From My Studio: Exploring Helen Alice Johnson’s Creative Process
Each week, Helen Alice Johnson takes inspiration from the natural world that surrounds her in Alston, Cumbria. Her paintings reflect the landscapes, gardens, and changing seasons, offering viewers a glimpse into the beauty of nature. In this blog, Helen shares the moments that spark her creativity, from a walk in the countryside to the sight of a flower blooming in her garden.
Van Gogh Art Tour | A Trip to the South of France
This week I took a break from my studio and headed down to the South of France on a bit of a Van Gogh Art tour. It was fascinating to see how little of an impact Van Gogh had on Arles, whilst some of his most amazing paintings come from there. If you know some of Van Gogh’s paintings, it is hard not to see his paintings in every building! They all look like Van Gogh art work to me.
It was brilliant to see the site of ‘The Yellow House’, where he painted and lived with Gaugin in Arles. Unfortunately, the house was bombed during the second world war, but the background buildings are still there, so it’s easy to imagine the two inspirational painters living their life out in this beautiful part of the South of France. And the colours are amazing – beautiful light and soft stone.
The Romans also thought so, and there is far more to see regarding the Roman architecture, including a stunning Roman amphitheatre, where Van Gogh painted his painting ‘Spectators in the Arena At Arles’.
And one of my particular favourites is ‘The Café Terrace at Night’ and again, in viewing seeing this in real life, it looks just like a Van Gogh painting!