13.46 - What makes an Artist?

Henrie Richer enrolled at Ecole de Beaux Arts in Versailles in the 2nd half of her life. "Although it is still an effort for me to ignore my inner critic I can now let go of many of my expectations."

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1. What makes an Artist? by Henrie Richer

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Salut,

I’m Judy, the Fondatrice of MyFrenchlife.org. And le Bulletin is our weekly newsletter. I’m sure that you’ll enjoy today’s story, which is all about creativity, ignoring that inner voice, and studying art in Versailles.

Please drop me a note to say hi and tell me your story info [at] MyFrenchLife [dot] org - I would really like to meet you.

Merci
Judy MacMahon

PS: If you’re enjoying this ‘le Bulletin’ please consider upgrading your subscription to gain full access. Merci. Judy - 18.11 23

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Introducing Henrie

Henri Richer has been a member of the MyFrenchLife Global Community for years, almost from the beginning 13+ years ago! Henrie attended, at least one of the ‘Intimate Gatherings and Indulgences’ series of events I held in Paris, way back then - they were so much fun and I really enjoyed meeting fabulous people, like Henrie, many of whom lived in Paris, or nearby, and some even flew in from other countries - very special. And, then in 2019, I published an interview with Henrie.

More recently Henrie has gone back to school, in Versailles - I’ll let her tell you about that… At 59 years, she’s gone back as a ’mature student’ - she’s thriving - the work she’s producing is stunning.

When I read the ‘mature student’ bit in her article, which you’ll find below. It reminded me of a season of my life when I returned to ‘school’ to study Fashion Design at what was then called East Sydney Technical College, in Sydney, as a so-called ‘mature student’ in my early 20s- in retrospect certainly not mature! This was the first time that I’d open up not only to my curiosity but also to my creativity. :) I still remember it very clearly… but enough about me.

Just a few weeks ago when I was ‘taken’ with Henrie’s work and the emotion of some of her writing, I asked her to write about creativity, and her new life, and ‘What makes an Artist?” et voilà.

1. What makes an Artist? by Henrie Richer

Being creative, or being 'a creative', has become in the 21st century a reason for pride, with some people feeling superior because they are creative and those who deem themselves not to be creative, feeling less worthy. Social media is flooded with the accounts of creatives and their tutorials, which they sell for reasonable fees to crowds of people.

And why are these tutorials and courses so popular and so numerous?

In fact, all humans are creative. It is part of our set of survival skills. We are all capable of “making or imagining something new, a new solution to a problem, a new method or device, or a new object”. It is how our species adapts.

Creativity is manifested in a myriad of ways, whether creating a meal from leftovers, decorating your home, gardening, adapting to a new job, organising your work-life balance. We all create every day.

And then there is artistic creativity, creating something in two dimensions or three dimensions, which is considered to be Art. For me, that means imagining and then creating drawings, paintings, sculptures, and etchings.

All my life I have imagined stories and pictures without necessarily making them real by writing them down or drawing. Knowing that what I was physically capable of creating would always turn out to be inferior to the image that I had conjured in my mind.

Expectations and creative family pressures

My mother and older sister both have fine art degrees and despite my ardent desire to follow in their footsteps, I had as a teenager a huge chip on my shoulder.

I thought that I was not an Artist. Having failed the entrance exam to art school at the age of seventeen, I dropped any artistic activity for 30 years and channeled my creativity into my language studies, writing freelance journalism and fiction, caring for my family, and homemaking.

But the deep-set desire and need to bring to life the images in my head never left me and I am now attending art school as a mature student at the age of fifty-nine.

I am not a proficient draughts woman; in that I cannot make realistic drawings of objects or people. For me, drawing was not a pleasure. It is laborious and painstaking if I try to be accurate, but I believed until eight months ago that being able to draw properly was a prerequisite to being a competent artist.

Art school in Versailles: being challenged

When I started art school in Versailles, in September 2022, I was confused when several teachers told us that academic technique, whether in drawing or painting, was of no interest whatsoever.

In our first painting lesson of the year, I was preparing a painting of three women. I'd sourced photographs and then traced the outlines of the figures onto tracing paper. I was preparing to transfer the outline of these figures onto a canvas when our painting tutor came by and said:

What on earth are you doing?”

I explained.

But why do you not just draw directly onto your canvas?” she asked.

I explained that I could not draw well and that if I drew freehand the proportions would not be correct.

Who cares about technique? It isn’t important. The only thing of importance in art is emotion. If your figures are not in proportion, but drawn free hand, your painting will be truly yours and have more impact, show more emotion,” she replied.

I had no idea what she was talking about and the first few months of art school were an exhausting and disturbing challenge. However, as I became more familiar with contemporary work I began to understand my tutor’s point of view.

Thanks to my impassioned art history tutor, I have grown to appreciate the legacy of past artists and how contemporary artists develop their own work from the inspiration that past work provides.

Not giving in to the inner critic

Although it is still an effort for me to ignore my inner critic, I can now let go of many of my expectations across my different disciplines.

I particularly enjoy blind contour drawing (not looking at the page while you draw) and drawing with my non-dominant hand. Some people have a natural talent for accurate drawing and I am a little bit envious of them, but I’ve learned to let go of perfectionism and I now rather enjoy my chaotic sketching.

What makes an Artist?

We are all born with different creative skills that need work and practice to develop.

Concerning art, one person may be able to draw from an early age, another may be able to shape materials into things, and another may have an innate knowledge of colour for example. Some may have a whole basket full of skills.

But to my mind the only common trait that all artists share is the need, the visceral need, to express ideas or feelings by creating an image or object.

When life prevents us from fulfilling this need we become sad, sometimes sick, and feel out of place. Like an athlete that needs to train, an artist needs to make their art and I am living proof that it is never too late to fulfill your dreams.

All images are copyright: Henrie Richer
You can find out more about Henrie on her website: www.henriericher.com

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If you'd like to comment on Henri's experiences, or yours, and her question of What makes an artist? then please do so below.

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2. Recent MyFrenchLife Magazine articles

Keep up to date with the new articles published on our Magazine this week.

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3. Merci mille fois + travel

“Thank you so much for reading ‘le Bulletin’. I appreciate the support you’re all offering across the 67 countries, and 47 states of the USA, in which le Bulletin is read.”

À Bientôt,
Judy x

PS: this week’s ‘le Bulletin’ for PAID subscribers, is in your inbox. Check-out the preview & consider upgrading to enjoy it in full.

PPS: *I’m taking a break until late in November* to visit my family in the UK. It’s been too many years! The girls are growing up far too fast and I need to spend some real (not facetime) time with them. I’ve worked to prepare and schedule a quite a number of newsletters for you to enjoy whilst I’m travelling. I hope there are no technical glitches ;) Cross fingers - thanks Judy.

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