Comments on: Postcard from Provence (Julian Merrow-Smith)

By: Drargyberce

Drargyberce — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:34:37 +0000

Eakins or his circle of friends during Eakins’s lifetime.

By: Thierry Riols

Thierry Riols — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:15:47 +0000

Good day. A valuable site indeed. As we feature several Provence artists as well, we would like to kindly invite you to spend a few minuts on our website : Provence. Thanking you in advance.

By: Mona Diane Conner

Mona Diane Conner — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:30:42 +0000

Julian was the very first daily painter I heard of through an article in the New York Times in February 2006. Since then I have found great inspiration through Julian, Mick McGinty, Duane Keiser, Karin Jurick, and many, many others now doing stunning work through their blogs. But Julian was the first daily painter to inspire me, and his paintings still enter my mailbox daily. This year I am late in just getting started in all this fun myself, and France and Provence were also on my visit list. Thanks for everything Julian!

By: Judy Corney

Judy Corney — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:48:06 +0000

I’ve commented before, but I’ll say again that your painting is the first thing I open each day, and I do feel I know you some-what! Your paintings are a journal of your life, shared with all. Thanks, and I hope to buy one some day.

By: Linda Wissler

Linda Wissler — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:43:36 +0000

Charley,
I am an American Artist living in France for the last 5 years. I moved here to paint the landscape which I fell in love with the first time I saw a Van Gogh or a Cezanne. I came upon Julian’s sight 2 years ago and a day doesn’t go by that I am not enthralled with his simple poetry of paint on canvas. I have enjoyed the day to day diary of his life on canvas. Through his paintings I smell the earth after the rain, feel the sun upon his fields, taste the fruit and hear the wind through the pines. He is amazing and I look forward to more daily inspiration. Thank you Julian

By: Mick McGinty

Mick McGinty — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:39:52 +0000

Charley,
I agree with everything you have mentioned as to why you like Julian’s work, but for me it’s the generous use of paint and the ability of not trying to hide the fact that it’s paint that you are looking at, not a leaf or a branch, but a juicy glob of paint, that looks exactly like a branch or a leaf, but is described through the energy of a brushstroke. He does this in these amazing small landscapes and without missing a beat he can represent a persons face in the same technique.
I’ve been on his mailing list for a couple of years now and there hasn’t been a single painting that hasn’t stopped me for the moment to admire, and wonder, how did he do that?

By: jennifer

jennifer — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:15:32 +0000

How lovely to know who the lady in the portrait is Ruth. I wondered.
I very much love the generosity of Julian in sending his postcards.
If I ever travel it will be there. I have come to love the place.

By: Charley Parker

Charley Parker — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:09:55 +0000

Thanks, Ruth. I had wondered about that, and it's nice to know, though I picked the portraits because I found them compelling as portraits. I was also delighted to find out about your blog, which I wasn't aware of before. Other readers may want to check out, meanwhile, here in France..., which gives a nice informal point of view of the artist/musician couple making their life in Southern France, and Ruth Phillips' web site.