January 22, 2017

Claire Tabouret

A lot of my days are filled with the hustle and bustle of getting around the city, work, and connecting with loved ones. It makes it hard to stop and smell the roses.

But once in awhile, when I come across wonderful art I haven't seen before, I relish in the pause, it lights up my spirit like a bright flame, my mind immediately quiets down, and (as odd as it sounds) I actually “feel” the artist’s work.

I experienced this when I first discovered Claire Tabouret’s art.

When I came across the piece, Makeup (Curly Hair), I felt the waves of emotions curling around each brushstroke. The dark depths in the young girl’s eyes seemed to look through me, while the red somehow accentuated the sullenness on her face.

I just can't seem to settle on a narrative of this young girl, and maybe that's why I keep looking. Does she sleep in braids, like I used to do with my hair, because her curls start at eyes length and down to the tips of her strands? Is that her nightgown? Is it a summer morning? Is she sitting still for a portrait, or has the artist captured her in a moment of time? And most importantly, what is she thinking? I think of million things, but still can't seem to convince myself of anything definite. I'm obsessed (in a good way!).

Claire Tabouret, an artist born in France who now lives in LA has become my first art crush of 2017, and hopefully I will see more of her work.

The artist also uses wood to paint this piece on, instead of canvas, which I like because then you don't have to worry about the paint cracking against the stretched fabric later on. It also coincidently mimics and preserves this young girl. Both her youth and her eyes that show she has already lived beyond her years.

Source: http://www.clairetabouret.com