Affordable Original Art, Bespoke Cards and Paintings

After the millennium I moved to S W France, Cathar country, where my desire to paint was re-awakened, since studying art at 'A' level (sometime in the late 1960s!). I joined a local art group and also went on as many art courses as I could find and afford. I soon realised that being taught painting at school with gauche and poster paint was just a tiny drop in the ocean of techniques. As my knowledge of painting in different media developed, I realised I had a lot to learn (and I'm still learning). I now feel very comfortable with pencil, pen, oil, watercolour and pastel, finding that each medium is best suited, from my point of view, for different subjects, and sometimes they overlap.

Before France, I lived in Devon and am a great lover of Dartmoor in all its various colours and temperaments, and I find that pastels really suit this kind of scenery for me, though I admire Widgery’s paintings with great awe.

Cathar Castle Paintings

Moving to France, I was very impressed by the ruined Cathar castles. I took to painting these wonderful ruins, which in some ways are not unlike the rugged tors of Dartmoor – except the sky in France is a pure cobalt blue for most of the time! - Not only did I paint the Cathar Castle paintings in watercolour, I learnt to scan my paintings and print them out on handmade paper from the Moulin de Brousses in the Montagne Noir. These I sell in local shops. Recently I moved to the Dordogne, and the vivid green scenery, acres of walnut trees and unique Perigordine buildings have brought new challenges.

My love of history, mythology, my travels, and being in such close proximity to Lascaux, have given me a renewed interest of ancient classical painters and their art, especially frescoes which have decayed with time, and are now under threat. I am now using these ancient subjects in my own way.

Apart from this eclectic interest, I have three wonderful grandchildren, and they have inspired me to paint for them, and create pictures I hope they will treasure forever, and may last longer than the latest ipod!!

Greeting Cards

It's possible for me to create bespoke greeting cards to order from most of the water colour paintings, so if you like a painting and would prefer to have it in greeting card or postcard form, please let me know.

I hope you enjoy my site, which shows a selection of affordable original art, bespoke cards and artwork, as well as oil paintings and personalised stationery by Elisabeth Medley-Smith, Potty Painter in the Dordogne.

Elisabeth Medley-Smith © 28th March 2008