MICHEL SEMENTZEFF, an extraordinary painter

A NEW LEARNING
Michel Sementzeff is considered one of the greatest contemporary figurative artists. I could not believe my good fortune when I stayed in his son Didier’s guest home. Throughout the home were these exquisitely executed paintings. He paints landscapes and portraits that are colourful, playful, dreamlike, romantic and he does it using a knife to paint heavy oil passages that accent the creativity of his themes and style. While this genre is not my customary choice I couldn’t resist appreciating this good, good art. Didier presented me with a book of his father’s paintings which I realize is an advertising piece but I treasure it. That’s as close as I will get to owning one of Sementzeff’s expensive originals.

Of Russian origin, Michel Sementzeff was born in Boulogne-sur-Seine. He entered the École Supérieure des Arts Modernes at the age of 15, and has subsequently forged a highly successful career as an artist, exhibiting in France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, United States and Canada. With his well chosen palette of colours, his light strokes as well as his heavy impasto touches he emits light and happiness and nostalgia. He has chosen to paint faces that always reflect a childish innocence and surprise and anticipation.

His son Didier, the retired professional photographer that I mentioned yesterday, captures his father’s images so clearly to make every book of art a masterpiece collector’s cache.
I am enamoured by Michel's success and jealous of his signature. Michel's work makes the viewer happy.

here is Michel's website. The best site for viewing the quality and luminosity and brush strokes is Galerie Internationale

Le Mésange, and a Painter Discovery

A NEW LEARNING
Le Mésange is a chambre d’hôte or B&B and is in the Pays d'Auge region, close to Lisieux and 35 kms de la Côte Fleurie and within reach of the Normandy beaches. When we arrived at Le Mésange we met Didier and Roselyne Sementzeff who showed us the four delightful suites they had in this refurbished country home. Four themed rooms are offered: music, mountain, sea and countryside. We stayed in the mountain room with wall hangings of skis, boots, suitable paintings. We wished we could stay longer than one night but our schedule would not permit this.

Didier was a professional photographer, retired from his profession to operate this attractive guest home. His career was victimized by the digital revolution that puts a high definition camera and editing software in everyone's hand.

This year Didier is constructing several cottages on his acreage for additional guests. His wife is a children’s nurse in a nearby city. They make their own jams and breads and croissants. You can purchase the jams. Breakfast was superb and their hospitality was compelling. For me, what topped it, were the original paintings throughout the building. They are the work of his internationally renowned father, Michel Sementzeff. I will tell you more about him tomorrow. You can purchase his work too if you have ten to thirty thousand spare dollars kicking around. Here is one alluring sample. More tomorrow.

• Didier SEMENTZEFF (Le Mésange)
• Chemin des Forges Mézières
• 14140 Le Mesnil Durand
• Tel.1 : 02 31 63 51 91
• Port.: 06 60 18 02 04

Website: http://www.chambres-lamesange.fr