01. 02. 08. Drove over on friday afternoon to St Mathieu de Treviers and after asking at the mairie and another person, found Maison d’Emma my home for the next month. There was nobody there but I knew where the key was so let myself in and phoned my contact. Jacques came over after a few minutes and introduced himself. Nice guy, does really meticulous watercolours and builds model boats from kits. He suggested that I might want to go to the supermarket to get some supplies etc and offered to take me over in his car which was great. En route dropped by his house which is in the old village. Very comfortable, old renovated farmhouse. He has a great studio which is part conservatory with loads of plants – quite tropical with orange and lemon trees. I met Nicole his wife and also met his dog. After the supermarket he wanted to know if I needed anything else and I said that I needed some paper for monoprints so he then took me off to the local art shop which had a pack of 25 sheets on as a special promotion. Finally he dropped me off with all my various bits and pieces and I haven’t seen or heard from him since! I thought I might have had dinner with them or something. However I remember how the French are – that bizarre mixture of formality and friendliness. Anyway I made something for dinner and then spent the evening watching absolutely asinine game shows on French TV – there was only the news and game shows! So I have no internet but do have television!
02. 02. 08. Saturday got up remembering all the things that I had forgotten to bring over from Clermont (rollers etc for monoprints) so drove back and picked them up and then drove back here. It only takes just over and hour each way. In the afternoon and evening did a couple of monoprints and a small painting. I have since erased the painting but the prints are Ok for a start. I feel much happier about things now and think that I can actually get something done this month. Still not totally focussed but think I can make my way through. Part of the problem is intellectual stimulus – not a lot around here and I realise how much I have relied on the internet It make an enormous difference – however, I don’t have it so will have to dig deeper within myself.
03. 02. 08. Sunday – overcast and grey. Went for a walk around town – not much happening but took some pics and found a good boulangerie. Rained all afternoon so did a very complicated little postcard watercolour of a whole load of stuff in the kitchen – there must have been nearly 20 different items on the tray and then did a self portrait. All the time half watching a Brit crime drama called New Tricks in French. Odd kind of cozy wintery, afternoon but strangely satisfying. Just before dark decided to do a small oil of the view outside – pretty overcast and dark.
22. 10. 07. Back in Clermont after a great time in TO. It was great catching up with everybody and for those I couldn’t see this time, I will be back at Christmas! Uneventful journey back, Zoom to CDG Paris T3, over to T2 to catch the TGV to Montpellier and then bus to Clermont. Left TO 18.30 Sunday Cdn time and got into Clermont 18.30 French time Monday. It was sunny but cool here when I arrived. Looking forward to getting on with some serious painting.
