Today I would love to introduce you to one of my French girlfriends, who is also one of my blogging friends. I point that out, because you may be surprised at just how few french girls I know here who blog! I have been following Céline’s blog Boite d’Aquarelles pretty much since I discovered blogging. I love her sure eye, and of course I always have time to sit and watch someone paint, so I’m thrilled when she shows her paintings in various stages of progression.
Céline writes a blog about her lovely part of the world in Auxerre, a charming town, about two hours south and ever-so-slightly east of Paris, and also about her beautiful watercolour paintings, in particular those of houses and French architecture.
I visited her a couple of weeks ago, and was totally delighted to discover her beautiful 16th century home, hidden behind a secret gate in this pretty and ancient town. This is when I have to warn you that this post is going to be a little picture heavy … her house was just too photogenic!
Céline studied fine art, but even before that, art was an obvious past time, because her mother was an illustrator , and encouraged all of her children to pick up a brush.
Céline worked as an illustrator for a while, then decided to combine her love of the French ‘patrimoine’ or national treasure, with her love of watercolours, and she started to paint portraits of houses.
Speaking of which, do you recognise this? …
Yes, that’s right, when Céline knew I was coming to visit, she gifted me the most stunning portrait of our house, which is now framed and on the wall above my desk. I just love the way she caught the essential nature of our house, friendly and approachable.
The beauty of working as an illustrator and artist, is that you can work from home. Céline combines her work with caring for her house and her family.
She and her husband Olivier both love to hunt for brocante and antique treasures, and their house is a wonderful lesson in curating and careful collecting of objects without ever becoming overwhelming.
Her kitchen for example, is tiled in old blue and white tiles that she bought over the years until she had enough to cover the wall. The lovely coppers are all antiques that she bought piece by piece, and their divine kitchen island, is an antique counter or cupboard, that she and Olivier converted for use in their kitchen – stunning!
Céline has painted a lot of the furniture in their home, including the kitchen island and the kitchen cupboard, she even painted the piano!
Today Céline paints for her pleasure, and has a couple of books portraying the architecture of France, including one about the Aisne region which came out recently.
She is also available for painting house portraits on commission. She works from photos, (as I can attest) or she can move around. Frankly my photos do not do justice to the beauty and accuracy of her paintings, they are even more beautiful in real life.
If you would like to ask Céline about painting your house, then you can contact her HERE, and maybe include a photo of your house for her to see.
Thank you Céline for opening up your home for us, and for sharing your beautiful artwork.
50 comments
I love this post..
her art..her home..
Thank you Monique !
Dear Celine
I have been to auxerre many times beautiful area. Will be moving there in march 2016. My husband is also an artist and is inspired by the area.
Love your illustrations Diane
Dear Celine, how do I sign up for your blog? I have looked and looked for a sign up link but cannot find one!
Beautiful home. Beautiful paintings. Beautiful blog about this talented artist.
Thank you very much Lin !
Wow Sharon, what an amazing lady! Beautiful home and such a talented artist, thank you for sharing your lovely photos.
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing! What a lovely and talented friend!
I am having a cottage built. When it’s finished, I’d love a watercolor of it!
Hello Renee, it will be a pleasure for me to paint your cottage !
Have a nice day,
Céline.
Celine’s artwork is absolutely stunning. Thank you for introducing us to her!
What a great post! I’ve been following Celine’s blog for about two years. She’s so very talented – her watercolors are beautiful.
In your first photo of Celine she’s standing in her doorway with a beautiful flowering vine running up one side of the doorway. I have that vine climbing in a couple of places on my house. Here it’s called Confederate jasmine and its perfume is heavenly. I’m just curious to know what the French call it. It’s one of my favorite late May/early June fragrances!
Thanks for introducing us – up close and personal – to one of your stylish French girlfriends. She certainly is that!
In the US, it’s called [Japanese] honeysuckle. There seem to be many varieties of honeysuckle per se. Hope that helps a little, even if it’s not the French name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonicera_japonica
Hello Vicky, this plant in french is “Jasmin” I do love his fragrance too !
Hello Vicky, the vine is called Trachelospermum jasminoides or le jasmin étoilé in French. It is definitely a jasmine and not a honeysuckle which has a larger flower that looks a bit like a dragonfly!
love these photos thank you….makes my heart happy to see such beauty
What a lovely place! How stunning is the artwork of your friend. I really enjoyed this visit and all the pictures. She seems as sweet as the watercolors she paints. Love the one of your home. What a treasure.
Linda, thank’s a lot for your sweet comment !
What a talented artist she is, and what a beautiful home she’s created. It looks so live-able and inviting!
Thank you Susan !
This was beautiful to see and to read. Thank you Celine for sharing your home. I was transported.
Sydney,AU
Brenda, thank you for your comment !
So pretty – what a special friend!
Wow! Love this! Love her house and her paintings! Wish I knew French…I would contact her. Thanks for the lovely pictures !!
Hello Kandy,
Contact me if you want !
Have a nice day,
Céline.
Well that was so very lovely! Thank you for sharing Celine and her home and her talents!I love her home!!
Beautiful home, artwork. Celine is a very talented artist.You are lucky to have so many gifted and interesting friends.”Birds of a feather flock together!”
What beautiful work..of course I have looked at her work. Wonderful to know she has a blog too. Hr house is exquisite. Any artists dream..
Gorgeous!!! We plan to travel to France 2017 from Australia will be contacting you Sharon before then to book a stay in your Beautiful cottage.
The creeper around the door is Trachelospermum jasminoides Star Jasmine. The perfume is stunning. I have a number of these on fences around my home. They are also a good ground cover. Your friends home is beautiful, her painting are delightful. Cheers Jan, Melb. Au
Thank you Jan !
I love everything about this post, Céline, her charming home & most of all her artwork. I must now view her blog, can’t wait! Thank you for this little sneak peak Sharon!
Thank you Coleen for your lovely comment !
Très beau blog. Les aquarelles de Céline sont magnifiques.
What a beautiful house absolutely stunning inside and garden’s look so natural.
What amazing artist, thank you for showing us Celine’s stunning work.
How beautiful! Everything, just beautiful.
Sharon:
Just beautiful – such inspiration! Celine’s work is so detailed and lovely. Thank you for sharing.
Sharon you have the most talented and amazing friends! Celine is such an excellent artist and I love her illustration, your home is a wonderful example! Her home is fabulous as well of course! So excited for your book to come out!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
I forwarded this to someone + Celine is so talented. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
OH how I enjoyed seeing Celine’s beautiful art!! Now I have another favorite artist to add to my list. Thank you for sharing your friend with us.
The beauty of France offers wonderful subject matter for Celine to paint. When it is captured by her talented hand you can’t help but fall in love with each and every piece.
I love it all. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Sharon….Is it possible to get your book signed by you? This is my 2nd request.
I’ve been following your blog for 4 year, love it!
Waiting for your response.
Best regards, Mary from San Diego,CA USA
HI Mary
Sorry not to have seen your first request, I am emailing you privately about signing the book
best
Sharon
These are so beautiful! She is so talented! I would love to maybe have one someday. 🙂 Thank you for sharing them!
This is like stepping into a fairytale – just enchanting!
Such a lovely post! I especially love the grey beams in her home as we are building a new home, installing beams, and I had decided on grey stain for them! Her artistic talent is perfection! Thank you for introducing us so graciously to your friends!
Love this post and all the photos were just beautiful , it made me want to move there.
Celine ‘s home is lovely and her work has such beauty and heart to it. Love the paintings of the houses.
Have a great day.
Sharon, I so enjoy your blog. In particular, I love your French girlfriend series. Please continue them.
Hi Sharon, so delighted to discover that you know Céline and the beautiful “reportage” you made in her lovely house. I love her work since a long time. I live in Auxerre also and I love all what you make. I follow you since a long time.
I look forward to receive your book I bought as soon as it was announced.
Have a very nice day !
Nathalie
[…] illustrations for this post are by my highly gifted friend Céline Chollet, who is also our resident artist at My Stylish French Box this year. Proof that one of the real […]
Oh my Gracious!!! My heart stopped beating while I was looking at the gorgeous photos. What beauty and you Madame Photographe did a wonderful job. I’m still sighing as I quickly type this!!!