Charolais du Rhône - Day 14 of #jan30in30

 

18"x24" x1" deep, oil on cradled birch panel 

For more information, or to purchase, click here. 

Traveling through France along the Rhone River last October gave me the chance to see a lot of my favorite places, and some from a different point of view! On this particular day we were traveling to the next to the next town, passing by some beautiful rural areas, the big creamy white Charolais cows grazing along the banks.

The Camargue - Day 13 of #jan30in30

6"x8" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

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Another 'postcard' from France, memories of our visit to the Camargue, in the south. Vast flat marsh areas with wild white horses, famingos and bulls!

Charcutier "Chat" - Day 12 of #jan30in30

 

8"x6" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

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You know that time when you run into a dear friend while you're out running errands...it can happen any where! The narrow streets of the small towns in France are pedestrian friendly. Stopping at the butcher, the cheese monger, the florist...all a necessity of the day. 

Le Chien Marcher sa Personne - Day 11 of #jan30in30

 

6"x6" oil on archival panel

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Another scene from my recent trip to France, I love to go walking...and people watching. The French do love their dogs, and they are every where..."taking their people out for a stroll"!

Commençant à la Pluie - Day 2 of 30in30!-SOLD!

6"x6" oil on archival panel

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The fun thing about this "30 in 30 challenge" is that it's like R & D for artists. My aim is to take the time to do the things that I don't normally take/get the time to do...experiment, and try a LOT of new things...or things that I'm not usually known for. 

 From my travels to France this past October, we got caught in a bit of a rain shower, but the place is still beautiful! After all, it is France! My intent was to keep the figures simple silhouettes against the background shops and scenery, with the light from the florist shop bright and glowing. 

Vins Vigneron - Living with Intention... and Best Wishes for a Lovely Thanksgiving!!

6"x6" oil on archival panel

For more information, and to bid on this at auction, or purchase directly, 

click here!

I had the good fortune to return to France in early October...exploring some wonderful towns and villages with my hubby... practicing my French, eating some amazing food, and bringing home beauty to share in paint! I'm always amazed at how beautiful some of these places are...all the loving care in appearances, softening rough edges of weathered buildings with flowering vines. I always try to bring some of these experiences home to incorporate into my daily life, simple beauty, thoughtfulness, living with intention...and not necessarily 'by the seat of my pants'!

I'm especially grateful this year, for family and friends..

and collectors who believe in the work I do  -

and trust me enough to purchase my art.

I'm especially grateful for a husband that is super supportive of my efforts. 

Grateful for those friends who have helped me achieve some life-long dreams over the years ....of learning to paint and make a career of it;

of learning new languages,

of traveling to far-away places,

seeing life in new ways...spiritually and earthly,

and cheering me on when I have doubts.

 Y'all know who you are- 

I am forever grateful to you!

Best wishes to you all, enjoy your Thanksgiving week dear friends!

 

July Geraniums - Sketchbook scenes and watercolor post card give away!

A big thank-you to Shannon Daley Harris, a loyal blog follower for quite a while now...was one of my post-card give-away winners last Friday! So happy to share one of the views from France with her! The above sketch-book scene is from my own garden here back at home! This has been a fun habit to renew, (just sketching for my own fun)!  As I re-acclimate myself to the medium of watercolor, I find it easier and more fun to use. It's been about 13 years since I used it regularly! At first I felt quite tentative, that I might "mess-up" a good page (oh..so what? it's only paper!).  Give yourself permission to have fun...to mess up if necessary.!  It's been fun seeing the freshness of these sketches evolve over a short while! 

 

Honestly, not a day goes by that I'm not thinking about some aspect of that trip to France this summer. Learning new painting techniques aside, the location was wonderful. The wonderful color of blue shutters, the ancient stone architecture, flowers climbing walls, and potted flowers on tables. I love my own garden at home, and have some of these features (well, not ancient stone buildings).  

But part of the great fun of vacations/travel, no matter where you go, is what you bring home. Whether it's in your heart or in your home....each day we spend becomes a part of what makes us..."uniquely us"!

Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness

8"x10" oil on linen mounted on panel

One of my friends commented that even laundry in France is tres chic! :-)

But the line of laundry catching light in the afternoon sun right behind the church in this small village of Frayssinet was irresistible.

Our days have been packed with demos from Dreama, painting on our own (whether in oils or our watercolor sketchbooks). So much to do, so little time to blog.  Some days we stay on location in Frayssinet, and other days we've been taking short side trips during the day. And the eating....oh my - we are being spoiled rotten with the most incredible meals! That part alone is going to make it hard to go home! I have had the most imaginative, delicious, and visually beautiful meals here at Le Vieux Couvant. I feel like I should be writing a food blog about that experience alone! 

A visit to a lavender farm in Lherm was a visual and fragrant treat.

 We've saved a seat for you! Can you imagine anything better than being surrounded by lavender and roses? (Yes, those are climbing roses growing up that tree!).

Greetings from all of us in France! We really DO wish you were here! So much beauty to share!