More Prints


Wednesday 27. 05. 09 Have been working on some coloured monoprints this week of les Ruffes which is an area around lac du Salgou where the earth is quite red due to the oxides in the soil. Also finished another triptych of Moureze with Vines. Have started a painting of les Ruffes and am still working on a large painting of Moureze so lots going on. Have sent all my stuff off to St Mathieu de Tréviers for my stint there for a week at the end of September. I am taking part in a week long workshop with five other artists. I have also booked  the week of 3 July 2010 for a show at Baillargues which is in Montpellier.

Bike Ride


Tuesday 19. 05. 09
Today was the first bike (rather than scooter) ride of the summer. I rode for about two hours out to Salasc and back. I rode out on the road and then came back cross country on the VTT paths. Off-roading looks easy but it is not, altho I didn’t come off, I will need to improve my braking and balancing skills. However, the exercise was good but I’m already feeling stiff. Hopefully it will be easier next time.

London


Tuesday 19. 05. 09 Just got back from my trip to London. I stayed at the Europa Hotel in Paddington which was, central, clean and cheap with a serious full English breakfast. Met various friends and caught up and also did some serious gallery hopping. Henry VIII at the British Library, Picasso at the National, Constable and Richter at the NPG, Sickert at Dulwich, Rothko and Turner at Tate Britain, Messager at the Hayward and a few others. Also have set up an expo for November/December 2010 at the Naval and Military Club in St James’s Square. It was a great trip and I now have had my big city fix for a while. Lots of ideas which hopefully will percolate onto paintings. Photograph is Rotten Row Hyde Park.

Before London

Tuesday 19. 05. 09 These are a couple of small paintings that I did just before I went off to London. The interior is my living room here and the exterior is of the Paul Valery gallery in Sete.

Bank Holidays


Sunday 10. 05. 09 This is the month of public holidays in France, I believe that there are four in May and we have already had two. Had a very civilized lunch last Sunday at Gisele and Jonathan’s. It was a warm, sunny day so enjoyed a leisurely lunch with lively conversation and finally got home around 6. Monday evening saw flinty, squinty Clint in Gran Torino here in Clermont. A predictable tale well crafted. Wednesday made it to the beach for the first time this season – 28 degrees. Not too crowded but already the camping cars were there. Wore shorts for the first time this year. Thursday afternoon went to my first ever book club meeting. The book was The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany which is a great read. Enjoyed the club – good articulate people with diverse opinions. Yet another vernissage Thursday evening at the ANPQ gallery. This week I have done another triptych monoprint of Moureze and have began painting over the previous one in oils. Not sure if this is going to work but will continue with it. Finished Green Landscape and another small landscape that I painted near Pinet en route to the beach. Also done a couple of non landscapes just to have a break.