Feature Article

“A Special Kind of Paradise”
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park®
Armand Frederick Vallée

“Nature has nourished and sustained my spiritual well being.”

Armand is a visual explorer, intimately connected to his environment; he is able to translate its vitality to paper or canvas. You can feel the vast desert wilderness through his “Desert Series” of paintings. He was commissioned to paint the Anza Trail by the National Park Service because of this series.

Born into a family of artists, writers and musicians in Austria, art was a way of life for Armand. He received his formal art training and education at the Academy of Fine Art in Düsseldorf and studied extensively in Munich and Vienna. War broke out and interrupted his life and his work.

Armand sustained serious injuries during World War II and spent time convalescing in France. Depressed and thinking that he would be unable to continue his art career, he was fortunate that a local person told him about some caves with primitive paintings. Taking a bicycle, a lantern and some paper Armand visited the caves of Lascaux. The paintings inspired him to continue his own painting and drawing. He was able to visit the caves before they were closed to the public and before people even really started to notice them. His series, “Lascaux Mon Amour,” is a tribute to these inspiring cave paintings.

Armand moved to North America and has painted scenes in locations ranging from Alaska to Mexico. Lascaux was his first big love and inspiration, Anza-Borrego was his second. Armand and his wife Beatrice were on their honeymoon in Mexico in 1971 when some friends invited them to come to Borrego Springs. On the way they were caught in a heavy sand storm which took all the paint off one side of their car. They did not know the desert and Armand exclaimed “My Lord where is this God-forsaken place?” The next morning they woke up to a magnificent blue desert sky and sparkling sunshine, as if the storm had never happened. They went hiking and were stunned by the beauty of this wonderful hidden treasure and after a week fell in love with the area. They purchased a condominium that same year and have maintained a part-time residence in Borrego ever since.

Armand has created countless works of his beloved desert. His paintings are unique and express his feelings and devotion to preserving the pristine wilderness. He has hiked endless miles, being careful not to disturb the fragile environment.
“The desert was for me like a new born child.”

Armand takes a sketch book with him wherever he goes and fills it with paintings, drawings, and thoughts about Anza-Borrego: It is “Beautiful, wondrous, but strange and new. I did not know what and how to depict this wonder. I realized what I saw was many thousands of years of evolution. I walk softly wherever possible. I leave my four wheel vehicle and rather take my back-sack and start walking to places which are of interest to me. I admit at the beginning it was very difficult to paint this strange landscape. I learned to use the light at different times of the day, to use the tender colors as well as the strong ones, to my advantage. I worked with the texture of the landscape and, above all, I was very inventive and flexible in my approach to the theme. A great deal of this work is done at the highest pitch of inspiration: A time of maximum impact and emotion when some part of the scenery overpowers me and I work feverishly, intense, and quick to capture the feeling; these are ‘Star Hours’ and things fall into place easily.”

The artist’s paintings from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park® have been shown throughout Europe and North America with great success. His yearly desk calendar is always a sell out and the work brings international visitors to Borrego Springs and the Park.

Beatrice Vallée is currently a board member of the Anza-Borrego Foundation and Institute. She and Armand have donated many images to be used on T-shirts, posters, note cards and tote bags. The sale of these items help support educational opportunities in the Park.

Armand is a very humble man. He seldom talks much about his work. Recently someone asked him. ”Say, what do you do for a living?”
He answered. ”I am a painter.”
The fellow got very excited and said, “Gee, I need to have my house painted, when can you come?”
Armand smiled and said, “No, I am not that kind of painter.”

Inspired to keep painting by the Lascaux caves, and again by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park®, Armand is a treasure and an asset to future generations of desert visitors. May they be equally smitten and inspired by our “Special Kind of Paradise.”

Want to see more? Visit Armand’s web site at: www.valleeart.com.