Friday 17. 06. 11 Fairly busy week in the studio. Finished (for the moment) one of the white van paintings and have nearly finished another one which I have been working on for months. Carole arrives Sunday so this may slow down things a bit.
Journal
More vans
Monday 13. 06. 11 Am back at the white vans again with four on the go at the moment. Just been out and realise that it is yet another bank holiday!
Molière
Sunday 12. 06. 11 Last night went for a BBQ chez Gisèle with Jonathan and Dominique – Gisèle’s daughter from Canada. Afterwards we all went to Pezenas to see Molière’s L’Avare at the Théâtre de Verdure. Brilliant production with all the over the top clowning that one expects from Molière. Started at 9.30 and finished at midnight, no interval and not one moment when one was not completely captivated. It is a pity these plays do not have a longer run.
More monos
Sunday 05. 06. 11 It has been a busy week in the studio. I have been working on some monoprints based on my recent trip to London. Instead of train stations I worked on Tube stations and the river.
Two up in fast lane
Saturday 28. 05. 11 Just back from taking Jason to the airport. We have had a busy few days since we returned to Clermont. We have driven up les Gorges de l’Hérault and visited Narbonne and Beziers. On Thursday we rode up to La Couvertoirade and then had lunch at La Cravate on the Col de Mineur before climbing up and down the Cirque de Navacelles. Yesterday we stayed round here but went into Pezenas in the afternoon. Next week back to work!!
London
Monday 23. 05. 11 Just back from our fast trip to London. Managed to see the Watercolour and Joan Miro show at both Tates with a boat trip in between and also took in the Tracey Emin show at the Hayward. All shows very worth while and all for completely different reasons. Visited the London Museum and the London Docklands Museum – both excellent. Shot some photos of the tube and also the Thames Barrier as possible sources of new monoprint series. Friday evening had dinner with Laurie and Erich who just happened to be in town.
Montpellier
Wednesday 18. 05. 11 Started the day with an early coffee with George and Laurene at Les Negociants. After this, reluctantly, we drove to the airport to drop off the car and say au revoir to Suzette the voice of the GPS! We had lunch in Montpellier and wandered around discovering a good photo exhibit at the pavillon populaire. We took the bus back to Clermont and had our first pastis of the summer at Les Necociants en route home.
Guédelon and Avignon
Tuesday 17. 05. 11 I picked Jason up at the airport on Saturday along with a rented car and we have been driving ever since! We drove north of Nevers over the Millau Viaduct on Sunday to Guédelon a site where they are building a 13th century castle using 13th century tehnology. An interesting site that has a lot of integrity and authenticity. Yesterday we drove back home via le Puy en Velay. Today we have been to Avignon, le Pont du Gard and Aigues Mortes. There was a brilliant expo using the bridge as a theme at le Palais des Papes with the best multimedia show I have ever seen. Tomorrow Montpellier.
More stations
Monday 09. 05. 11 Another busy week in the atelier working on monoprints. Thursday rode over to Les Matelles which is just north of Montpellier near the Pic St Loup. Met David Abse who besides being a painter runs a gallery and a printer. I was there to get some gilclées done. Yesterday, besides having a wonderful French lunch chez les Valettes with Claire, managed to get over to an expo at the Mas Violettes in Valflaunes and saw interesting work by Elisabeth Keh and Christian Cayssiols.
Cousins encore
Thursday 28. 04 11 I have been working on this drawing of all the cousins that Rob and I visited on our trip. I think it is finished. Today have aso been working on the working drawings for a series of monoprints of London stations. Drew Paddington, Euston, St Pancras and King’s Cross today and yesterday did Waterloo. Still got Liverpool Street and Victoria to go.