Keep up with the latest art and adventures from Rene Shoemaker Art!
L’Êtang de la Valette, St, Maixant
Why do I make art?
To feed my soul.
Why do I live in France?
Because the aesthetics of France match my soul aesthetics.
Beauty, harmony, balance, & light. This is what I take away from my everyday experiences in La Creuse.
The fields, the mountains, the cows, the medieval towns.
I am fortunate to be in such an inspiring landscape and stimulating environment, and lucky to be able to share it with you.
What makes your soul sing?
Geoff modeling his Doors of Athens t-shirt for you (photo credit: mo'b)
Today I am excited to share the newest creation from René Shoemaker Art! The Doors are now featured on a soft cotton t-shirt that captures your support for small businesses, your love of architecture, and your good taste, all in a unique Athens t-shirt design that will envelop you in comfort and well-being.
The t-shirt is already capturing a social media following!
Hand-printed in Athens, GA, this stunning t-shirt features white ink on a deep indigo blue shirt. The 100% cotton is soft, comfortable, and sustainable.
I would be so proud to have you wear my shirt! What better way to get art on the streets than to wear it on a tee?
You can buy your shirt online here or pick yours up at Community at 260 N. Jackson St. in downtown Athens.
René art now at Community, Athens, GA (photo credit: Community)
In another news flash, The Doors of Athens EXHIBIT has relocated to Community, where the interior design and calming colors provide the perfect backdrop for my artwork. This Athens-loving small business makes and sells sustainable clothing and artisan products, all created by local makers based in Georgia. With its impeccable good taste, Community is a fabulous place to visit. My paintings are in excellent company there. I find inspiration in this statement from the Community website: "Community encourages a renewed, balanced, and personal relationship between the consumer and their wardrobe." They are caring for our world.
René art at Community in the wee early hours (photo credit: dhm)
Don't you just love the cloud reflection in the window?
If you haven't seen the exhibit yet, now is your opportunity (spread the word!). If you would like to visit (or revisit) the artwork, you can see it at Community. To purchase the art, phone them or contact me. To preview the art before you visit the shop, click here.
Either way, I hope that you go to see the new arrangement of The Doors of Athens exhibit. Feel free to share photos of you at the exhibit or while wearing your new t-shirt - or both!
With appreciation,
What makes you fond of your hometown or your alma mater? I think about this question often and I'm curious to know your opinions is on this subject. (Hit "reply" - let me know!)
I've made it my life mission to uncover this mystery, and as a result, I am so excited to share with you a project I've been working on for months: The Doors of Athens!
The Doors of Athens is a multi-product program I have been diligently creating since midsummer, and it is finally here, ready to share with you and the world, just in time for the holidays!
Short on time? Scroll down to the end to see the big reveal!
...or read on, if you want to hear the whole story.
For December and January, I'll only be in Athens for a short 6 weeks, but you know how much I love Athens. In the heart of Northeast Georgia, Athens was a location of safety and stability for my wandering 20-something self. Its history runs deep, and every one of us whom the city has touched has a unique and personal experience with it. Established concurrently with the University of Georgia in the early 1800s, Athens is a historic yet progressive city with a small-town feel. The 20 square blocks of downtown Athens host a collection of unique eateries, gift shops, art stores, boutiques, vintage shops, bars, music venues, and much more, attracting students, townspeople, and visitors alike. The motto “Shop local!” becomes more relevant and stronger every year, and is exactly what Athens needs to keep it vibrant and thriving; i.e., local small businesses.
To honor my beloved hometown and share the love, I have created a poster featuring 16 small businesses that are unique to Athens. As a special introduction, I am offering the first 100 posters, locally silk screened by hand, and signed by the artist (that’s me!), on my website and at a few locations around town (to be determined - I'll let you know where soon). I have poured my heart and soul into this project, and I hope it will be as meaningful to you as it is to me.
Since I began my art career, my artistic output has focused on the question of “What makes a place feel good?” My goal is to share the uniqueness of places, focusing on that which people tend to ignore when passing by.
Often when people are scurrying down the street, thinking of their destination, they get involved in their own thoughts and fail to observe their surroundings. Yet one of Athens’ treasures is its collection of interesting entrances—environments you recognize but may never consciously perceive. Transitioning from the public to the private sphere, from the outdoors to the interior, from the grand to the intimate, enables you to share a space with those you love or explore a totally new location.
My goal in creating this new art series is to bring attention to everyday experiences, the beauty of our town, and our affection for this place.
When I first heard the phrase place attachment theory from Madeline Blankenship of the Get Artistic program hosted by Creature Comforts Brewery, images of my beloved Athens immediately began to swirl in my head. This poster and exhibit were born at that moment. The exhibit aims to highlight the joy we experience when visiting our favorite businesses after our pandemic confinement, when we are free to move about again. I have highlighted my favorite businesses of Athens with their delightful architecture and inviting entranceways, and created, not only fine art paintings, but a poster for sharing, enjoying, and giving as gifts.
Silk painting #5 (detail) in process
Perfect for gift giving! Perfect for yourself! Buy your poster here, and come see the NEW artwork at The Doors of Athens exhibit opening December 10th. More details to follow, but mark your calendar now!
Saint-Amand, La Creuse
Don’t you love to receive a unique card in the mail - maybe a unique design with a personal touch?
L'église Saint-Amand front & back
Today I share my 2021 holiday card available for purchase.
My pen and pencil drawing
Saint-Amand is a village over the hill not far from my house. It is a short bike ride away, and offers the nearest café to where I live.
First watercolors are applied
The church in Saint-Amand is nestled within the community, on a small square and near the Chez La Marcelle café and along a walking path.
Mixing the colors and choosing just the right ones
I hope you like this design! I so enjoy sharing my French communities with you.
Details:
-Minimum order: one pack of 10
1 pack of 10: $35
Extra packs: $30 each
-original watercolor painting printed on smooth cardstock
-card size: 4.13" x 5.83" delivered with a white envelope
-custom printed in groups of ten
-blank interior allows for your personalized message
-the back of the card says simply "Saint-Amand, La Creuse"
with the artist’s signature or website
-printed in the USA (for orders outside of the US, the cards are printed in the UK)
-allow two to three weeks from order date for delivery
Water color set in action!
Detail of the cloche-mur (bell tower)
The final painting
The final card - ready for you!
St Amand has a very narrow roadway passing through it - every time I drive between these two buildings I hold my breath!
Another view of the clocher-mur: an extended wall with openings for the church bells. The yellow sign below is the map for the hiking paths,
Clocher-mur-detail
Ever since I was in art school, I've been making my own holiday cards. In the beginning, they were all made by hand: printed or drawn; possibly painted or silkscreened.
A few years ago, thinking of all the people I wanted to send cards to who were not receiving one of the few hand created ones, I began printing them with my favoirte Moo card printer (who prints my business cards, too - they’re stunning!).
Saint Amand is a village over a hill, near my house. I can get to it one of four ways (excluding car travel). I can ride my bike to Croix de la Fortune and downhill all the way to Saint Amand, past cows, fields, farms and stone houses. This is very thrilling, because I feel like I can go so fast! The countryside is beautiful and the traffic very light.
The other way I can go is through the village of St Maixant, past the castle, the city hall, the school and the community center (all that makes St Maixant sound way bigger than it is! It is petite, also). Then ride the bike up the hill and over the top, past the grazing cows where one has a beautiful view of the Plateau Millevaches way off in the distance. Green pastures, blue sky, and communities sprinkled from here to the horizon.
The church in Saint Amand is nestled within the community, on a small square and near the Chez La Marcelle restaurant which recently re-opened, reimagined by the two grand daughters of the original Marcelle who had the café in the bottom of her house there for many years. I’ve heard it was a welcoming afterschool hangout for he local children back in the 50’s. The café faces the street that goes through the village named, aptly, "Le Petit Café".
