Petits Souvenirs - Miniature Watercolors by Charlotte Laxen
Enter the gallery overflowing with little memories of France. Charlotte Laxen Helfritz paints small watercolor landscapes of daily life in France bringing out all the rich color and textures of the landscape, towns and gardens.
The exhibit opens on May 8, 2025 with a reception from 6 to 8 pm. Please let us know you plan to attend by using the Register button below.
The opening night reception is free and all are welcome! Registration is not required, but please consider registering and making a $10 donation to support our cultural programs like this one. Your support allows us to continue the presence of cultural programs which benefit our whole community.
‘‘France has been the inspiration behind much of my work over the past 35 years. Our family hosted 2 students and a teacher from France for month summer stays. My first major international flight was to Paris! I started studying French at the Alliance Française in the Fall of 1990 and the passion to paint France began in 1991 after my first visit there. I wanted to share in my paintings, what I had seen. I loved the history - the daily life - the colors - the textures! I was a small-town girl that had crossed an ocean and couldn’t get it out of my mind! I found the same feeling around Lanesboro, Minnesota and painted that part of Minnesota for many years as well.
I have had the privilege of having two shows at the Alliance Française: one in 1991 with an extremely gifted French tapestry artist, Christine Pradel-Lien and another titled “Patterns of Provence” in 1995 after my visit there.
Another of my joys has been to teach watercolor painting in Monet’s gardens in Giverny France twice, through a program that was called Art Study Giverny. An experience of a lifetime!
The past three years I have been painting miniature watercolors and I am thrilled to have the chance to focus once again on France to revisit my memories from there. These paintings will be 3”x 3” images in 5”x 5” frames and I hope they will bring back many of your own memories!’’
- Charlotte Laxen
You can see more of Charlotte’s work at www.charlottelaxen.com and you can follow her on Instagram at charlottelaxen_fineartist.
After the opening night on Thursday, May 8 at 6 pm, the exhibition will be open to visitors Monday through Thursday 9 am to 7 pm, and Fridays and Saturdays 9 am to 4 pm. The exhibition will be on display until June 7, 2025.