Paint
in
France
Bombel. 24290, St Amand de Coly, Dordogne, France | GPS: N45° 01.915 / E 001° 15.295 | Tel: 0033 (0)553 302405
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Meet Your Tutor
Erik Michel
Erik Michel...
A Dutch national, Erik Michel was actually born in Ngoundere, West Africa.
As a boy, he traveled extensively with his geologist father living variously in Holland, France and Thailand.
A natural with a brush and pencil...
At school, it was found that he had a natural talent for drawing and painting, so his parents sent him to study art in Paris.
Around this time, holidays permitting, Erik began traveling, gaining inspiration and a deeper understanding of art in countries as divers as Mexico and Israel, as well as Europe and America.
A Fine Arts Degree in London...
He eventually ended up at the prestigious City and Guilds School of Art in London where he continued to develop his passion for painting, gaining his Fine Art Degree.
He can cook, too...
As the archetypal 'struggling young artist' Erik decided he needed a proper income, and so he trained as a chef. With his wife, Karen, he ticked off one of his life ambitions and became Chef Patron of 'Michels' in Ripley, Surrey.
Having achieved several awards and an enviable reputation, he was snapped up for the position of Head Chef at 'La Luna' in Godalming.
France and his true love beckon...
However, painting and art run deep in the Michel blood and Erik was desperate to recapture the essence of his love for painting
And so, in 2004, Erik and Karen moved to France where he set up a small studio deep in the heart of the Dordogne countryside.
Using this lush local landscape for inspiration, as well as his culinary and traveling adventures, Erik quickly established himself as the pre-eminent artist of the area.
An eclectic mix of medium and subject matter...
Over the years, Erik has specialised in oil, watercolour, acrylic and even spray paint, and his work sells to private collections and local art galleries alike.
Says Erik "My paintings are about colour and shape, sometimes figurative and sometimes more abstract. I like to keep things simple".
His artwork is both traditional and contemporary...
Embodying the traditional skills of painting and drawing, Erik's artwork covers such divers subjects as:
- Landscapes
- Still-life
- Portraiture
- Buildings and architecture
He works in:
- Watercolour
- Oils
- Acrylic
- All traditional drawing materials
- Spray paint
