The Collector's Eye

Jean Planque, Collector

Several years ago in Aix-en-Provence, I happened onto an exhibition of paintings collected by Jean Planque. And what a happening! My friend and I had never heard of Jean Planque, and we were both astounded by the breadth and power of his collection. We almost hyperventilated!

"Buste de femme endormie"
Pablo Picasso, 1970

Planque came from a peasant family, hard-working and poor. After many business failures,  he eventually became rich from inventing a concentrated cattle feed. His new wealth enabled him to collect art, yet he remained very discerning about his expenditures. He would ask whether "the paintings he considered buying could feed him all his life, as a field of potatoes can feed a family." I have seldom heard a better way of putting this concept--that man does not live by bread alone, but that art also feeds him.

Dubuffet
"Opera Bobeche", 1963

A well know gallery owner, Ernst Beyler, eventually hired Planque to locate and acquire paintings. The gallery owner realized that Planque had an eye that was unequalled, and that he formed genuine relationships with many great artists of the time. Planque was indeed a sort of "matchmaker" within the art world.

"Tour Eiffel"
Robert Delauney, 1928

Planque was also an aspiring painter himself. As such, he could relate to the struggles and achievements of the artists from whom he collected. He became friends with Picasso, Dubuffet, Braque and other greats of the 20th century. It was said that Planque "merely collected the paintings that he wished he had painted". That thought gave me a frisson of excitement. No wonder his collection was so personal. Planque said that the Van Gogh below might not have been the master's greatest work, but it was beautiful, and it was Planque's chance to own his own Van Gogh!

"Bouquet de fleurs"
Vincent van Gogh, 1886-67

Some of the materials on the exhibition noted that it was Planque's "intuition and capacity for wonder that gave rise to such an unusual, illustrated life story". Yes, just touring the collection was in fact a "life story". For behind each painting there is a history, an anecdote, a friendship with the artist. I especially liked this wall, which showed the paintings of Picasso, Braque and others exactly as they were arranged on the wall of Planque's bedroom in Switzerland:

The good news is that this exhibit is now on view in Aix for fifteen years--so you can see it if your plans take you there. It is a new development, so it is not yet in many guidebooks. Here's the info on where to find it. 

"Deux femmes au bain"
Edgar Degas

If you can't make it in person, here's a UTube video of the 2011 exhibition. Bear with the French, and you can skip ahead to see the show starting about 1.5 minutes in.

I will close with one of Planque's own paintings. It makes me wish that he had abandoned himself to painting his own vision, in addition to collecting...

"Fenetre sur le Luxembourg"
Jean Planque, 1952

[Quotes are from materials printed by Musee Granet in connection with the 2011 exhibition.]

Orphans

"Counting Change"
Oil on Panel
(c) Lesley Powell 2011

Frank Hobbs wrote recently in his wonderful blog about all of those paintings that have been for sale, but have never been purchased. He likened an artist's paintings to his or her "children"--don't we all feel that way? That our labors have given birth to them, and that they bear our distinct DNA? We like to send our paintings

Painting the Pink Cadillac

"Ready Mix Plant"
12 x 9, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2014

Several years ago, I participated in a workshop taught by Peggi Kroll Roberts. Peggi is a very talented teacher and artist from California. She told us a story that I will never forget. It holds a large lesson--perhaps not only for painting, but also for life.

Peggi told about being in a workshop in a beautiful location. The group was taken to a painting spot with beautiful, distant mountain vistas from one viewpoint, and lovely rolling countryside from another. Everybody rushed to set up their easels and start to paint the gorgeous mountain vista. A few chose the rolling pastures. 

Peggi started with the mountains, but could not get a good start. She grew nervous, and picked up her easel to move to the pasture view to try that. On the way, she passed an old pink Cadillac parked along the road, and thought it looked really cool. When she got to the pasture view, she again struggled with her painting and was not making progress. Growing desperate by now, she moved her easel back to the mountain view. Again passing the Cadillac, and again thinking how much she liked the lines of it...

Back to the mountain vista, Peggi continued to be discouraged. She was growing frantic. Finally a light went off, and she said to herself, "I don't care if I am in a spot chosen for its natural beauty--and everybody else is painting the lovely landscape--I love that Cadillac, and that's what I'm going to paint!" 

Peggi's Cadillac painting turned out to be quite a success. It was everybody's favorite of the day. I always try to remember this lesson: paint what grabs you! The painting pictured above is my own "pink Cadillac" from the recent Paint Out in the Blue Ridge mountains. It is one I was itching to paint, especially after so many bucolic mountain vistas! The image below shows another "Pink Cadillac Moment" that I had during a workshop in France. All that sweeping countryside, I wanted to paint the clean-up sink in the studio. Strange leanings...

"Clean up Sink"
8 x 6, Oil on Canvas
(c) Lesley Powell 2013

A Barn Story

It all started with a glimpse of the perfect red barn, overlooking rolling acres of grass and grain. For some reason, I was especially captivated by

Happy Fathers' Day!

"Teddy and Duckie"
12 x 12, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2014

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! 

New Vintage Year: Torrit Grey

Those who follow such things know that every year around Earth Day, Gamblin Artists Colors releases a new batch

Just off the Easel

"Across the Pond"
11 x 14, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2014

The time is drawing near for the painting workshop with Maggie Siner in Provence. I have started to organize my gear and to dream. I am dreaming of cool mornings, hot afternoons, fresh Provencal food and--most of all--new insights and inspirations to bring to the easel.

"Cypress at Sunset"
9 x 14, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2014

It is a privilege to study with Maggie Siner. Especially so in the landscape of Provence, where she lived for many years, and with which she is intimately familiar.

"Road through the Olive Grove"
20 x 20, Oil on Canvas
(c) Lesley Powell 2014

In preparation for the trip, I have been working on some studio paintings that are based on color studies and sketches that I did on location last year. It's the next best thing to being there...