Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Saturday Art Saves: Carla Coulson and Contessa

Carla coulson paris photographer

La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson

 

Every Saturday I focus on a different artist that I admire. From potters to painters, chefs to collectors, seamstress to songwriters, lifestyle to lovers… anyone who set the paintbrush, pastry brush, hands and heart on fire to create.

Those who inspire art to flow where it may…

Contessa and Carla.

 

Carla coulson photography

La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson

Last year I met Elizabeth and instantly fell in love with her. Creative, outgoing, contagiously full of life.

As I listened to Elizabeth share about her life I couldn't help wish that I was her next door neighbor to be part of her schemes. Elizabeth takes everyday to the throne. She doesn't let the ordinary go by without crowning it holy-fun!

She had an antique shop called: "Hen House" and hung a chandelier in her chicken coop.

For her 50th birthday she put on an Italian dinner in her backyard, she and her family prepared, cooked and served the dinner, while a painter set up in the yard and painted the scene.

Elizabeth, or Contessa to her friends, loves and I mean LOVES to wear color, she has several full length theatrical gowns and coats, mostly in bright shocking color. When asked, "But where will you ever wear them?" She replies, "To the grocery store." and does.

 

 

 

Carla coulson photography HEN HOUSE

La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson

 

Elizabeth "Contessa" had a dream:

To be photographed in Paris by Carla Coulson.

She made it happen, because being photographed with her sons was not a new experience;
Every year, for the last twenty one years, for Father's Day she had their photo taken in black & white then framed for her husband's study. Contessa's husband now has twenty one years of portrait photographs hanging in his office. Her vision back then was to have a photo journey for her husband to witness her age while watching their boys grow up. 

 

 

 

Elizabeth at the Louvre- Carla Coulson Photography

La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson

 

Carla Coulson's photograph of Contessa at the Louvre.

Striking a pose.

Fantastic!

Theatrical!

Contessa's dream came true.

Bravo Carla! Bravo!

 

Contessa-Nicholas-Christopher0077

La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson

 

The latest photo, to be in black and white, for her husband's Father's day gift.

 

 

Carla coulson, paris, photos, bakery
La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson

A few years ago Contessa started following a blog called: CARLA LOVES PHOTOGRAPHY. It soon became one of her favorites: They both had married Italians, and both had lived in Italy. They shared many similarites. Carla and Contessa love illustrating life and love as creative, they enjoy adding the dramatic flair to the everyday moment.
Contessa dreamed of having Carla photograph her family in Paris. That dream "haunted" her she said, to the point that she had to make it happen.
As Contessa's sons had birthdays in the fall, they decided to take a vacation together at that time. Her sons did everything they could to allow their mother's dream unfold. Contessa's dream came true when she took her sons to Paris for a week. They stayed in our unfinished apartment.
The photo of Contessa across the street from our apartment by the bakery.
To read and see more follow Contessa's blog by clicking here.
To learn more about Carla Coulson click here.
To see more photos of our unfinished apartment by Contessa click here.
 

To see Contessa's online shop click here.

 

Tongue in Cheek Antiques More Flea Market Finds added today!

Comments

16 responses to “Saturday Art Saves: Carla Coulson and Contessa”

  1. suzanna

    oh I love this photo with the chickens…saw it years ago and fabulous ~ thanks Corey, to see it again ~ and I follow Carla now for years ~ have a wonderful weekend over there ~ our weather is sublime here off 30A Panhandle of Fl. xo

    Reply
  2. suzanna

    i just reread, “Holy Fun” ~ Love that ~ made me giggle and why not ~ everyday is
    color ~ down to earth glamour is never out of style ~ XO ~

    Reply
  3. Laurie SF

    Note to the lovely Contessa:
    Do tell..
    Where did you buy that stunning red cloak?

    Reply
  4. Diogenes

    She seems like a lot of fun! Love the pictures!

    Reply
  5. La Contessa

    IN VALLEJO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  6. Marilyn

    Wonderful and so lovely to see someone follow their heart.

    Reply
  7. Nancy W

    Amazing…both the photography and the subject(s).

    Reply
  8. Gail

    Love – love – love!!!!

    Reply
  9. Debra

    I would love to hire Carla – thanks for reminding me of her photography. Now, to get to Paris again . . .

    Reply
  10. Marsha @ Splenderosa

    You guys continue to amaze me. And, I’m not easily amazed.

    Reply
  11. Heather in Arles

    I feel lucky to “know” the Contessa–we just haven’t met in person…yet! Thank you for featuring these two incredibly inspiring women. I will never be tired of looking at these amazing, amazing photos…
    Bon Dimanche!

    Reply
  12. Missy

    Oh Corey! I am so happy that Elizabeth was paying attention to me so many years back when I told her how FAB you and your blog are! I am so hopeful that we will finally get to meet one year when Seattle husband and I return to France. This past year we weren’t in Provence, but rather in Bordeaux and The Languedoc in July. This coming May, we will be in Paris.

    Reply
  13. WR

    Love, love, love it. It reminds me of Le Hameau de la Reine at Versailles when Marie-Antoinette wanted to play the milk maid.

    Reply
  14. Paula

    The apartment is Wonderful.

    Reply
  15. Kiki

    Corey, you made me find two new friends yesterday when I checked out
    firstly: your appartment – it’s beyond fab & so you (and a tad too grey for me but hey, so über-cool & lovely!)
    secondly: the two women – they are both unbelievable and so, so, so soul-sisterly if I may say so – now my unbeknown friends’ circle has grown by two more! I already have a few very, very good and much loved Flickr friends I’ll probably never meet – I was happy to add carla & Contessa; I’m sure we all will go along splendidly 🙂
    THANK YOU for this introduction – made yesterday an even happier day (that was before I read about the Philipines – I haven’t got TV so have to rely on radio and internet)

    Reply
  16. Eileen

    What a wonderful story! And what wonderful photos! I really enjoyed this post.

    Reply

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