Thursday 19. 04. 12 Have been working on these two most of this week and I think they are close to being finished.
Journal
Last of the white vans
I have been working on the last of the white vans this week and have only one more to go.
Portrait
Tuesday 03. 04. 12 Alan and Lea left today for London via Paris. They will be staying in London until Thursday when they fly back to Canada.
France Culture
Sunday 01. 04. 12 It has been an interesting weekend. Alan and Lea finished their artist in residence in St Mathieu and are staying with me until Tuesday when they take the train to London before flying home to Canada. Last night we drove over to Pezenas after an early dinner and went to L’Homme Cirque a one-man history of the circus by David Dimitri, set in a tent in a parking lot! Dimitri did it all without saying a word – he jumped, he played the accordion and the trumpet, he even got fired from a cannon! The show culminated by him walking out into the night on a high wire above the parking lot. What a wonderful tour de force.
This morning we had a rendez-vous outside the mairie for a guided tour of the quartier where I live by the local residents association. A fascinating tour explaining the history of the neighbourhood complete with visits to old tanning factories, walking along the canal and of course it ended up with aperos and snacks at the end. I am definitely going to join the association!
Decor
Tuesday 13. 03. 12 I have been busy for the last little while with Alan and Lea who are over here on an artist in residency at St Mathieu. We have been out and about around St Mathieu and last friday went to an expo of artist’s books in Nîmes. Last night I was again at the Maison d’Emma at their welcoming reception. Besides all this I redecorated my bedroom which includes a blackboard wall on which I can draw. I am hoping to do different drawings throughout the year. Above is the first attempt.
London
Saturday 25. 02. 12 Just got back from my short trip to London where I met up with Polly, Maryann and Alan & Lea. Saw several expos, the first with Maryann was the Picasso and Modern British Art – an excellent well-curated show showing works of Duncan Grant, Francis Bacon, David Hockney etc. On Thursday went with Alan & Lea to see the Hockney show at the RA in the morning and the Freud at the NPG in the afternoon. The Hockney was luminous and spectacular in scope and size, perhaps the best show I have ever seen. The Freud was also good but I was disturbed by what seemed to be his exploitation of his models. He was such an aggressive painter exposing their vulnerability. On Friday we went south of the river to the new White Cube in Bermondsey. A Great exhibition space which showed off Keifer’s work brilliantly. Much food for thought.
No wind
Friday 17. 02. 12 Finally the wind has died down and the temperatures have risen. This morning I took my coffee outside on the terrace of Les Negociants. I liked the shadows playing on the façade and the trees.
A cold spell
Friday 10. 02. 12 It has been cold here this past week with freezing winds and even ice in the canals around Clermont. Today I went into Montpellier and saw the Bioulés show at the Musée Fabre – a bit of a retrospective. Got some new ideas for painting techniques and approaches. There were lots of sketches which as always revealed how the artist’s mind worked. I also went to an expo of photos of devastated cities from Dresden to Detroit at the Pavillion Populaire – a bit sad but with some dramatic photos. Had lunch with Claire and her mother and saw some of Claire’s new work which has taken an exciting new direction.
On-line
Sunday 29. 01. 12 Have managed to upload some images on to both the Fine Art America and the Saatchi site – not a simple task!!! It will be interesting to see if anything happens.
A new start
Tuesday 24. 01. 12 Back in Clermont after a wonderful visit with family and friends and the trip to Cuba. En route I have had a chance to think about some new projects. At Christmas I borrowed Jason’s iPad and made a French colouring book for Poppy for Christmas. Altho I think there are some interesting possibilities with the iPad à la Hockney I don’t think I’ll take the plunge just yet. One of the problems being how do you sell anything that you do. I have also been thinking about how I can sell on-line and I will be reorganizing my web site shortly to fascilitate this. I have changed this blog so that it is easier to comment. I am interested in making it more interactive so please send me your comments on any of the above