A number of years ago I came across an article about a French outsider artist named Robert Tatin. I fell immediately in love with his work. He is one of those guys who live his art. His world becomes his art and his art becomes his world.
Here is a bit of backstory. He was born in 1902 and in the mid twenties he started a construction company in France. After a time he decided to put his energy into more creative endeavors and set up a ceramics studio in Paris. At age 48 he packed his bags and traveled around South America...heavily inspired by the art of the indigenous people. When he returned to France in 1962 (at age 60) he embarked on what could easily be considered his life's masterpiece: La mason des champ (the country house). With the help of his wife Lise he embarked on transforming his home into a bizarre and wonderful world the was uniquely his.
It all started with this humble country home....well, perhaps not that humble.
And then, next to the home things began to grow...
And grow...
And grow!
So to all you folks who think your over the hill...Robert Tatin just started to find his groove when he turned 60 and kept on grooving until his death in the 1983.
So if your ever in find yourself in France you might consider a road trip to Cosse de Vivien (about a 3 hour drive west of Paris) Here's a link to the museum's website http://www.musee-robert-tatin.fr