Colors of France: A Painting Pilgrimage

I very much enjoyed this delightfully personal and emotional journey through the backroads of a France not previously known. The beautiful illustrations by one of my favorite artists gave the reader vivid images of this gorgeous landscape. For a non-artist, it was especially interesting to experience the journey through an artist's eye...an artist very worthy of the invitation to paint Monet's gardens. The book is a wonderful collaboration by a gifted painter and a talented writer.

Feasting and fasting, reflection and spontaneity, fellowship and solitude - all the elements of a pilgrimage are contained in this intimate account of Margaret Hall Hoybach's journey to paint Monet's gardens. Her sketches and paintings convey the wonder of her journey. Joan Brown captures the creative spark that propels an artist forward and the moments of conversion that await those willing to embrace their dreams. Colors of France is filled with rich, inviting textures arrayed for any traveler, regardless of destination. Hoybach's willingness to share her experience leads me to examine my own path. A good book to share with a friend.

I have had the good fortune to be able to travel the world and visit many of its most exquisite gardens. The beautiful book by Margaret Hoybach and Joan Brown is another adventure into the world of indescribable color and beauty. Only the most sensitive photographer or highly gifted artist has been able to capture and display the splendor of nature's pallette. In my opinion, the artist can do this better than the photographer, because the artist can better select the colors and manipulate the subject. Margaret Hoybach beautifully portrays the essence of the scene and its delicate lighting. In "Colors of France" her technique is masterful. This colorful journey is a sheer delight!

Viewing France through the prism of Margaret Hall Hoybach's wonderful paintings and poignant often amusing narratives, insightfully written by Joan Brown, is a book I will revisit again and again. To personally travel Hoybach's path through France would be wonderful, though truly a close second, is to savor this lovely book.

I had an interest in this book as my parents own several Hoybach works. Margaret's Impressionist paintings of flowers are magnificent and in recognition of her talent she was invited to paint in the garden's of her even more reknowned predecessor, Monet. This book is an account of a painting trip through France including stops in Biarritz, the Pyrenees, St Etienne de Baigorry, Tarbes, Rocamadour, Ile d'yeu, Brelidy, Nantes, Limoges, and of course Giverny. With help from her friend Joan Brown, Hoybach shares her impressions of France through the written word as well as her paintbrush. Its a quick read but you will find yourself going back to enjoy the paintings. This one will stay on my coffee table a long time.