Left Bank Joins the Downtown Menlo Park Art Walk
Left Bank Joins the Downtown Menlo Park Art Walk
Left Bank Menlo Park is delighted to announce that we are now a featured stop on the Menlo Park Art Walk, showcasing the stunning artwork "Le Mont Rouge" by local artist Florence de Bretagne!
Nestled amidst various small businesses and community buildings here in downtown Menlo Park, the Art Walk stretches between El Camino Real and University Drive. Its mission is to celebrate local artists, enhance the downtown experience, and foster community pride through the appreciation of art.
We are particularly thrilled to be (very fittingly) paired with Florence de Bretagne, a Paris-born artist now residing in the Palo Alto area. Florence's artwork is renowned for its vibrant colors and joyful expression. Her work has been exhibited at the de Young Museum, Los Gatos Museum, and Triton Museum. Florence is deeply committed to our local community, having created over 100 murals for low-income schools across the San Francisco Bay Area between 2010 and 2020.
We recently had the pleasure of meeting Florence here at Left Bank, where we learned more about her artistic endeavors:
What inspired this artwork in particular?
"This was inspired from several travels to Tuscany and Provence, as well as one of the places that I loved in the Swiss Alps called the 'Red Mount.' It has nothing to do with Tuscany or Provence, I just like to mix different souvenirs from my travels together into one picture."
You really seem to lean into the use of color. What about it do you like so much?
"I like to focus on the positive, generally speaking in life. I was really focused on the positive side of things when making this; the positive side of people, the positive side of events happening. So, I think that's why I like so many bright colors."
I know you like painting landscapes, and other types of subjects as well. Are there any new things you're planning on painting in the future?
"I am planning on doing a new series of landscapes with animals (like bears) related to mountains because I love the mountains—that's my sacred space. In terms of landscapes, I don't like to represent a precise place, but I like to suggest something—whether in a landscape or in my Seeds paintings, one of the other series I've done—like a place or atmosphere. I like the power of images for what kind of emotions they can prompt in you."
What kind of emotions are you trying to bring out with this particular piece?
"It's actually peace (even though the colors are so bright), warmth, and a reassuring feeling. I definitely think warmth is associated with reassurance for the future. With this painting, it's the end of the day, it was a really good day, and now it's time to rest."
Can you walk me through your time in France, how long you were over there, and now your time living here?
"I've now been living here for 19 years, and I love it here because of the positive mentality. It's so positive here, and full of hope, and here everything is possible. If you look at the bright side of things, and if you're ready to work, anything can happen. I am actually going back to France next week. It's a beautiful county, with very pretty little villages, and it's a lovely place to visit. I've spent a few weeks in Provence and a few weeks in Tuscany, and have great memories of those places."
I know you do a lot of community outreach working with the schools, can you tell me about it?
"I'm fortunate to have an artistic talent, and I'm passionate about giving back to the community and to have people involved in painting, like with the mural paintings at the schools. There are many ways to involve the community; whether the kids participate in the drafts or whether they participate in the mural itself—it really depends on what the principal and the community wants. Sometimes there's an art competition at the school and we select a few drafts, and I make a general sketch from it. Or sometimes, the kids participate in the start of the mural painting, and I make the final touches. At one preschool, I actually did transfer their drawings exactly onto the wall, you could tell because it was very child-like—so there are many ways to involve the kids.
Before COVID, I also hosted a lot of team-building events with small and large companies who would join me on a mural painting, which was another a great way to involve the community."
Is there anything else you'd like people to know about you and your work?
"I am open to commission. Oftentimes, people look at my website and like my style, but then they might have something else in mind. For example, someone had a secondary home in Italy. They saw my paintings of Tuscany, and asked if I could represent something about Lake Como. So, I found images online, and they sent me a few pictures of their place, and I was able to paint a commission for them. I love to work with that kind of situation because it can be a specific size, theme, and place that you like.
Regarding team-building, I now invite businesses to come to my studio to create individual paintings. Each person can paint something unique; it's not like those other paint nights where everyone does the same thing. The aim is for them to really enjoy it, because now, after COVID, people are in need of more joy in their lives."
To learn more about Florence and her work, please visit her website here.
To learn more about the Menlo Park Art Walk and download the map, please visit their website here.