Paris Street Scene

Hi, I am Jolene Kelm, and I am so excited to finally have a blogspot to showcase all my paintings!!!  Not being too computer savvy myself, my dear great niece, Lauren, came to my rescue and has done a beautiful job of establishing my blogspot.  If you ever need a website or blog, and are like me (a little rusty on such), she would be a great one to contact.  She also has a fantastic food blog:  Dallas Duo Bakes (http://dallasduo.blogspot.com), that I highly recommend.

To get me started Lauren has posted the following four paintings that I have done for her.   If you see a painting you would like painted, or if you have another idea in mind, please do not hesitate to contact me.  My email is thatspecialtouch.houston[at]gmail[dot]com.

As you can see in the painting below, I was inspired by Edouard Leon Cortez to do the following Paris Street Scene for Lauren.  

Paris Street Scene by Jolene Kelm

Rue Royale, Concorde in Winter by Edouard Leon Cortes

(photo courtesy of Rehs Galleries, Inc.)

My Paris Street Scene is a replication of Edouard Leon Cortes' Rue Royale, Concorde in Winter oil on canvas painting.  Edouard Cortes is a late 19th to early 20th century French artist, specializing in Paris street scenes.  He was born in 1882 in Lagny, France at a time when Paris was considered the center of the art world. Cortes found his niche painting Paris' streets and monuments at the turn of the century (1900), that led to his fame.  One of the most prolific artists of his time, Cortes has shown views of the most telling and beautiful images of Paris and all it's seasons for over 60 years.

For more information about Edouard Leon Cortes, or to purchase an authentic Cortes painting, please contact Rehs Galleries, Inc.  in New York City or visit their website at www.rehs.com.

Notre Dame

My niece, Lauren, traveled to Europe at the end of her third year at Texas A&M University.  She was kind enough to bring me some wonderful photos from which a painting or two came about.  This painting, however, was done from a postcard of Notre Dame that she sent me while in Paris.

Notre Dame by Jolene Kelm

The Proposal

This is the type of a painting that brings me such joy because this one definitely tells a story! Lauren’s fiancé, Matt, and her parents planned a surprise engagement party with family and friends.  We all hid upstairs in her parents’ home while he proposed at the grand piano.  He later re-enacted the proposal so that pictures could be taken in order for me to have a reference for doing an oil painting.  

I must share with you the lovely way this proposal took place:  

It was New Years Eve, so Matt took Lauren out to her favorite Italian restaurant.  When they returned to Lauren's parent's house, Matt said he had written a new song for her on the piano, called "Fairytales."  After the song, Matt presented Lauren with a "New Years" gift.  She had not suspected anything at this point, because Matt had already written her two piano songs since they had been dating, and she had bought Matt a "New Years" gift as well (a new dog-tag style necklace)!  When Lauren opened her present from Matt, she discovered it was a Bible.  Written in small, gold, script lettering was her first and  soon to be" last name" on the front.  Bookmarked and highlighted was a passage from Ephesians 5 verses 25-31:  "25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her...28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself... 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."  Inside Ephesians 5 was also a notecard with the words, "WILL YOU MARRY ME?"  In addition, there was a gorgeous round, 2+ carat diamond ring attached to the bookmark!  At this point, Lauren had definitely realized what was happening, and with tears, she said "YES!"  Little did Lauren know, her entire family was upstairs hiding.  After Matt's proposal, he texted the family to come downstairs to celebrate Lauren and Matt's engagement that night.

This painting will always bring back the sweet memory of that very special night!!!

The Proposal by Jolene Kelm

Yellow Sunflowers

A picture in a magazine inspired me to paint this little picture of sunflowers.  Lauren liked it for her kitchen.

Yellow Sunflowers by Jolene Kelm