Following My Bliss: From Ohio to Provence, a Painter’s Journey

In 2024, I found myself searching for art opportunities that would help my career, inspire me, and allow me to dive into my paintings with renewed energy. In the art world, there are a few ways to do this: join artist communities, exhibit in galleries—group or solo—and many other options. The one that stood out to me was residencies. I loved the idea of going to a new place to discover it while painting solo, dedicating hours to my practice on my own terms. It seemed like the perfect way to advance my career while embarking on a deeply personal, introspective journey.

Photo ©Erin Tuffs Cartier

Painting in Provence

I have always been passionate about art history. Monet, with his blush strokes and dreamy textures, has long been at the top of my list of inspirations. The imperfections and spontaneity of impressionism resonate with me more than rigid realism. This style forms the foundation of all my work; I paint quickly, in the moment, letting energy and emotion guide my brush. Naturally, when searching for a residency, France was at the top of my list. After exploring several options, I landed on a residency at La Maison de Beaumont in Beaumont-de-Pertuis, a small village in Provence. It was quaint, flexible, and offered the freedom I craved—a place where I could structure my days how I wanted while feeling fully immersed in the local culture.

Photo ©Abby Elise Oravec

Ohio to Provence

Booking this residency came at a pivotal time. I was deep into festival season in Ohio, moving from one live painting event to the next and selling my work at markets, bars, and restaurants. But during that season, my health began to decline rapidly. I struggled with mobility, constant headaches, blurry vision, and extreme fatigue. Simple tasks like walking, journaling, or painting for hours became nearly impossible. Yet I kept the residency as a goal: the idea of travelling solo to France, another country entirely, was daunting, but it gave me a reason to keep going. It was a sliver of hope in a very challenging time.

Photo ©Abby Elise Oravec

Follow Your Bliss

Over the following months, my health continued to fluctuate. I had countless doctor visits and even a hospital trip that confirmed my condition wasn’t temporary. Rather than succumb to despair, I found clarity. I promised myself I would live fully, embrace creativity, and follow my bliss, echoing the wise words of Erin French—“Follow Your Bliss. Don’t Stop.” At the same time, I navigated major personal changes. My marriage ended, I moved into a new apartment, and I had to redefine who I was without the familiar anchors of my old life. Some nights, I questioned whether going to France was the right decision. But every time I returned to my journal, I reminded myself of that promise: follow my bliss, and don’t stop.

Photo ©Abby Elise Oravec

Moving to Provence

I arrived in Provence on April 30, a bright sunny day, exhausted but exhilarated. The residency gave me clarity like nothing else had before. Preparing for a solo exhibition in Columbus, I spent my days and nights consumed by studio work. I painted an entire collection inspired by Provence, my healing journey, and the rediscovery of self-love. In that time, everything in my life seemed to click. I fell in love with the Luberon region—the landscapes, the people, the food, and the culture. I made new friends, both American and French, and experienced what it could feel like to live fully immersed in this magical place. By the end of the residency, I knew my life in France wasn’t just a temporary escape; it was the beginning of something lasting.

Building my art career in France from scratch was daunting. I had a following in the U.S., but here, I was starting over. After much reflection, I realized that live painting—something I had done extensively in the U.S.—could be the perfect bridge. Unlike traditional plein air painting, my live painting is about creating energy and atmosphere. I paint at events to entertain, inspire, or offer guests a quiet, reflective moment. My approach isn’t about literal replication; it’s about capturing emotion and the feeling of the moment.

Photo ©Abby Elise Oravec

Wedding Painter

In Provence, weddings offered the ideal setting. Surrounded by rolling hills, olive groves, and vineyards, couples from around the world come to celebrate their love. Each wedding, whether grand or intimate, is unique, and I aim to bring that vibrancy to the canvas. My live painting provides a memorable keepsake for couples—a work of fine art that captures not only the landscape and florals of their day but also the love and energy shared with friends and family. Guests are entertained, and couples receive a piece of art that becomes a family heirloom.

Photo ©Abby Elise Oravec

My approach to live painting mirrors my studio practice. I aim to create works infused with energy and emotion rather than precise realism. Capturing florals and landscapes, I work with couples to choose the size, composition, and timing of the painting—most often during cocktail hour, when the light and atmosphere are perfect. The goal is for the painting to reflect the spirit of the day: a sunlit vineyard in Provence, a vibrant reception in the French Riviera, or an intimate dinner at a remote domaine.

Alongside live painting, I continue my studio practice, creating original paintings, sketches, and limited-edition works inspired by the region. Each piece is infused with the colours, textures, and atmosphere of Provence and is available through my website. These works allow me to share the beauty and energy of this region with a broader audience while continuing to build my career in a sustainable and fulfilling way.

Choosing Provence

In the end, it wasn’t a single moment but a thousand small choices that reshaped my life. Leaving Ohio meant leaving everything familiar—my home, my marriage, my routines, even the version of myself I had depended on for years. But it also meant choosing possibility. Choosing art. Choosing Provence.

Photo ©Abby Elise Oravec

It took long days, longer nights, and an immeasurable amount of courage to rebuild from the ground up. I arrived in the South of France with my paints, my determination, and the quiet hope of creating a life rooted in beauty, creativity, and emotional renewal. And somehow, through the landscapes, the colours, the seasons, and the gentle rhythm of village life, Provence met me halfway.

Today, I paint full-time—capturing weddings, creating original works, and allowing art to be both my profession and my way of healing. Each painting, whether in a lavender field or during a ceremony beneath plane trees, feels like another step in the right direction. My work is my anchor, my joy, and the bridge between the life I left and the life I am building here.

This isn’t just the story of becoming an artist in Provence. It’s the story of reclaiming my health, trusting my instincts, and letting art lead me somewhere new. I hope that through my paintings—whether created live at a celebration or in the quiet of my studio—others can feel a little of that journey too.

Photo ©Erin Tuffs Cartier

Artist Bio — Abby Elise

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Abby Elise is an American artist now based in Provence, France. After earning a degree in Business from The Ohio State University and studying Fine Arts at the University of Dayton, she committed to painting full-time in 2020.

Her expressive, modern-impressionist style blends emotion, texture, and imagination, inviting viewers to experience a dreamlike perspective of the world around them. Abby’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, publications, and live painting events across the United States.

In 2025, following several artist residencies in Beaumont-de-Pertuis, she relocated to France on a Talent–Artist Visa. Now established in Provence, Abby continues her studio practice, creating original paintings, sketches, and limited-edition works available on her website, while also offering live painting experiences for weddings, private events, and corporate clients throughout France and beyond.

Website: www.abbyelise.co
Instagram: @oiseau.co
Pinterest: Oiseau | Abby Elise
Facebook: oiseau.co

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