Le concert à l’américaine. 2017. J.Harms. Acrylic on paper. 40,5×50,5cm.
Every year my village organizes a party to celebrate Bastille day. A band of French cowboys came over to sing a few songs.
Le concert à l’américaine. 2017
Tree House. 2017
Tree House. 2017. J.Harms. Acrylic on paper. 30,5x44cm.
Two years ago, a friend invited me to go on a trip to Andernos-les-Bains. A popular French summer holiday destination situated in the Bassin d’Arcachon. We went in February and were very pleased to enjoy mild sunny weather . We wandered the streets of the small town, with its typical beach houses, most of them empty at that period. We also ate loads of mussels ‘à la crème’, and drove all along the Bassin, to the Cap Ferret, to Arcachon, and to the famous “dune du Pyla”.
The plain urban landscape with a building, a bit of nature (and of course an electric pole), is definitely the kind of pictural mix I find attractive. It reminds me of the Japanese sceneries I painted a couple years back, where one can find these same elements.
L’îlot. 2017
L’îlot. 2017. J.Harms. Acrylic on paper. 50,5x41cm.
I live in the countryside. Nature surrounds me, I am grateful for it but also wary when I have to paint it. I usually prefer urban landscapes, there is a confort in architecture and human geometry. The geometry of nature on the other hand, presents itself boldly, untamed, without any superficiality. It is just as it wants to be. Over the years, I have come to realise that by using the simplest lines and the simplest mix of colors, I have managed to paint what is an acceptable rendering of nature, to me at least.
This depicts a common landscape in rural France. The “place du village” usually situated at the center of a village, a cross section of some sort. A bouquet of trees and a cross , at its center, sometimes a bench or two on the sides. This particular one is in le Plessis Cornefroy, a very small village near Senlis. I used to pass through it when visiting a friend nearby. I always gaped at the trees, which form a perfect canopy. The place looks like a little island.
Yearly self-portrait with easel. 2017
Le toit du monde. 2017
Le toit du monde. 2017. J.Harms. 41x61cm. Acrylic on paper.
At the end of last year and beginning of this one, I had the great opportunity to work in a prestigious place. The Hôtel de Crillon in Paris. The hotel has been undergoing complete renovation and it was quite a thrill to be part of this massive project. I was part of Christophe Martin‘s team of decorative painters and our job was to paint the suites designed by Karl Lagerfeld. Needless to say the most extraordinary and most expensive suites of the hotel. During breaks, I would sometimes take advantage of the scaffolding just to climb up to the top of the palace. The view there was breathtaking. While painting it, and remembering the view, I couldn’t help but think about Raoul Dufy’s great views of Paris.
Senlis Art Fair 2017
Senlis Art Fair has been known under other names in the past. It was traditionaly held at the “Eglise Saint Pierre” in the quaint city of Senlis (Oise Region), before moving to the “Prieuré Saint maurice” a couple meters away, while The “Eglise” was being renovated.
This year the Art fair is moving back to its original spot. I will be exhibiting there in 2 weeks along with 99 other regional, national and international artists.
Le grand salon 2017
Back to the “Grand salon” !
Below a selection of some of the paintings that I will be exhibiting.
On a more personal note, a time consuming but awesome artistic job kept me away from my easel these past couple months, it also provided me with new ideas for future paintings which I hope I’ll be posting soon.
Le pédalo blanc. J.Harms
Le saint, les pélicans et le cycliste. J.Harms.
Les doigts jaunes. J.Harms.
Yellow flowers. J.harms
Circulez. 2012. J.Harms
La ville. J.Harms.
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