Saturday 11. 08. 12. Today went to the Bambouseraie with Claire and 3 of her friends to celebrate her birthday. It was a very hot day so this was the perfect excursion plus there were installations by two land artists Odile de Frayssinet and Cecile Andrieu which were excellent too.
Friday 10. 08. 12. Currently working on a large continuous scroll of 12 panels of the Herault. The finished piece will consists of 12 panels each 100cm x 80 cm but I am also doing a rough version 1/4 size. The above are roughs of kids swimming at Belarga and the quarry at Bessan.
Sunday 05. 08. 12 Went to Séte for lunch today with Gisèle and Jonathan. Had an excellent lunch on the quay and then went up to the Chabaud expo at the Musée Paul Valéry. Interesting show of an artist whose work I did not know, including an excellent half hour video which alone is worth the price of admission!
Monday 30. 07. 12 Last night went over to Octon with Vincent and Carol to a concert by Bertrand’s group Jazzymuté. A very convivial evening with a meal and music which was an eclectic mixture of tunes from Mi’Lord to Lady Madonna to Brubeck’s Take Five. Quite wonderful.
Tuesday 24. 07. 12 After my trip up the Hérault yesterday I thought that I would experiment with a different technique today. The above is painted on oiled kraft paper. The technique is quite quick and you can use washes/glazes – this painting was done in one go but I want to see if you can build up washes/glazes. Painting on paper is interesting too – it makes me feel free to experiment and make mistakes.
Monday 23. 07. 12 Worked on La Coiffeuse in the studio in the morning and then in the afternoon went up the Hérault looking for reference for the Hérault series. Solved the mystery of the man in the boat in Valleraugues – it is a dummy!!!!
Monday 16. 07. 12 Spent most of the day riding along the Hérault up to Valleraugue and back researching potential landscapes for a series of paintings on the Hérault valley. I shot this at Valleraugues and couldn’t figure out whether he was reading a Kindle of sketching on a iPad in his garden boat in the middle of the river!!!
Sunday 15. 07. 12 Since Carole left to go back to TO on Wednesday I have been casting around for a new project. I have cleaned up the studio, gone to the beach, watched the Tour de France, watched the Bastille Day fireworks, tried out my new watercolour pastels and thought a lot. This week I hope to be more focussed.
Thursday 06. 07. 12 Just back from a few days in Brittany. Totally different landscape to here, no wines, greener, lusher with skies that change constantly. Cooler light with wonderful clouds – very similar to Ireland. Culturally similar too with the common celtic heritage. Will go back for longer and to do some painting.
Saturday 10. 06. 12 Met up with friends at the bridge just outside Gignac for the transhumance where the sheep are driven to the high summer pastures on the Larzac plateau above Montpeyroux. Hot afternoon with blazing sun with little shade. We walked the 5 km to Montpeyroux with the sound of the sheep bells ringing in our ears. We had all taken a picnic dinner so soon settled in to a pleasant shared meal with aperos and then wine. A rock band and an accordionist entertained us while we ate. Good conversation in French and English, good food and wine all on a warm summer evening in the Midi. Life is good!