tianakameni-antoinerenault-art-saatchiart-2 copie

Nea Kameni is the volcano she is looking at. In the heart of the magnificent Santorini caldera.

I started the undercoat of this painting in red. I liked the effect. After many subsequent steps, the red was still there. And it might well become the common thread on this next painting season.

 

Opening in between two canals

 

opening-amsterdam-exhibition-antoinerenault-art-26We were good. Weather had been sunny along the day, like if the exhibition title slightly managed to intimidate winter. By the famous Prinsengracht (Prince’s canal) at the corner of the Eglentiersgracht (as indicated by its name). Exactly a year ago, we were skating on those canals. This time, we were drinking under the stars, surrounded by canvases and good music. The Rockarchive gallery is a place full of good vibes. Walls are used to sublime original shots of Jagger, Dylan or Blondie… but they don’t seem to be against some greek mermaids for a change. An opening is one of these very predictable moments of bliss. The perfect moment: family, friends and/or collectors (often the same) and the work of past 12 months. Unexpected visits, wine, conversations late into the night. We are good.

opening-amsterdam-exhibition-antoinerenault-art-30

In the very last moment, just before closing the show, I had a magical surprise: a famous Amsterdam singer, owner of a very old and very famous bar in the neighborhood. She was all smile. Disappeared in the night with one of my drawing.

Something unbelievable happened on Instagram on January 1st

January 1st, 2019. Progressing on a new work. Happily lost in the greens. Focused on feet in the water at the end of a lovely Greek pier. I’m sharing the fun of my brush strokes through a live session on Instagram. A follower asks if this painting is already booked (!?). Actually not: this is not a commission work and I just got it started. Fine: his wife and he decide to buy it. Done. Like that.

Can’t believe it: they buy a work in progress. I have no idea myself how this will look like at the end. They have never seen any of my original painting in real life. Yes but… they have been following my work for quite a while, we already had some good mail conversations in the past, and they are just confident they will love this one.

TM-levrossospier-antoinerenault-art-saatchiart

Wow… that blew my mind. I’m fascinated by the idea of love at first sight with something unfinished. Fine, we know what art does on brain. We know it makes us healthier and can even make us feel like when we’re falling in love. So be it…

I finished the painting. They loved it. it is now hanging in the home of collectors who know what it means to make a new year’s resolution.