Learn silk painting in Paris

Working with Christina

- une étudiante formidable

After the quick-yet-delightful visit to Chartres, I dashed up to Paris—for the day! What was supposed to be a 9.5 hr visit in Paris, turned into a mere 5 hours due to train delays. But enough about that! I was able to get all my work done, see the people I needed to see, and even conduct a mini-silk painting course in preparation for our offering to the public on November 4th.

Teaching is always so very rewarding, and La Caféothèque coffee is always so delicious.

But once I arrived at Gare d'Austerlitz just fine, I hopped on the bus 91, dashed to Reid Hall and ... sat down and breathed. Christina and I caught up on our news, shared a coffee, then went to meet—the focus of he day— the director of Reid Hall, Brunhilde Biebuyck. What a delightful woman! We sat around her big table in her big office with light pouring in the windows and shared a love for adventure, creativity, architecture, travel, libraries and archives.

Ms Biebuyck loved my business card collection, and exclaimed that she must frame them!

After our meeting with Ms. Biebuyck, our mini-class session was held in the work-and-roasting room where the coffee roaster sits, (If you know me, you know how much I enjoy coffee, and all of the things related to it. La Caféothèque is top when it comes to coffee.)

The formidable coffee roaster that creates the best beans for our coffee drinking pleasure

Christina Chirouze Montenegro was my student; she was there to learn a skill and to share her new knowledge with other interested parties.

Christina mounting U.S. Highway 82, Georgetown, GA, USA with utmost care

I was amazed at how small my supplies suitcase was—with all of the supplies for the silk painting class—wooden frames, silks, dyes, dye cups, brushes, pencils, papers, handouts - oh my!

Silk painting supplies tumbled on the table

The silk painting class is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4th, from 2-5 pm - please sign up! It is very affordable, and you will take your own silk painting home with you.

A studious student - making beautiufl designs!

As we left Reid Hall for the day, I happened to notice that the Paris roofline was reflecting in my Amsterdam Ave and West 79th Street painting—truly bringing the sister cities of New York and Paris together to commune!

Christina calling it a day for Paris and New York City

Learn silk painting in Paris : Apprenez la peinture sur soie à Paris

Zebras in Athens? Yes!, Together We Dazzle

Zebras in Athens?

- a story of health and perseverance,
gratitude and grace

For the third year, I'm honored to participate in the art exhibition and fundraiser for Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes research (EDS). This cause is dear to my heart, and I wanted to let you know that the closing reception for the Together We Dazzle exhibition will be held on Thursday, October 16th, from 6-8pm at 127 N Jackson St. Athens, GA USA.

Are you in Athens, GA? Can you go support them and stand in for me?

​I wish I were there.

Even if you are far away from Athens, you can browse the offerings online. For more information about EDS and the event, look here. There is an overview of the 2025 exhibiton, events and artwork listing but you can also go directly to the original art page or the prints offered page.

Zebra WILL Dazzle, by René Shoemaker. ink on black board

Christina Joy Littleton is the curator, and she is passionate about this topic.

Christina was diagnosed with EDS in 2021. After a promising career in dance, language, and travel, she had to give up her love for dance as her hypermobile joints—a hallmark of EDS—were causing increased instability and pain, even berfore she knew what the problem was.

As an artist, Christina's reaction to her diagnosis was to build a community to raise awareness and funds for EDS, to help others with the condition. She has been on a path now to help others as she helps herself—through art! She has a busy and productive art career, she is shop manager at the K.A. Artist Shop in Athens, GA, she is a lover of travel—and eclipses—literally!

Astrophotography by Christina Littleton

In the video below, Christina shares a gallery tour of the exhibition. Of course you can make purchases via the K. A. Artist website and they will ship your new art to you.

Christina shares the 2025 exhibition

A portion, if not 100%, of all sales goes toward EDS research.

In 2024, Christina's event raised over $6,000 for EDS research!

Many thanks from both me and Christina and the EDS community if you take a look.

With a love for all things art,

-René

August 1 - October 16, 2025​

​Together We Dazzle​

​K. A. Artist Shop

127 N. Jackson St.

Athens, GA 30601 USA

Paris 2025 Exhibition

René Goes to Paris

Bonjour my friend,

Did you notice how I wrote "Paris 2025 exhibition" in the heading above?

I have a new exhibit on view in Paris, and I now intend to exhibit in Paris—or another major city—every year from now on.

This has been a grand dream of mine, something I've been steadily working towards. After the success of my 2024 San Francisco exhibition (which you can read about here), now feels like the perfect time to move forward without hesitation and make this dream a reality.

See the Caféologie book on the counter? That was written by Gloria Montenegro of La Caféothèque de Paris, and her daughter, Christina.

If you know me, you know that I've been working hard at learning all of the things: not only the art making, but the art of business, too. How do I serve my community and keep up with exactly what you need?

Christina and Franco about to drift away in the breeze...

Toutes voiles dedans is our title; it is poetic and brings images of sailing ships, fluttering sails, and a story of exploration and journey.

This dreamy art fits this space so beautifully.

I am happy to report that these business practices are taking hold, not only for exhibitions—but for sales, especially for a collection of works sold to a dear collector from the U.K. who lives part of the year in Aubusson.

Thank you, I. and T. P.; you have made my work fruitful and rewarding.

****

Now—on to discussions of PARIS!

Here, perfectly sited, is my painting of the Tropical Room at La Caféothèque de Paris in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, bringing the two cafés beatuifully together.

My dear friend Christina Chirouze Montenegro contacted me about a month ago to mount an exhibition at the Columbia University Global Studies Center. In the charming 6th arrondissement, tucked between Boulevard de Montparnasse and rue Notre-Dame des Champs, is nestled La Caféothèque Reid Hall. La Caféothèque was chosen to bring their expertise to the Global Studies Center as a result of their long-time relationship in building connections between cultures, "a high-quality café promoting humanitarian principles." There, in this prestigious center of learning, my large-scale art hangs fluttering in the breeze; inviting the students and faculty to study and discourse under the protection of my paintings.

Thank you, Christina, Reid Hall and La Caféothèque!

September 3 - November 6, 2025​
​​Toutes voiles dedans​
​La Caféothèque Reid Hall
4, rue de Chevreuse
Paris 6e​
75006 Paris, France

*Contact me for viewing appointment; reservation required*

Paysages magique / Magical Landscapes

First exhibited at the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Magical Landscapes has found its way to the French art scene.

The title comes about through the bringing together of two artistic movements (Deep South architecture and Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints) that are separated in space and time, creating a magical landscape that communicates with a new language of images.*

I am now excited to share with you Bulletin #62 from Galerie AM'carta announcing my next solo exhibition:

For my English-speaking friends, the translation from the French announcement follows:

René Shoemaker
Magical Landscapes
from July 21 to August 3, 2025
Opening reception Wednesday, July 23, 6:30 p.m.

René lives in the town of St-Maixant with her husband, near Aubusson. Born in New York, she built her artistic career while living in Athens, Georgia (USA), where she earned an art degree from the University of Georgia. For over 30 years, she has been painting on silk, having previously undergone extensive artistic training. Since 2011, she has been leading workshops on this technique, and since 2001, she has had approximately 30 solo exhibitions, mainly in Georgia but also in New York, California, Mississippi, Paris, London... and even La Creuse!

After her exhibitions on the theme of Felletin, and then her “Flâneries en Aubusson,” (Strolls around Aubusson) which we exhibited at AM'carta in 2018, René returns with her “Magical Landscapes,” a cross between the architecture of the southern United States, in Laurel, Mississippi, and her museum's collection of Japanese prints. Inspired by Japanese aesthetics, her compositions combine motifs from the museum's woodblock prints with buildings typical of the “Deep South” of Laurel. The architecture is screen-printed with strong lines, superimposed on the delicate lines of silk dye painting, thus creating “Magical Landscapes.”

Open every day (except the 27th and 28th) from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with free admission, often in the presence of the artist. According to Kristen Miller Zohn, curator of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, "Inspired by Japanese aesthetics and representation of objects, patterns, and colors, her compositions respond to the designs that are engraved onto the woodblock prints, and incorporate scenes from the Lauren Rogers Museum buildings and the intriguing architecture of Laurel itself. By bringing together these two artistic movements separated in space and time, the artist creates a magical landscape that communicates through a new visual language." Opening reception on Wednesday, July 23, starting at 6:30 p.m.

If you’d like to explore the collection—either in person or online—contact me via text or phone (+1.706.424.4739 or +33.(0)6.86.13.84.80) . I’d be happy to welcome you into this magical world and discuss the paintings in detail.

*Paraphrased from curator Kristen Miller Zohn’s statement for the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art exhibition.