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.
Monday 06. 12. 10 Last week was busy working on landscapes and now today it has been portraits. I am still working on Daisy’s portrait but it is coming along and today I did a quick self-portrait while I was waiting for paint to dry. Hard to believe that we are related! Leave for Toronto at the end of this week where am hoping to begin a large painting using all the images from the Cross Canada drawing series.
Monday 29. 11. 10 It has been a week of celebrations, US Thanksgiving at Laurene and George’s on Thursday and Jonathan’s 65th birthday on Saturday. In between I have managed to get some painting done. I have finished another white van painting this time at Canet (see White van gallery) and am working on another landscape of the valley viewed from the Cave co-op in St Saturnin looking towards Arboras. Much to do before I leave for Toronto on the 10th.
Monday 22. 11. 10 Worked on the portrait today and it seems to be coming along quite well. This last week have been working on a large landscape of the Hermitage Saint-Antoine de Galamus which I started early in the summer but got stuck on and also another white van painting looking from the Cave Co-operative at St Saturnin where I buy my wine.
Wednesday 17. 11. 10 Busy day in the studio today working on a new white van painting in Canet.
Tuesday 16.11.10 Jason has created a couple of slideshows of my drawings under the list of galleries on the left hand side. The Ride is based on a bike ride I used to take each morning in the summer of 2009 and Cross Canada by Train is a series of 20 drawings inspired by a train journey with Daisy this summer from Toronto to Vancouver. Enjoy!