100 French Strangers Challene #86 - L'artiste

It's been a long time since I started my 100 French Strangers Challenge. Back in 2009, I started it after having a grand time finding 100 strangers who I spoke with before taking the photo here in Birmingham. I have always found the French to be very welcoming and friendly and love capturing their smiles ( and sometimes not). This is a talented artist I met on rue de Rivoli on a rainy Sunday last November. I loved her work and asked for her photo. 

Art de Yaseen

Yesterday you meet mon ami Yaseen. Today his art. The photograph featured is the piece I purchased, a self portrait. I love it.  A very talented and devoted artist. How special to have connected with him.

Yaseen

I made these portraits of artist Yaseen in Paris November, 2015. Martha and I noticed his artwork taped along the wrought iron fence that encloses a small garden and playground on the side of the St. Germain de Près church. We found several pieces that we wanted to buy, but there was no one around to give us a price.  We stepped inside the garden for photos and as well were leaving Martha spotted Yaseen walking down the sidewalk, recognizing him from a newspaper article hanging with his work. He spoke some English and we walked back into the side entrance so he could sign our work. He looked so familiar to me and I finally placed him. I asked, "Do you knowMeredith Mullins?" With an amused look, he said, "Of course." I told that I was a friend of hers and had bought her book, In A Paris Moment, in 2008. She includes a striking portrait of him in the book, as well as sharing that they had been friends for over 10 years. A very special Paris moment for me as well.

Olivia

 
Today we meet Olivia Clétienne, who does restorative work in her studio at Village Saint Paul in the Marais.  I took several shots before she heard the click of my camera but was kind enough to allow more photos.

Olivia Clétienne

23 rue Saint Paul 

75004 Paris

L'artiste amical

What a nice man. I look for him at Place des Vosges every trip now, but he must be painting somewhere else.

Meet the Artist

Olivia Clétienne is a painter of animals ( and apparently other things) and does restoration work in a small studio in the Village St. Paul area of the Marais.  I photographed her two years ago, but Monsieur Google assures me that she's still there.  I loved capturing her working in the open door of her studio.  She heard the click of my camera and turned but was kind to let me continue photographing her.

Paris Rouge - Le godet de l'artiste

I discovered the artist painting in a doorway at the Village St. Paul in the Marais.  Her rouge paint can caught my eye.  Tomorrow you will meet the artist herself.

100 French Strangers Challenge - L'artiste

French Stranger #68

The Village St. Paul in the Marais is not only a treasure trove of interesting shops, but I found several "strangers" as well. Meet Olivia Clétienne, an artist who does original and restorative work. Today two photographs that caught my eye when I approached her studio. That red bucket on the old paint spattered chair caught my eye as well as the fact that she was standing in the doorway painting. She heard the click of my shutter and turned, so I walked up and talked with her for a few minutes. I have another photograph that I liked of her as well. I'll share it another day.