Artist Details

Florence de Bretagne: “My painting is about joy and optimism” Open the door to Florence de Bretagne’s California atelier, and you’re in a child’s garden, surrounded by whimsical lollipop trees, buoyant bubbles, seeds and flowers bursting like Roman candles. The trees, suns and seeds germinate as Florence paints, often seated on the floor, like a child at play. Meanwhile, dozens of finished works line the walls, awaiting a visit from a collector, or perhaps one of her children. “People are always asking, ‘How can you do this with two young children?’” she observes. “I’m very organized. I get up at 5:30 and start painting in my atelier.” Florence is drawn to images that make people smile. Some observers ask if a particular painting was done by one of her children. She’s flattered by such remarks. “People find my paintings so happy and so joyful,” she says. “I like silly things,” witty creations that “come directly from the heart.” Her fanciful vision takes flight in such works as Quand la lune embrasse le soileil, la dame aux bigoudis sourit (When the moon kisses the sun, the lady in curlers smiles). In the triptych, blue and gold rolls encircle the smiling woman’s face, while a myriad of circles, clouds and lollipop trees fill the canvas. Behind such flights of fancy is a dedicated artist whose vision is not just to beautify but to heal—whether she’s painting canvases, working on a mural with the children at her daughter’s school, or improvising in her kitchen, where she cooks like she paints, playing with colors, textures and shapes. A work of art, she says, not only brings joy to the painter but to the viewer. “People tell me they love my art. It can change their homes or even their lives. They feel happier. That means a lot to me.”

You must be logged in to comment. Click here to sign up for an account.