Andree Thobaty

Andree Thobaty (b. 1940) is a self-taught artist who lives in Provence and paints modernistic landscapes and still life paintings with a brush and palette knife in rich oils. With ease and spontaneity, the artist layers paint over a dark brown background in flat planes of color. The resulting paintings are sophisticated and dimensional, filled with movement and colors that sing. Thobaty moved to a village close to Avignon, France, in 1980 and has been painting there ever since. She studied with the late master painter Robert Beaube, in Chateauneuf de Gadagne, but says that her real inspiration comes from the light, senses and sentiments derived from the beautiful countryside of Provence. . We think Thobaty is one of the finest artists of the region, and we love to see her explore her art by taking it to a greater level of abstraction. Her palette is full of contrast and luminosity. Her colors are clear, pure, and peaceful. Whether she is using a palette knife to achieve a more architectural effect, or a brush, for more fluidity, the end result is the same: A serene and original vision of Provence that seems to flow naturally and effortlessly. We love visiting Thobaty in her charming studio. Built by her husband, who is originally from the mountainous Jura area of France, the studio is a little chalet in their garden, complete with window boxes and a winding garden path. The outside is neat, prim, and well kept. The inside is an explosion of creativity and contrast, with a wide range of exciting and different paintings. Moreover, of course, we observe the same contrast with Thobaty, whose depth of talent and creativity is just under the surface of a reserved and dignified woman.