ROB HOOPERS’s Inspiration Point:

When I left the business world to follow the path of a creator, I was fortunate to come across a man that had a great influence on me as an Artist and a human being. His name was Jerome Couelle. Jerome grew up in France, Aix en Provence to be exact. The hometown of Paul Cezanne. When I met Jerome for the first time in 1997, he was in his cabin by the lake in Vermont. Our meeting was divinely inspired by my uncle who out of concern probably wanted me to meet Jerome and have him warn me of the perils
and pitfalls of the Artist’s Life. Instead I met a small old man in a straw hat right out of a Van Gogh painting, with mischievous eyes and a quick wit. Looking around his cabin and studio I was powerfully moved by the feeling that I was being shown my future and
that there was a strong connection from the past with this man as I looked into his eyes. 

Old souls re-acquainting themselves in this lifetime. I showed him some pictures of the work I had done in that first year. “ You colors are amazing, you are a Poet Of Color” he said “How many paintings have you done so far?” “Well I started 11 months ago and I’ve completed about 400 paintings so far” was my timid response. His eyes narrowed, he looked down at my pictures again and as he handed the folder back to me I heard him say without speaking “You poor bastard”. Jerome crossed over to the other side on August 4, 2015. When I last talked to him he was old, weak and sounded exhausted by living. “I’m tired of this planet, I want to explore other ones” was the last thing I remember about our conversation. He used to talk about leaving this world in a bang. “I will load my canoe with fireworks, you see, paddle out to the middle of the lake and Blastoff” He wrote me letters of encouragement, he cheered on my progress as an Artist and saw something in my gifts that few saw. Two days after he died I stepped into my studio and this little old crazy Frenchman in a straw hat was over my right shoulder. “I’m going to help you a little, you see” was the voice I heard coming out of his spirit’s mouth. “I see you my friend” was what I said aloud. and with that we began to paint. The three pieces presented by DragonFire Gallery for the Inspiration point show where