1 Tell us about your artistic work: why do you do it, what do you talk about, if you have a precise style and
a
precise
technique
or
change
them
in
every
project
First of all, I want to thank you for this opportunity to talk about my work and for having contacted me, I feel happy and grateful. So for the „why“- I think it´s for me like for many artists,
writers,
musicians,
singer,
designer
actors,…well all creative people: We just must do it! I feel a strong inner desire to create, to paint and I want to give with my work inspiration and beauty to this
world.
I
just
got
lovely
feedback
from
a
wonderful woman, her name is Glenn Younger, and she wrote to me: „ Just keep spreading your creativity in the world. People NEED beauty. It softens them and opens them up to new ways of seeing the world they live in …We´re all in this together, right?“ I would say that my paintings are an invitation for the observer to feel re-connected to the beauty and preciousness
of
life
in
this
increasingly
technical
world where things are so fast, and nobody seems to have time to relax and to take a deep breath to slow down and just to enjoy life. Yes
-
I
have
a
precise
technique
and
style
that
I
developed over the years - I combine my knowledge from painting in oil, watercolor and on porcelain to create now mixed media paintings. I paint intuitively because I really love to express my feelings, hopes, and dreams this way and I love the challenge and the risk to commit, to be brave and to go for it without having the possibility to undo. In my art, I talk about feelings, nature, humanity and my
love
for
contribution development
this to to
world
a
world a
and in
life. which
peaceful
and
My
art
is
happiness
my and
constructive
togetherness strengthens mankind. I want to inspire others to take action and to do a very first step.
2 Within which mood of art you place your artwork
My focus is on intuitive painting, and the abstract flowers are aesthetic accents and symbols for life and feelings. www.francoise-wattre.com 3 Could
you
tell
us
something about
your
country
about art? Is there an active artistic community? Are you part of it
I´m living in Germany and before I lived in France and I love to spend time in the USA too - there´re a lot of communities - for instance, I just like to spend time with a handful friends from all over the world who are also artists, writer, songwriter, and musicians or creative entrepreneurs - this is my favorite artistic community. 4 What's a typical day in Françoise wattrè's life?
I’m quite an early bird and a typical day in my artist life always begins with rituals I love as my first cup of coffee in silence while reading. Then later, as I´m a professional
artist
I
answer
my
emails
after
breakfast, make calls etc. and go then to the studio. I love the clarity of my studio, I open the windows and take a canvas - I love to paint the size from 120 x 100 cm and bigger and I prefer to paint on linen because of the quality. I know exactly what I want to express - the mood, the colors, the shapes and in accordance to this I choose the music I want to hear .... and then I grab the colors, the brushes and this white canvas will be the playground of my creativity. I paint without projector, technical aids, preliminary drawings, screens or other help - and this is what I love
the
most
-
being
bold,
creating
intuitively,
taking the risk. What I need is time…..and to be not disturbed.
I stop when I feel that for today I gave all my love and
attention
brushes,
to
this
cleaning
the
painting
-
then
workplace
is
washing
a
the
ritual
too.
Preparing it for the next day - the next layers for the painting,
the
next
ideas….
and
then
one
day
a
new
painting is finished… 5
Traveling
for
art,
for
example
for
personal
exhibitions or for other art exhibitions you want to see? Do you love to see the art of others?
Yes of course - but where to start: Venice Guggenheim Museum, Art Karlsruhe, Art Basel, St. Paul de Vence - Foundation Maeght, Dali Museum, Louvre, of course,
Picasso
Museum,
Frieder
Burda
Stiftung,
Foundation Beyeler.,…too many to name them all ... I
always
go
to
exhibitions
and
art
fairs,
I
love
Art…sculptures too Rodin….mmmh. I love to see the art of others and I’m especially interested in painter and sculptors and I’m particularly touched and impressed when technical ability meets creativity. Originality is key too - to see that an artist has his own, unique voice. As I prefer to work with professional art dealers as gallerists my art is shown in their galleries and on their
websites
on
a
permanent
basis
and
also
in
gallery shows. My other art dealers show original artwork to their clients to find the best fit for their needs and wishes. Every human being is different and when it comes to art there is something special - it has to touch us if we want to live with a piece on a daily basis for years. The point is: will this art piece touch my heart and my inner longings? Does it talk to me? If yes - it´s the right piece. I
think
that
enthusiasm.
you
should
buy
art
because
of
6 Where are your favorite places or themes where you can find inspiration for your work?
I find inspiration in music, poetry, literature, films, dancing and of course life itself - as in my art all is about life and feelings, I´m very sensible to all kind of situations, moods, light, colors, shapes and also scents - after a visit in Grasse in the south of France I had to paint these sensations... 7 Have you studied art or are you self-taught
Like many artists, I painted excessively as a child, forgot
the
hours
and
was
completely
absorbed
by
this wonderful activity. At the age of about 10, I had a very bad experience with an art teacher. We should make a painting at home and I put all my love and energy in this painting with the result that he didn´t believe me that I had made it. He was convinced an adult from my family had done it and he punished me, I got
the
worst
classroom.
Of
grade,
course,
I
and was
I
had
shocked
to
leave
and
the
ashamed,
tears running down my face I was sure to never ever paint again in school. Perhaps for this, I wasn´t attracted to study art - as I love languages too I did German studies in France and painted at that time a lot in watercolor and oil, and I did porcelain painting also. I learned I took lessons with professional artists to refine my own skills. I was, and I´m always interested in learning more and to express with all the knowledge my own voice and style. Years later I also went to the art academy, but I was never interested in the painting like
my
teachers
but
to
explore
my
own
artistic
language. I will always continue to experiment and to develop my poetic voice - I focus on a continuous and long art career. 8 Do you remember the first artistic work you did?
Well long time ago : ) my mom does, she was astonished when I drew a stag with antlers at the age of three.
t´s funny I remember the dedication with which I mixed my colors. 9 What do you think about social networks and the web about art and artists? Could you tell us about your technique?
It´s just amazing what we have today as possibilities to
show
and
share
our
work
for
sure.
This
is
a
significant milestone in history without any doubt. We can show the job, a first impression is given. And on the other hand - when it comes to digging deeper we all know that the fact to see a painting in real can
never
possible
be
to
replaced
capture
by
the
an
image.
physical
It´s
just
not
and
the
presence
unique aura from an art piece. For this art fairs like the Art Karlsruhe, the Art Basel or the Art Miami are so important - we need to see the artwork, the size, the impact, the mood - we can´t capture this on our smartphone collector
or
a
who
emerging
screen.
wants
artist
And
to
would
it´s
invest
like
to
normal in
art
see
that
from
the
a an
original
artwork - of course. So the gallerist is the crucial confidant between the collector and the artist. 10
Could
you
talk
to
us
about
the
idea
of
your
project? 11 You have organized exhibitions in the past. How does
it
feel
to
involve
others in
your
art? 12
What is your favorite artwork?
My
art
can
be
found
in
galleries
in
the
USA
and
Germany, I have an art dealer in New York and work together with a designer in Chicago. And I would love to have more partners to collaborate with for sure because I don´t want to sell my art by myself - I want to paint ; ) This
summer
I
will
have
an
exhibition
in
Donaueschingen in the town hall. I’m grateful that the
Cultural
Office
asked
me
to
show
my
work.
Donaueschingen is known in the art world for Anselm Kiefer, who was born here - so this is my project for this summer,
and I’m
exhibition right know.
working on
paintings
for
this
11 You have organized exhibitions in the past. How does it feel to involve others in your art? It
felt,
and
because I
it
feels
only
good
to
started when
I
me,
and
I
think
had
a body
of
it´s
work
which was really my own style. I prefer that my work is
shown
by
my
professional
art
dealers
-
so
the
organization was done for example by my Gallerist Mister Schindel for the „Spring“ Show in Germany- or on a permanent basis in the Sher Gallery in Florida. 12 What is your favorite artwork? I´m always touched by typical family memories - so my favorite
artwork
will
always
be
the
paintings
my
sons made for me when they were children 13 If you could show off your artworks anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Anywhere in the world wow… so because I intend to bring beauty, inspiration, and peace into this world, then I would choose… the night sky. So, when people see themselves in extraordinary moments or in despair and distress, in moments of vulnerability and doubt when they look into heaven, they may feel hope, take courage,
and
feel
connected
to
life
and
their
strength again. As
Jane
Goodall
difference,
and
said:“
you
have
What to
you
decide
do what
makes kind
a of
difference you want to make.“ 14 Are you reading a book at the moment? There is one book you have on your reading list?
I read a lot and I read my favorite authors again and again as Siri Hustvedt, Brené Brown, Elizabeth Gilbert …again
a
long
list
:
)
at
the
moment
I
read
again
Steven Pressfield. And on my list is- the biography from Klimt. 15 is
there
a
famous contemporary
artist
that
you
want to report? And an artist who is not famous but
who
you
like
and
whose
artistic
research
do
you
share This is a complicated question, because I often love this or that of an artist in his approach, technique or expression - too many to name them all- and I share of course the artistic research of Alena
Hennessy
and
Flora
Bowley
who
are
also
intuitive painters. 16
You
have
been
contacted
by
No
Name
Collective
Gallery and did not know what kind of project we would have made: are you happy to trust us? Yes, of course, I’m happy to trust you - for me the most essential basis is trust, and on this basis, I’m always breaking new ground, and I believe that only on this basis can things emerge well. I’m happy and grateful for being one of the artists you selected. And I hope that the NNC Gallery and your readers find value, joy, and inspiration with my artwork because this would be the greatest pleasure to me. 17 We
ask
for
a
small
fee
for
the
selection
of the
magazine and our other calls (artistic residencies and art clashes) but for the artists, we have selected and which we will select every year then we work for free. What do you think about this thing?
I thank you for your approach and I think it´s key art is a important and wonderful gift to humanity and artists change the world with their work - we all are happier and life is better with art. All the wonderful art pieces, songs, symphonies, books and movies which are part of our culture and identity remind us to continue the work and to show the work - and having the
opportunity
amazing !
to
do
this
for
reasonable
fees
is
Thank you for this interview it was my pleasure to show my work and also to share a little bit of my artistic life.
If you’re interested in knowing more :
Web site : www.francoise-wattre.com
instagram: francoise.wattre
Thank you for your interest in my work.
Warmly
Fraçoise Wattré
s peci al gues t
#CO LLECTIVE17 CLICK O N IM AGES