Claire Richelme

Claire was born in Provence in 1957.During her childhood she was immersed in the bright colors and warm light of south of France.She began to draw and paint at a very young age but it's French Literature that she studied in Aix en Provence.Then,attracted by the tropics she left for the Indian Ocean where she taught drawing and geography to the Muslim children of the island of Mayotte.
In1980 she landed in guadeloupe(French West Indies) where sheopened an Art Gallery(Gallerie Ayti). She traveled frequently to the island of Haïti to collect Naïf Art. Throughout the years she felt the urge to paint the beloved islands.Inflenced by the naïf paintings, she dares to use the bright colors of life under the sun. As she traveled and hung around the painters studios, she became mor involved in relations than in business.In 1984, she met the painter Callebault who taught her how to use all the earth colors like burnt sienna and umber,to catch the typical attitude in her drawins, the very special traits of locals(market places, fishermen...)Her time in the magical town of Jacmel and historic town of Cap Haïtian , her attraction to voodoo and the
contacts to native artists gave her material to express.
Claire works also with watercolors but it's acrylic that she prefers to give strength to her painting. She also uses glass tile from Italy to execute magnificient mosaïcs.

From the begining my philosophy was to express the light,the joy and peace of simple life in the tropics.I like to share this love and hapiness with others.
I come from Naive Art but slowly I'm changing, developping my own way with more free brush strokes and abstract backgrounds,still keeping a colorfull palette.This change of direction shows up more in the figures at the market than in the landscapes which are more realistic.

Permanent exhibition in Méridien Hôtel Guadeloupe french west Indies.
2003-Exhibition at the Red Brick Center for thArts Aspen Colorado.
2002- Aspen Art Museum.Artists from the Valley.
Permanent Exhibition at "L'Atelier de Claire "Marina Centre St François Guadeloupe.

I work at home or at "L'Atelier de Claire " wich is right in the Marina . People stop by to chat...it's fun. My neighbour friends encourage me! I enjoy to be on the terrasse in the morning or inside in the afternoon.
It doesn't bother me to have people around but thereare moments alone I take advantage of...

Acrylique sur toile au Aspen Art Museum