Tina and I have traveled to France six times together.
Our first time was on our honeymoon in 2008.
Our sixth time was last December, 2018.
With each visit, it gets better and better.
In 2008, we discovered something about ourselves: that when we travel, we MUST buy art. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive art. But we have to find pieces and bring them home.
In 2013, we returned to France to travel with friends from NYC. While we were in Paris, we met an artist on a bridge named Michel Maurice. He painted in a very distinct way on pieces of bed sheets as canvas. We bought a piece that I think reflected our love and passion (first image below).
Last April, we were in Paris to meet friends again and we found Michel Maurice on a different bridge, smoking a cigarette and smelling of wine. We talked, told him we owned a piece already. He showed us several paintings and he was hoping to get €80 for a piece. I literally didn’t have 80 in my pocket so I told him we’d go get money and come back. Well, he didn’t want to lose me, so he asked for €20. So we bought the above piece.
The art is so whimsical and colorful, and reflects a part of me that I can’t quite put a finger on. I love it. And love what the art represents: our unyielding obsession with buying art where we go.
Not to mention it makes for great stories.
