Tuesday 15. 03. 11 It rained yesterday and also most of today and looks like more tomorrow – Spring in the Hérault! However because of this weather I have been in the studio and have been having a very productive time. I have been doing more Waterloo stations, this time with a bamboo pen (as above) and have been working on more white vans. A strangely satisfying and cheerful day.
Sunday 13. 03. 11 It has been a frustrating week waiting for the paint to dry on two white van paintings. So I have been back at monoprints of London train stations. I have done several of Waterloo and have also been experimenting with drawing over them in pencil and drawing with a pen using printing ink – so far not too successfully.
Sunday 06. 03. 11 This week have started on a new white van painting as above and have returned to my monoprint series of London stations. Met Kevin and Emma for lunch and discussed his podcasts and also his new art magazine due out in May. We also talked about the possibility a show of my paintings in Nîmes this summer. Weather is starting to improve now and besides the mimosas I have now seen the new crop of wild irises.
Thursday 24. 02. 11 Have been doing some small paintings to get back into things again. Above is an oil sketch of snow on Austin Avenue to remind me of why I live here. Have figured out the next white van painting and also want to try some kind of combination monoprint/chine collée for the Cross Canada series. On y va!
Saturday 19. 02. 11 Arrived back in Clermont on Wednesday afternoon to warmth and sunshine. Had hoped to go to my French class on Thursday morning but overslept and didn’t wake up to 11 o’clock! Yesterday got back into the studio and started work. Baptiste arrived last night en route to Nice where he has a new job. We both went up to George and Laurene’s for an excellent dinner last night.
Wednesday 09. 02. 11 Just got back from a flying visit to Merrickville visiting Martin and Beryl. It was freezing there but we all managed to have good time – especially with Beryl’s Singapore Slings – very dangerous! Martin and I went into Ottawa on Tuesday for the day. Besides the obligatory visit to Costco we managed to visit a few of the Ottawa galleries. This morning before leaving we went over to Holly and Larry’s to catch up with their various projects.
Wednesday 02. 02. 11 Today was a Snow Day in Toronto so all the schools and daycares were closed. Daisy was celebrating her 18th birthday so she was pleased to have a day off and Poppy had a tea party.
Monday 31. 01. 11 Spent the weekend with Alan and Lea in Kitchener. Seemed to have spent the whole time talking altho we did manage to take Melissa’s dog Tucker for a walk a couple of times. Checked out Alan’s studio where he is beginning a new series of paintings based on the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in all seasons. Above is the confluence in winter.
Monday 24. 01. 11 Got back from a week at Cayo Guillermo with Julia yesterday morning at 2.30. An ungodly hour to return to even more ungodly temperatures. We had warm weather and sunshine every day except for a few clouds on the first day and some rain on the last. The resort was about 10 years old and was populated by Canadians and Brits. Besides talking, reading, swimming, eating and drinking we did a couple of trips. The first to a mangrove jungle where we drove our own motor boat and then snorkelled in a channel in the jungle. Lots of interesting tropical fish and even a lobster. The second trip was to Ciego de Avila a small provincial town in the middle of the island. Not Havana but interesting architecture and old cars and motos etc. It even included a visit to a Cuban home which was fascinating and reminded me of my own home in France. It was a long day as we were picked at 7.30 in the morning and didn’t get back until 5.30 in the evening. The guide Jose was terrific – very knowledgeable and happy to answer all our questions about life in the “real” Cuba. I don’t think I would want to stay for much longer than a week as I’m not really a resort kind of person but I do miss those mid-morning Pina Coladas and I didn’t miss not having the internet once!
11. 01. 11 Tuesday It has been a a busy time since I arrived here a month ago. Besides seeing friends and spending time with the family I have enjoyed the usual Maher family Christmas extravaganza and a wonderful New Year’s Eve Party at the Boyden/MacKee residence. Last weekend was spent at Fran and Clive’s cottage so I finally got to see some snow. I’m about to start the initial drawing for the big train painting and then on Saturday I’m off to Cuba for a week with Julia.