Rarely has this piece of writing held better its name. Passion Painting is the definition of Lucie Geffré’s work. I had seen some of her paintings online, but it’s only thanks to a weird art competition in Bordeaux that I could see one of her works in real. It has a strong presence, indeed one can say magnetic, and enigmatic as well. It is like a landscape unfolding in front of you, in the frame of the canvas. Geffré’s style is not particularly original, or ‘contemporary’ if that matters, but it is PAINTING, strong painting.
How do you start your day?
With a peaceful cup of tea, followed by great agitation while I try to get my daughters ready for school, after which comes the calm in the studio
If you were to paint one thing over and over what would it be?
A face. And if I had a choose a face, it would probably be my sister’s. It’s funny how even faces I know well still fascinate me.
Do you like exhibiting your work? What do you do on the openings?
Yes, I like exhibiting my work, and on the openings I like listening to what people say and how they feel about it. I’m grateful when they come to me to share their emotions.
What is your favorite place to think about a new painting?
In my bed. I think one’s bed is such a special place: where one dreams, daydreams, thinks, reads, imagines, makes decisions. People are very much themselves when they lie in their rooms. I painted a series of people in their own beds for that reason.
What is your relation to past painters, and history of art?
I often refer to them, seeking emotion or advice. I live near Madrid, a wonderful city for its museums and I try to make the best of it. I also spend a lot of time looking at paintings on internet. By past and contemporary artists.
Recently a French client commissionned me to paint my interpretation of Velazquez‘ infanta in ‘Las Meninas‘. I enjoyed doing it and it reinforced my idea of revisiting some old masters‘ paintings that I love.
How did you develop this work you’re doing now?
I keep on working on several subject matters, so series progressively appear: portraits, still lifes, animals, dogs, dreamscapes…
I always work on several paintings at a time, I find it important to take pauses at several stages of each work.
How did you meet your favorite collector?
I have several favourite collectors, some were friends before becoming collectors and vice versa. I also met wonderful art lovers through my galleries.
Recently, I had a painting entering a beautiful collection that matches my taste and my vision of painting. That was really exciting : I was invited to the collector’s house and I saw plenty of works by artists I love, I discovered new inspiring painters and I felt so fortunate to have a painting hanging there.
Why do we still paint in 2020?
Because painting has plenty to say. It’s like music, I don’t believe it can ever become obsolete.
Where is Painting heading?
Happily, I don’t know.
Among contemporary painting movements, I am interested by what the American writer John Seed calls ‘disrupted realism‘, also by contemporary expressionism.
Can you tell me 3 colleagues whose work you admire?
Ibrahim Shahda, Lydie Arickx, Jennifer Packer, Ann Gale (oh, that’s four sorry)
Thank you Lucie, and thank you reader.
All images belong to the Artist.
Lucie Geffré shows her works in several galeries, lately galerieories.fr
