I saw this shop today and thought it might make a nice painting. I didn't have time to sit and paint it right then but I will when I return home. I will print it out and fold it into quarters then draw quarters lightly in pencil on my watercolor paper. Then I will sketch what I see in the photo in the corresponding quarter. Once I finish the drawing I erase the quarter lines and paint the painting. You can do it too if you print out this photo.
The Most Perfect Shoes!
This morning while wandering through the streets of Sarlat we found the perfect shoes. I must buy several pairs.
What A Day In Sarlat
Imagine a day in a beautiful medieval town like Sarlat. You wake up eat a breakfast of fresh bread from the neighborhood bakery with some yogurt, jam and coffee. Then you stroll into town and find there is an animal faire going on with lambs, cows, rabbits and pigs to visit with. After that you stop by a cooking shop filled with shelves of your favorite Le Cruset cookware. Then you saunder around town through the twisting and turning small streets and alley ways visiting art galleries etc.
Cave Paintings
Today we visited the Pech Merle Caves in the Lot region of France. The paintings depicted horses, mammoth elephants, reindeer, bison, hand prints, a pregnant woman and a man. They were painted by Cro Magnon men and women. They are not sure of the purpose or meaning of these paintings. They might have been created for religious purposes or for fertility purposes or for success in hunting for food.
Whatever the meaning is for the painting, they are awesome proof that the urge to draw and paint has existed for a very long time.
Cro Magnon man's paint brushes. They were made of wooley mammoth hair.
Castles and Colour
We learned that there are 1,492 castles in the Dordogne region of France where we are touring and painting right now. Today's lesson will include castle painting tips.
There has been discussion on what paint colors to use to paint the honey colored stone in the sunlight as well as the shade. What color do you suggest?
Castlenaud
Entrance to Castle Beynac
The Wonders of the B & B
If I posted a picture on this blog post of the bathtub in my hotel room you might think I had too much absinth to drink last night in France.
The B & B's we are staying at are wonderful and each one had unique details that make it special. I can't post too many photos here that I've taken of hotels or you might wonder if I am giving up painting to become a hotel critic.
You find amazing images every where when you travel that you may want to make into paintings later. Snap a photo of anything that inspires you, anywhere from a grand cathedral to a bathtub.
Top: Notice the pillow in the bathtub, the toast stacked neatly in it's own rack and the view out the window of the French countryside.
French Time Clocks
These grandfather clocks caught my eye in the back of a hall filled with French antiques near Giverny. I take lots of pictures of things I see during my trips to paint when I return home. I let the picture percolate in my brain until an idea for a painting pops out.
They don't make clocks like they used to.
French Time Clocks
These grandfather clocks caught my eye in the back of a hall filled with French antiques near Giverny. I take lots of pictures of things I see during my trips to paint when I return home. I let the picture percolate in my brain until an idea for a painting pops out.
They don't make clocks like they used to.
Visiting with the Ghost of Van Gogh
Do you love the work of the the painter, Vincent Van Gogh? We visited the town of Auvers Sur Oise yesterday, where he went when he left Paris for some peace and quiet and to be near his doctor. Seeing his room, his grave and a few more landmarks was very interesting and moving.
I plan to all about him. Apparently, they think he may have been shot by someone rather than a suicide...
Van Gogh room where he spent the last 70 days of his life.
Painting Night in Monet's Garden
The eight of us were able to paint last night during "artist's only" hours in Claude Monet's garden. The tulips were in full bloom and blooming everywhere. It was a magical experience to have the gardens almost to ourselves and to be able to paint where Monet painted.
Monet's house in Giverny
My attempt to capture Monet's home in my watercolor journal.
Painting Flowers Tomorrow
The landscapes we saw today as we drove through the French countryside were filled with Spring colors. Our workshop lesson today was on controling color in your paintings. Tomorrow I am going to teach a lesson on painting cherry blossom trees and flowers. We need to practice painting flowers because we are going to paint in Monet's garden this week.
Today's Weather in Normandy
Writing Excuses to Your Artist Friends
We saw an exhibit today in Giverny of the work of the French Impressionist painter, Gustave Caillebotte. He was a friend of Claude Monet. They shared dual passions for gardening and painting
By Gustave Caillebotte
Isn't this the best excuse?
Dining at the Chateau
Last night we were invited to dine at a neighboring chateau. I was feeling very tired and almost decided not to go. When I saw the chateau I was glad I changed my mind. The experience was incredible. We entered through beautiful doors and were greeted by the chateau dog. Then we were ushered into our table in the dining room where we were served a delicious meal. It began with cream soup with scallops and radishes and ended with a strawberry and cream dessert. So , I realized that one should never say no when asked to dine at a chateau.
Chateau Perreux, Amboise, France is also a hotel.
Home in France for Just Tired and Retired Artists
What would you think if we pooled our money and bought a little house in France? We could turn our little house into a home for just just tired and retired artists. I visited this property today and it would be just perfect and its vacant. Of course some of the previous owners like the wife of King Henry II and his mistress did leave some furniture behind...
Chateau de Chenonceau, Amboise, Fance
Homemade Travel Sketchbooks
I like to make my own sketchbooks to use for the watercolor paintings and drawings I do when I'm traveling. I like to fill my sketchbooks with Arches watercolor 140 lb. watercolor cold press paper because I get the best results painting on this paper. I also like to throw in some Raffine mixed media paper and maybe a little of some other paper I find around the house. I like having it all sewn and bound in book form to keep the paper from falling out. I harvest the cover from an old book and use it for the covers and spine.
I am not a very patient or experienced book binder. I try to follow the directions in Alisa Golden's book on making books. This morning I took a deep breath and tackled the book binding for 2 books I am taking to France to paint in. At first my attitude was good as I poked holes in my eatercolor paper but as the process got more complicated, my dogs, who were the only ones at home with me may have learned some new words I don't usually utter in front of my husband and child.
The books got done and they are definitely not perfect but they'll be okay.
Do you have a favorite sketchbook for traveling? I'd like to hear about it.
Crayon Frenzy
There's been a crayon frenzy at my house. Crayons are everywhere! I am crayoning like crazy. Everything around me has fallen into disaray while I am happily coloring. The other day I thought I had toothpaste on my glasses but when I took my glasses off to clean them, I discovered that my glasses had speckles of all crayon flakes all over them.
Close up of a French Pigeonnier
A little house for pigeons found in the French countryside
Crayons!
Did you give up your crayons a long time ago? I abandoned crayons sometime after third grade.
This set sat on my shelf languishing while I dabbled in watercolor.
I drew and colored this picture the other day and was amazed at how much fun crayons are to use, how vibrant the colors are and how easy it is to find the exact colors you need. Of course I googled crayons to see how many colors were in the biggest set and I am rushing out today to buy the 120 color set which the internet says can be had for $14.99.
Bakery Painting
Do you have a bakery near you? It's a great place to go to paint. Baked goods are always cooperative subjects and don't squirm when they are posing.
I sketched this in my local bakery.
Water Soluable Oil Paint and Me
I just tumbled back into into oil painting. I painted with oil paint 100 years ago in college but stopped when I no longer had access to a studio.
I've been painting happily with watercolor ever since. My motivation to try another type of paint came about when I wanted to paint larger paintings on canvas. I've been using acrylic paint but saw a class on water souable oil paints and was curious about trying them so I signed up and discovered I love painting with them!
Here is my first painting with the water souable oil paint.