BLISS

A cloudless blue sky of a spatial blue that contains a distinctive quality of nocturnal light, purveyed for by the divine radiance of the Moon that's rendered here, but also emerging from the depths of infinity, - "This dim light that falls from the stars"- Corneille - , are characteristic of the Mediterranean seafront and of Martine's work, making it instantly identifiable and accessible. Whilst the Moon fills a function in the lighting and composition of the painting, its full shape and radiance evoke integrity, generosity, warmth, while the clear horizon elicits serenity, purity and hope, an opportunity for respite from the idiosyncrasies of this world.

Technique:

Martine Martel has adopted oil, applied in a smooth texture, as if to soften the rough edges of the human drama that constitutes her daily fare. Her technique consists in layering, on canvas, veils of home-made glazes of pigments and oil, in subtle variations of hues, one by one atop of each other.

The colour glazes may be gossamer-thin, but stratified in multiple coats they alternately evoke the infinite depth of the universe or the rich translucency of stained glass. Indeed, much in the manner of a stained glass window, light seems to infuse the color from behind. In effect, the bright light of the Cote d’Azur is IN the color and dominates her work, impacting the viewer's senses and emotions.