Vintage Treasure to Upcycle?

Place du Tertre by P E Cambier

During the weekend I was looking out for some French illustrations to use for a journal I was creating by upcycling a hard backed book.  I am finding all things vintage Parisienne to be interesting at the moment the colours of the macarons at La Maison Laduree  in Paris, the Eiffel Tower the design of the exterior and indeed the glass of the interior of Au Printemps on BD Haussmann in Paris.  I wanted something typically French to give the journal exterior some vintage style.

I found two watercolours one of La Place du Tertre and one of Notre Dame in pencil the artist had written the locations and someone had written on the back April 1970, perfect! just what I was looking for.  The watercolours were too large, but I thought I could do some cutting to make them fit.

When I returned home I looked closely at the artists signature on the front of the paintings and also on the back where it was signed again and aquarelle original written.  P E Cambier it was time to Google! 

Pierre Eugene Cambier (1914- 2000)

His preferred medium was watercolour and he captured the light, vibrancy and atmosphere of France and in particular Paris.  He exhibited in Paris in 1948 at the Salon des Independents and afterwards not only in Paris but London and Amsterdam. 

Pierre Cambier continued to work in Paris and also taught drawing and illustration until his death in 2000.  It seems like there are a number of modern collectors who think his watercolours are worth owning I would agree with that.

So it is with a huge sigh of relief that I did not slice up the two watercolours to upcycle a journal, it would have been a beautiful journal but a huge waste of two lovely originals.

A lesson learned act in haste and repent at leisure.  Buy objects to upcycle but bring them home research them if that is possible or look at them several times before deciding how to use them.