In May, after a decade of dreaming to be a painter and pushing it to later when ‘it will be the right time’, I suddenly decided that now was the right time. I threw myself in a crazy experiment: painting everyday for 31 days, and sharing the process and the work on @ariane.solal instagram. A typical all or nothing move, which has become my signature as I travel through life.
But, as I was telling you last week in my chit chat mini podcast, the real start took place a loooong time ago. I have been painting since my teenage years, as a secret and intimate practice. It has probably been the most guarded secret of my life, as even my closest family and friends didn’t know about it or had never seen any of my paintings.
Reflecting about this, I think I felt the strong need to protect this sacred practice, to let Ariane Solal grow and exist vividly in my imagination first, before presenting it to the world. The need of solitude, time and space to invent stories for myself, to connect to my emotions, to dive into my obsession for exploring women’s intimacy. The need to acquire some life wisdom on the way, to put them on paper too.
Once in while, I would show a stranger my work and discuss my dream, a little bit the way you’d tell your most intimate secrets at a bar to someone you’ll never meet again. One day, in February 2020 in Paris (I painted a lot at the start of c*vid, being stuck in Paris), a man I showed my most recent paintings to told me, his eyes glittering: ‘everything is already here’. I will forever be grateful to that stranger who planted the first seed that led us to today…
Today, let me introduce you to ‘May We Dream’, a paintings series that holds all my years of imagining a world of colors, sunshine and emotions. In May, I painted my longing dreams: gazes that say it all, magic in the hands, nature’s bounty in the shape of flowers and shimmering water, vibrancy of our female bodies. And, behind what the eye can see, I believe these first 12 curated paintings encapsulate the unique energy of new beginnings: the thrill it creates, the insanity it takes, and the magic that happens.
Welcome to Ariane Solal Gallery, I am honored to have you here today.
May these 12 paintings, once in your homes, become the vessels of your own musings. A breath of beauty to connect to your inner world, and feel all the feelings…
✿ To order your painting, simply answer this email ✿ All prices are listed in USD ✿ International shipping included ✿ Shipping worldwide ✿
Sous mon sein, Une fleur
36x26cm ✿ original watercolor on paper ✿ $680
Memory of a Kiss
26x19cm ✿ two original watercolor pencil on calligraphy rice papers ✿ $180
Breath of Beauty
36x26cm ✿ original watercolor on paper ✿ $480
Sunset Women
21x14,5cm ✿ original watercolor on paper ✿ $380
A World for Tender Souls
36x26cm ✿ original watercolor on paper ✿ $480
Golden Bath
36x26cm ✿ original watercolor on paper ✿ $380
In the Clover Fields
36x26cm ✿ original watercolor on paper ✿ $580
Itsy Bitsy Teanie Weenie Bikini
40x30cm ✿ original watercolor on paper ✿ $380
Summer Tales
19,5x14,5cm ✿ original watercolor on calligraphy rice paper ✿ $120
Energy Refill
20x15cm ✿ original watercolor on paper ✿ $120
Bloom of a Woman
36x26cm ✿ original watercolor on paper ✿ $380
Sunset Plunge
36x26cm ✿ original watercolor on paper ✿ $280
To show my limitless appreciation for the contribution of my early collectors, you will get the dreamiest unpacking experience. We are talking velvet ribbon, thank you notes on museum postcards collected all over the world, and... complimentary surprise mini paintings!
<3 THANK YOU for supporting my dream <3
Laure-Anne
Very beautiful!
what beauty! this is absolutely beautiful work.