Bellissimo and Bella: Monday Mavens: Renee Bouchon and a GIVEAWAY!!!!!

11.10.2014

Monday Mavens: Renee Bouchon and a GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Today's Monday Maven is one of my most fave...its my BFF Renee!

She's a super talented artist and a super fun friend!

Having been friends for over 10 years, we were college sorority sisters at UGA...and over the years we've done weddings, been bridesmaids, girls weekends, babies, parties, nights on the town, and gosh, a whole lot more. :) I'm lucky to call her friend, and happy she's agreed to be a Maven of mine!

Renee recently launched her own website, directed at her gorgeous paintings.

If you haven't seen it yet, you MUST!

http://reneebouchon.com

She's also got a fun Facebook page that keeps us all up to date with her exciting new happenings!

https://www.facebook.com/reneebouchonart

Follow her on Instagram too

@ReneeBouchon

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Here's Renee's inspiring interview below:

Tell me about yourself….who is Renee the artist?

I started painting professionally in 2010 as a secondary creative outlet from my current job in advertising. As much as I love the ad world, painting has always been a fun escape for me. When it comes to art and design, I don't worry too much about the rules - I just love creating based on what is inspiring me at that moment. I have a bachelor of arts in Journalism; Advertising from the University of Georgia so the creative thinking and graphic design classes I took along the way only reinforced my love for art.

I grew up in New Orleans where I fell in love with all things creative. From constantly attending art camps and classes to the eclectic and vibrant culture of the city, the whimsical ambiance evoked my love to create...and I've been doing it ever since. I also have a passion for the coast, whether it be cruising the back alleyways of Charleston, SC or burying my feet in the white sands of Seaside, FL. Many of my color choices are inspired by life on the water. I love vibrant tones but also like weaving in different amounts of white space while constantly balancing the two. For me, inspiration comes in all forms and I thrive off seeing how a little snippet of creation can transform any given space.

I paint in acrylic, large and small, abstract while also exploring different mediums such as pastels and charcoal. In addition, I love doing custom orders (or as we say in the art world: commissions). It's a super fun process!

What inspires you to create?

I find inspiration everywhere! My travels, design blogs, fabulous fashion, and everything in between. I guess you could say “life” is an inspiration as cliché as that sounds. Color palettes can be found anywhere and everywhere…you just have to observe J I'm constantly wanting to create and get my work out into the world for people to enjoy.

What are your favorite color schemes?

Right now, I'm loving light grays, whites, mint greens, corals and light aquas. I love the look of a translucent white wash over a brighter color that provides that airy and open ambiance within the painting.

Do you have any art pieces that are particularly special to you?

All my paintings have special meaning for different reasons. The one big piece that sticks out to me is the first (LARGE) commission I did for a friend's beautiful Savannah home. To see her overflowing excitement over something I found so much joy in creating is what was the spark that ignited my passion in wanting to make this a second career.

How does your art style translate into your home?

I've always been a huge fan of neutrals and white tones evoked with splashes of color. I love the calmness that a crisp white couch or natural jute rug can provide. BUT I'm also a creative at heart and lover of color so I bring in little punches of vibrant tones through statement pieces like a bold, bright piece of art or an eclectic set of pillow. I approach my art in the same way. No matter how colorful a painting might be, I find balance by overlaying a white wash, weaving in beiges and tans and just balancing the piece with cooler and lighter tones.