Peter Marcelle Contemporary Archives

If you’ve been following my art posts for a while, you’ll have seen work by my very talented, very dear friend Lee Essex Doyle. Two years ago Boston’s Childs Gallery showcased “Dreams of Dawnridge,” watercolor paintings based on the glam Los Angeles home of artist and designer Tony Duquette. In 2009 I featured her “Postcards from India” series depicting impressions of Indian temples and palaces in Rajasthan, which she showed at Peter Marcelle Contemporary in New York. (I am lucky enough to own two from that series.)

Lee Essex Doyle’s newest show, “Illuminated Moments” opens at Childs Gallery on Newbury Street in Boston this Thursday, January 22nd, 2015 (previewed on Artsy). The works are inspired by Doyle’s recent travels to Venice and Havana. This latest series of watercolors reflect the vibrant light of the two cities. The palette is more pared down than in years past, but the compositions just as masterful and the lines and patterns as intriguing and pleasing as ever. The stairways, with its curlicue railings are invitations to explore and the lanterns and chandeliers are enchanting.

I can’t wait to see Lee and her beautiful paintings in person on Thursday, but until then we can gaze at these . . .

Study for Palazzo Cini, Venice, 2014

Prada II Yellow, Venice, 2014

Prada II Giustina, Venice, 2014

Cini Panes Grey, Venice, 2014

Study for Palacio de la Condesa de Revilla De Camargo, Havana, 2014

Door to Palazzo Polignac, Venice, 2014

Study for Palazzo Priuli, Venice, 2014

Study for Scoula Grande Stair, Venice, 2014

Courtyard, Palazzo Grimani, Venice, 2014

Study for View across Fondamenta Osmarin, Venice, 2014

As long as I’m on this whole Indian theme, I thought I’d show you a collection of gorgeous paintings by Boston-based artist Lee Essex. (She is represented by Peter Marcelle Contemporary in NYC and Southampton, as well as Parker Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA.) The show, entitled “Postcards from India,” celebrates the rich visual impressions of Indian temples and palaces in Rajasthan. Essex does drawings on site, and works from those in her Beacon Hill studio. The mixed media pieces are lush combinations of ink, watercolor, charcoal, colored pencil, tempera, and oil pastels on paper, with layers of patterns achieved with wood blocks and stencils that Essex makes herself. Essex also takes many photographs during her travels, which she uses as inspiration, along with incense and sBangara music, which helps set the mood. I’m practically transported . . .