29 juin 2008
About Me
I have always been painting and drawing as far as I can remember.
After a French equivalent of an A level in Fine Arts , and I went on to study English (my second passion) at Bordeaux University. I lived abroad for a couple of years (Northern Ireland and Australia) while completing my studies in English , and all the while kept drawing and painting.
I was a teacher of English in France for about 15 years , and while teaching, studied through Paris I University distance Education for a BA in Fine Arts . I took a one year course with the Open University in the UK in Interior design , and a few years later decided on a change of careers .
A couple of years ago , I took a year off to train in Decorative Painting - Trompe l'Oeil in a private school in Nantes , France . I completed my professional training in June 2006 and am now a decorative Painter.
I am passionate about my work , I love to research for the exact design, colours, patterns, shapes , etc that will enhance a projectand turn it into a unique piece of Art, be it a Mural , a Trompe l'Oeil , Patina , Woodgraining , Marbling , False mosaic , etc.
I believe that with Decorative Painting ,if you have a sense of vision , imagination, technique and artistic talent , there are no limits to what you can do... There may be walls , enclosed spaces , dull hallways , yet all of these can be turned into fabulous areas of light , grace and elegance.
This is what I strive to achieve.
Catherine REMY - Decorative Painter
Moroccan window Trompe l'Oeil
Commissioned by Sandrine Genest for her Beauty Parlour , 6 Avenue des Hautes Follies ,in Vaux sur Mer, (Charente Maritime, France),the Trompe l'Oeil Moroccan window opens onto a large pool , walled garden and mountains in the background.A perfectly relaxing view for the spa area that Sandrine designed.
To view the album Moroccan window Trompe l'Oeil , click here
13 juin 2008
Renovation work: colour scheme and limewash
Here are two examples of recent work :
I was asked to work on the colour scheme of a country house entrance to make it work with the rest of the house : there were 3 doors and a passage into the main room . My customer had precise ideas on the sort of effect she wanted on the doors and needed suggestions on the colours for the ceiling, beams , small built-in cupbaord etc.
This is what it looked like at first :
and what it looks like now :
for more pictures, see the gallery : Country Houses
Another customer asked me to do something about the walls of one of the rooms in their house ; yet again a XIXth century country house . The room would be used for hypnotherapy sessions , and needed to have a relaxing atmosphere.There was plaster falling off from a wall that needed repair and which I took care of.
I suggested applying a traditional limewash with powder pigments (100% natural !) and using rather mute yet warm tones that turn their rather bland room into a peaceful den to work in for therapy and hypnosis.
This is what it looked like before :
and what it looks like now:
For more photos on limewash finish, please check the gallery : Country Houses
If you'd like to get in touch , please contact me at : labellapintura@yahoo.fr
09 juin 2008
About Decorative Painting
Half way between art and craft, decorative painting is both functional and artistic: it takes technique and savoir faire as well as a certain esthetic quality to make a trompe l'oeil that works: it must enhance the qualities of "the real thing" ie the actual material it is trying to imitate yet also leave you with a harmonious feeling of completion and wonder.
It is both challenging and uplifting to turn a very ordinary background, whatever it may be, into something special that remains with you as a mental picture and creates a long lasting impression....
Space is yet to be conquered in many more ways than we think : every day surroundings can be more than bland walls and doors...and what they may turn into is left to your imagination and my savoir faire !
A question ? want to get in touch ? contact me at labellapintura@yahoo.fr
15 mars 2007
Acrylics on canvas
la Montagne Noire
interested ? get in touch : labellapintura@yahoo.fr
16 février 2007
Matin d'hiver
Matin d'Hiver : un tour du Mont St Michel à Marée basse.
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Acrylique sur toile, 50X70 cm
Interested ? Get in touch : labellapintura@yahoo.fr
26 octobre 2006
Noir et Pierres , Acrylics on canvas
Noir et Pierres
acrylique sur toile 40X50cm
Want to buy ? Get in touch : labellapintura@yahoo.fr
20 octobre 2006
Nouveaux tableaux!
Acrylic on canvas :
the Pyramides at sunrise
Acrylique sur toile , dim: 20cm X 60 cm
Sol Y sombra
Acrylique sur toile ,dim : 50cm X40cm .
La Femme aux Bijoux
Acrylique sur toile, dim :30 cm X 40 cm.
Want to buy ? Get in touch : labellapintura@yahoo.fr
18 octobre 2006
Acrylics on canvas : Glaneuse
Glaneuse
acrylique sur toile , dimensions 30cm x 40 cm
Want to buy ? get in touch ! labellapintura@yahoo.fr
Place Fernand Soil à Nantes: la façade terminée
Commissioned by the town of Nantes , Place Fernand Soil :
I worked there with my colleagues in June 2006.
For a full visit : cliquer ICI
If you'd like something similar : mural , trompe l'oeil , etc , get in touch ! labellapintura@yahoo.fr
09 octobre 2006
Commission : Tropicale .
Specially commissioned for a teenager's room in love with the tropics and Pirates: Tropicale.
Acrylic on wood panel , 85cm x 70cm .
INterested in a special commission ? Get in touch : labellapintura@yahoo.fr
04 septembre 2006
Peuple de l'air : small canvasses
Butterflies to celebrate summer and the passing of time .
To see more of the same kind , click on : peuple de l'air !
Interested ? Get in touch : labellapintura@yahoo.fr
11 août 2006
Marine : vision tropicale
marine, petit format, 12 X 18 cm sur carton toilé, acrylique.
To see the marine paintings /
Pour visionner les marines, cliquer ici
Vente de peinture
Une peinture vendue: l'attente...
J'en suis ravie !
Pour les peintures encore disponibles, consulter la gallerie.
05 août 2006
Small size seascape
Marine :12X18 cm 
Intéressé ? Contactez moi !
Commissions on order : contact : labellapintura@yahoo.fr
10 juin 2006
Trompe l'oeil mural or how to open up onto new spaces
Une pièce ou un endroit sombre peuvent facilement se transfomer :un trompe l'oeil paysager ouvre l'espace sur ...l'atmosphère de votre choix.
Le résultat est saisissant et permet de donner de l'espace et de la profondeur à une surface qui autremement resterait fermée et parfois quelque peu oppressante ...une belle solution pour des pièces sans point de vue particulier, ou pour pièces aveugles!
A dark or oppressive area can easily be turned into an airy and pleasant spot simply by having a trompe l'oeil mural painted : you can then have your room open onto the amosphere of your choice .
The result is breathtaking and you will wonder how you could ever have lived without it .
Interested ? Get in touch : labellapintura@yahoo.fr
Consultez l'album photo! Have a look at the gallery !
Commissioned by the city of Nantes: Place Fernand Soil in the early days of our intervention
Chantier dans le centre ville de Nantes:
mur de 18m de long situé sur une petite place à Nantes : la place Fernad Soil.
Il y avait beaucoup à faire...
Après un nettoyage au karcher effectué avant notre arrivée, nous avons fait un diagnostic des surfaces (réparations à faire le cas échéant), puis avons nettoyé, gratté , poncé , aspiré, avant de poser les peintures d'accroche adaptées au supports variés (murs en béton déja peints, boites edf ou téléphone en PVC , brutes ou enduites de crépi , murs crépis, surfaces métalliques ferreuses ou aluminium...)
Ensuite nous avons posé les premières couches de fond du décor dans les premiers tracés...
Specially commissioned by the city of Nantes, the 18m long wall was to be turned into a mural showing small shops and boutiques : that meant a lot of work !
If you'd like to see work in progress , click on the link below.
Consultez l'album des travaux !
If you'd like to have a mural painted , get in touch : ask for details and an estimate at :
07 mai 2006
Patines murales et fausses mosaïques
Découvrez les patines murales dans les tonalités de votre choix, bien plus vivantes et vibrantes qu'un mur peint en simple aplat de couleur...
et voyez comment une mosaique en trompe l'oeil peut habiller n'importe quel soubassement et lui conférer caractère et originalité!....Une belle idée pour une salle de bains, une entrée ....
See how patina on a wall can make the surface alive , so much more than a plain wall painted in one colour can.
And see how a false moasaic can give caracter and personality to the blandest of places , a wonderful idea for an entrance , a bathroom etc...All in the colour scheme of your choice , to enhance the dormant qualities of you home .
If you have any question, or need suggestions, ideas etc ... get in touch : labellapintura@yahoo.fr
01 mai 2006
Paintings on Commission
Outre la peinture décorative sur tous supports, je fais également de la peinture artistique sur toile, carton toilé, panneau de contreplaqué etc. En voici un exemple :
peinture de décoration (huile sur toile).
As well as Decorative Painting , I also paint on all surfaces and deliver special orders on commission . This Apsara is an example.
Interested ? Get in touch :
Intéressé ? contactez moi!
N'oubliez pas de consulter ma gallerie ; vous pourrez y découvrir quelques autres créations .
Have a look at my gallery , it will give you an idea of what I can do and possbily lead to inspiration .
