thousands of paintings in a paris salon

Hello friends, greetings from Paris!

Welcome to my new newsletter where I’ll share with you what’s going on in my world of watercolor painting and art in general.

Living in Paris, surrounded by so much beauty, the rich artistic history, and the absolute renaissance of watercolor that we’re all a part of, sometimes not everything fits in the boxes of social media. So this is the place where I’d love to share upcoming events I’ll be a part of, cultural experiences that I think you’ll like, a quote or two… anything I find inspiring, encouraging, and insightful. I hope you enjoy the view!

The Salon returned to the Grand Palais this year and it was spectacular! This is my fifth time exhibiting in this Salon, and it’s always a bit surreal to be part of such a massive event. For two weeks every February, four separate salons pack the Grand Palais: Artistes Français, Dessin et Pienture à l’eau, des Indépendents, Comparisons, as well as various country delegations. 2000 artists, 50,000 visitors, demos, deals, champagne, and lots of coffee. It’s a real pleasure to have so many friends stop by, to meet fellow exhibitors from all over France and beyond, and be submerged in the sheer scale of the event.

For the last three years the Salon was moved to a temporary exhibition hall while the Grand Palais was being completely refurbished to host events for the Paris Olympics. So on the Champs des Mars, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, le Grand Palais Ephemére was our home for the Salon. But now we’re back under the soaring Beaux-Arts glass and iron vaults from 1897, gorgeously up to date in all their magnificence. At this year’s Salon the building itself was the star.

With so much on display there’s certainly plenty to inspire. There are of course impressive works on paper - watercolor, pastel, and ink in the Salon that I’m a part of (Dessin et Pienture à l’eau), but it’s so eye-opening to be surrounded by countless styles and techniques done in other media. To see this many original oil paintings in one place is impressive. The section of sculptures is always a favorite. And inevitably I find myself gravitating toward to the section displaying prints - all types of engraving, drypoint, mezzotint, etching, aquatint. It’s a foreign world to me, there’s so much to learn, but the results that these artists achieve is gorgeous.

Also, with so much on display, there’s the other end of the spectrum. A lot of what I see can be hit and miss. Amongst real treasures of expression and craftsmanship, let’s be honest, there’s some eye-rollingly bad art.

“I would advise young artists to paint as they can, as long as they can, without being afraid of painting badly.” - Claude Monet

Don’t get me wrong, it can be good to see bad art :) For one thing it absolutely dispels any notions of imposter syndrome. But more than this it realigns my taste and preferences. For me successful art is a matter of clarity of expression. The clearer you’re able to express your intentions, the better. Whatever clouds your expression, be it sloppy technique, or ignorance of basic tenets, damages the “success” of your painting. Yes, we’re all free to express ourselves how we wish, we all have vision within us, and how we chose to express this vision has endless possibilities, and who am I to judge another artist’s choices? But… art is like music, and concepts like rhythm, structure, harmony, and balance allow a piece to resonate. Raw expression without any knowledge of these ideas leads to sloppy craftsmanship and yeah, bad painting.

These are the things I think about as I walk the halls of the Grand Palais surrounded by thousands of paintings, sculptures, and installations. Dwarfed by the scale of this venue and the volume of artistic expression, both on the floor and overhead, it’s enough to make your head spin. It also clarifies ideas of what painting can be and our place in this world of art.

If you’re interested in going further and deepening your watercolor practice (or if you’d just like to support what I’m doing) I invite you to my Patreon Page. There you’ll get a peek behind the scenes of my studio and my process, members-only live demos, and other exclusive goodies!

Thank you for being a part of this artistic community! I’m so glad you’re here!

Cheers from Paris,

Alex

www.AlexHillkurtzArt.com

This year I’m doing three larger, Multi-day Destination Workshops. These trips are a truly incredible way to dive deep and experience a unique place and culture. We sketch and paint each day, I introduce new techniques catered to each location, and we slow down to truly experience the flavors and colors of the region. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or accomplished pro, my goal is to give you the tools to become a more confident artist, and have you bring home a sketchbook full of brilliant memories.

My Tuscany workshop in a couple weeks is already sold out, but there are still a few remaining places for my workshop in my Languedoc, France, June 13-19.

Languedoc is a gorgeous region in Southern France dotted with picturesque villages, medieval castles, and cuisine to die for! Join me on a week-long holiday in our own country mansion, painting, sketching, and exploring with our host Kate, with French Fusion Travel. Fully hosted by a historian, great food cooked by our own chef, amazing visits, and lots of fun workshops each day with me. Come away with a travel journal full of great memories.

Details and registration

NWWS

May 10, join me for a live 3-hour demo over Zoom with the North West Watercolor Society.

Follow Tuscany

May 20 - 30, I’ll be back in Tuscany, Italy with Follow Tuscany for a 10-day destination workshop. A truly immersive experience, painting each day in local villages, incredible food, like-minded creatives… this is always a spectacular adventure!

French Fusion Travel

June 13 - 19. Last few places available for this 7-day destination workshop, Languedoc, France, with French Fusion Travel. Travel with me through Southern France as we fill our sketchbooks with unforgettable memories.

Prague Plein Air

June 20 - 22. Workshops, demos, and plein air painting with an incredible group of international artists at this year’s Prague Plein Air.

Brittany

Sept 1 - 7. Join me for this 7-day destination workshop, Brittany, France. Experience the hospitality and cuisine of Brittany as we sketch and paint our way across the region.

More information here.

Armenia Art Fest

Sept 23 - 30. Workshops, demos, and plein air painting with an impressive gathering of international watercolor painters at this year’s Armenia Art Fest.