Artist Elisabeth Cuegniet is currently exhibiting her marine oil paintings at Maison Renaissance in La Roche-sur-Yon, with the exhibition running from October 31 through November 12. Her works draw heavy inspiration from the salt marshes of Île d'Yeu and local fisheries, capturing the essence of the Vendée coastal region through her realistic artistic style.
The realism of Cuegniet's works immediately strikes visitors to the exhibition. The precision of her brushstrokes, the harmony of her color palette, and her mastery of technique establish her distinctive style from the outset. The scenes presented to viewers focus primarily on the Vendée coastline, featuring the salt marshes of Île d'Yeu, the Barges lighthouse at Les Sables-d'Olonne being swept by waves, and traditional square-net fishing structures scattered throughout the coastal landscape.
Among her notable works are boats moored at Port Joinville on Île d'Yeu, captured under the shimmering reflections of a setting sun. She has also reimagined the beach at Les Sables, artistically removing the modern alignment of buildings and restoring the waterfront to its former appearance, complete with rows of trees and scattered houses that once characterized the area.
The figurative style of these marine oil paintings cannot leave viewers indifferent. While some find them emotionally moving, others consider them overly meticulous in their execution. Each observer will have their own interpretation based on their personal sensitivity to art. However, what remains undeniable is her mastery of naturalistic techniques and the subtlety of her rendering effects, which cannot fail to impress. The Barges lighthouse, standing opposite Les Sables-d'Olonne, has been resisting storms since 1861, serving as a testament to the enduring coastal landscape she depicts.
"Painting has always fascinated me since I was very young," confides Elisabeth Cuegniet. Immersed throughout her childhood in literature about painting, she was particularly drawn to the oil techniques of the Renaissance period. "I started by working specifically on glazing techniques," she explains. This method produces effects of depth, plays of luminosity, and chromatic nuances through successive transparent layers.
"I initially launched into copying existing works, targeting those of masters like Velázquez or Georges de La Tour," she continues. These 17th-century painters are renowned for their virtuosity in chiaroscuro and light effects. When she begins a painting, her first work on the canvas consists of using a very diluted color to position the elements of the landscape she wants to represent.
She applies the traditional rule of thirds, common to all visual arts: respecting the balance of composition by avoiding placing important elements in the center of the image. Then comes the patient work of composition, layer after layer, which allows her to construct the image. This process represents an average of forty hours of work per painting.
As a self-taught artist, Cuegniet never took formal classes, although today she is the one giving them. "I receive two groups in my studio at La Jaudonnière, each composed of half a dozen participants: children for the first group and adults for the second." Her teaching encompasses learning pictorial techniques, accompanying personal projects, and progression of skills.
Elisabeth Cuegniet established herself as a professional artist in 2003. She interrupted her career two years later to devote herself to her children, then resumed her artistic activity in 2024. The income she derives from her teaching activities and her two to three monthly commissions for restoration or copying works allows her time to create original paintings sold between 125 and 450 euros each.
"I want to set prices that are both accessible but also take into account the time spent and the cost of materials that I want to be of quality and durable," she explains. When asked what she wants to bring through her works, she responds: "Serenity, peace through luminosity." The artist can be contacted at 06 28 53 54 92 or elisabeth.cuegniet@orange.fr.
