SYLCA

TOMATOES

2012-02-11T16:12:00.001+01:00

oil on canvas paper 7"x10"

For this painting, Lela Stankovic (PADT)asked us to be careful in this composition with the lost and found edges;our aim was to engage the viewer's mind as he gets subtle hints about what is not visible.
The advice was:
Avoid “fruit bowl effect” , having everything screaming for attention with an equal vibrancy. Slightly colored “grays” and “browns” are still very valuable balance in a painting. They allow our vibrant lights to thoroughly sing.

It was an interesting challenge, and I was happy to paint that.

Fresh eggs

2012-02-09T20:34:00.000+01:00

oil on board 7"x10"

This week, we were asked for the DPW challenge to paint a subject white on white.I took the picture given par Ann Feldman, because it pleased me.I have wanted to paint eggs for a long time. So, it's done!
Of course, here our eggs are not white, and I wanted to give their right colour for two of them.I hope you 'll like them!

Go!

2012-02-03T17:40:00.002+01:00

OIL, 5,5"x 8,30"

I painted this cyclist for the challenge of DPW this week. The subject was on wheels. It was a rather precarious exercise, given the drawing of the tilted body, in short, but interesting.

Happy hour

2012-01-27T13:57:00.000+01:00

OIL 5"x7"

Here is my corrected version of this man watching the lake.It will be the last one, I have to do something else, now!

A blue shirt, for the moment.

2012-01-25T17:18:00.001+01:00

oil on paper 7"x5"

This man was quietly sitting on the shore of Harrison Lake, BC;
we spent one night in late September at Hot Springs Resort, enjoyed the warm swimming pool (38-40°), " an ideal temperature for promoting the relief of general aches and stress".It's a very nice place, at 95km from Vancouver dowtown..
I painted it for DPW,we were asked to painted someone seated.I cropped my picture, there were another man by him;then I cropped my painting, because the lake was too important , with islands in the distance, and nothing on the water...for the moment I had better showing only a part of it..
I noticed that it was too blue, so I decided to change the shirt's color.It's a pity, because the beginning was promising, and I was enthusiast!
I don't want to admit defeat, so ~~maybe~~ tomorrow I'll be able to post it with a new shirt!

An unfinished book

2012-01-18T18:23:00.001+01:00

oil on board 7"x5"

This one was painted for DPW challenge;we had to paint something with the color "tangerine" called the 2012 color by Pantone.It took me ages to find 1-my subject 2-how to show it.Of course, I could have taken a blue cloth and paint it in the right color, but I knew I had this tee-shirt in my wardrobe, worn for a long time.But where to put it, and so on?At the end, a Regency dining-room chair suited me-my husband is fond of antique English chairs-I painted it more quickly than my other still lifes;maybe the reason is I love the interiors;each time I watch one painted on a blog, I think that I'd like to do something like that!
So, there is my first piece of interior, and I am quite satisfied, even if I see some improvements to do.(on another canvas).

le pâté Hénaff

2012-01-13T16:55:00.002+01:00

oil on canvas 6"x6"

This small oil was done for DPW challenge;this week, we were asked to think about our breakfast.
Of course, I would not recommend this recipe for a well-balanced meal, but it's just a glance at my region of origin, Brittany.
This product has been the same since 1914,and the design of the tin has not changed.Futhermore, it tastes delicious with a fresh baguette!
It is not rare, here, to find several good- smelling bakeries, in the smallest village...

BACK HOME

2012-01-08T22:42:00.001+01:00

Here we are, our stay in Barcelona is behind us, it was so beautiful, we enjoyed it.I am now going to try to paint again, if it still possible...

IN BALANCE

2011-12-17T15:07:00.001+01:00

oil on wood 8"x10"

This painting was done for Rookie Painter challenge on a wood panel;there was something else before, which didn't deserve to stay...and explains the irregularities of the surface.
I wont't paint for a moment, because tomorrow I am going to fly to Barcelona, Spain (only one hour flight from Bordeaux).I 'll be happy to spend Christmas and stay one week with my daughter, who has been living there for more than 2 years now.It's the first time we'll visit Barcelona, and we are very eager.
So, have a Merry Christmas!

Flowers and wine,for an engagement.

2011-12-14T18:12:00.001+01:00

oil on paper, 8"x10"

I was largely inspired by Fantin-latour and his flowers in his still life, called " Engagement " while leaving aside a cup of fruits for which I missed affinities, or rather skill..He was used to keep a neutral backgound.; for my part I mixed red, blue and white colors over a black underpainting.

2011-12-04T15:08:00.000+01:00

oil on board 7,5"x9,5"

I painted this for DPW this week, where it was asked to paint in the style of a painter we liked.I chose René Magritte, a Belgian surrealist painter.Magritte's work frequently displays a collection of ordinary objects in an unusual context, giving new meanings to familiar things.

Omphalotus olearius

2011-12-01T14:12:00.000+01:00

OIL ON BOARD 7,5"x5"

Don't touch!Those jack-o-lanterns, growing from the dead roots of oak trees, are commonly mistaken for the prized chanterelles, and is therefore a common cause of mushroom poisoning.I found them very attractive, but only in picture! And for once, I painted only for my pleasure, not for a challenge.

Peony, or Pierre de Ronsard?

2011-11-28T11:52:00.002+01:00

oil on board 5"x7"

It has been several days since I painted this for Rookiepainter challenge.In spite of several efforts, I had never managed to obtain a suitable picture, this being apparently due to the dark painting, which remained greyish and dull;it took time to dry (a lot of medium?).Is it the fault of the painting, or the misuse of the camera, of which I am not sure to understand all the subtleties? But it's so hard to learn!
Pierre de Ronsard is a lovely double rose with delicate colors, it is why I didn't know it was either this rose, or a peony on the picture.

And, before November ends, I wanted to show you our production of avocados in our garden. The former occupant had planted a stone 15, 20 years ago? Last year, we had only one, we didn't even deigned to pick it, but this year, around 30 fruits!
It's necessary to say that is a rarity in our region...
The small yellow fruits are physalises, or Cape Gooseberries,an only plant produced a lot of fruits.

Le pont de Langlois

2011-11-26T15:47:00.000+01:00

oil on board 7"x5"

I painted this one for the Virtualpaintout.I rarely follow this challenge, because the difficulties I have to find and keep a subject on Goggle map, where I spend too much time. This month was Arles, in S.O. of France.This place was made famous by Van Gogh, who painted the bridge. On my painting,the specific mecanism is not very visible, I didn't find the right angle to see it properly, and I wanted to have the water and the houses on my view...

2011-11-19T23:22:00.000+01:00

I painted this one for DPW challenge.

I wore those shoes during my years in Paris, to go to work, maybe 10 years ago.I lost the habit to use this kind of shoes, as I've been living in the country, now., and my style of life have changed!

Le vase et le melon

2011-11-11T11:27:00.000+01:00

oil on board 8"x10"

At the beginning, I didn't want to do it, after a picture of PADT, I thought the vase was too tricky to paint.After watching some of the other painters, I gave a try and went on...and enjoyed it.

My cantaloupe's colour is more vivid on my painting, but I was unable to get a better picture, in fact it's not yet dry!

Are they edible?

2011-10-31T10:22:00.000+01:00

oil on board 5"x7"

"The gendarmes of Die (Drôme) intercepted around thirty persons yesterday evening, suspected of participating in a traffic of mushrooms towards Spain; more than 600 kg illegally picked were seized: indeed, the authorized picking must not exceed 5kg a day per person and for personal consumption only".
Obviously sarcastic comments burst out, arguing that the gendarmes would be better to chase after hallucinogenic mushroom criminals..
Not having a great knowledge of mushrooms, I prefer buying them at the market, it is safer!

Bananas

2011-10-26T18:01:00.001+02:00

OIL on canvas paper 9,5"x7,5"

It is my rendition for Rookie Painter challenge.It was the first time I painted bananas, I didn't know it was so hard to find the right colour (at least for me!):I used naples yellow,yellow pale, ocher, burnt sienna, sepia.This last one was recommended to me by Sabine, our teacher at our workshop in Bordeaux.She restores the old paintings and likes it for several purposes:greys, in place of darks...I noticed there was a touch of green in it .

So, it was a good practice.

EN ROUTE TO THE MARKET

2011-10-18T21:29:00.001+02:00

oil on linen paper 9,5" x 7,5"

I loved this innocent little girl, with her big pink bag;I painted it for DPW challenge.Carol Marine proposed this picture, telling us we had to choose any background we wanted to painted, hers was quite cluttery.For the moment I have not any idea, but I have to think about it, and hope to add one;
for the moment, I prefered anyway to post my painting, even imperfect!

Les bonbons

2011-10-14T22:30:00.001+02:00

oil on canvas paper 9,5" x 7,5"

I painted this one for Rookie Painter with oil painting miscible with water.Although they are pleasant to use, I am going to to give up them at the moment; since the beginning of the month I participate each Tuesday in a workshop where we learn the techniques of the old masters, and we thus use traditional paintings.I hope it will be profitable!

By the window

2011-09-29T18:55:00.000+02:00

I painted this one for Idrawandpaint of September;I am not used to paint horses, in fact this is the first one.

Baby girl

2011-09-24T15:49:00.001+02:00

pencil on strong bristol 6"x10"

It's my first art work since our return from our trip to the Canadian Rockies, 3 days ago.This time the jetlag was strong, after 3 weeks changing every or 2 days from place to place, from Calgary to Vancouver and return, ending by a flight Calgary/Ottawa , staying 3 days there, before coming back to France.
I want to sleep!
Our journey was wonderful, everything turned very well, but I am glad to find our home and our old routine!
As I did not paint for a long time, I prefered begin by a drawing, to take my brushes scared me!
It was an exercise for Idrawandpaint, and, even my baby looks like rather a boy, I am quite glad with the result.

Through Canada landscapes

2011-09-14T01:16:00.001+02:00

It was on September 3rd, from Calgary to Banff, the first step on our West Canada trip.We admired a lot of mountains, rocks, falls, lakes, everything is so beautiful!.Of course, We travel every day, so my painting supllies are in my suitcase.

Moraine Lake

Patricia lake

Mount Robson

Harrison Hot Spring

No coffee any more

2011-08-11T21:45:00.001+02:00

oil on paper 7"x5"

I have been suppressing coffee for quite one month now, even if I was not a fervent of tea.I think it’s better for health.
So I painted this one for DPW challenge;the subject ? paint your favorite mug.It’s not my favorite, but one of those I have here at the Lake.It was not a small thing to do this work!We were said to go to learn how to paint an ellipse.

I followed the consigns, ok for the rectangle, the dots, etc., but after?how to adapt this ellipse to the rest of the body, and what does determine the size of the ellipse, why does my cup look bended?
I did it in several sequences, and the last time, I forgot to notice I’ve changed of table, and this one was lower, that is not the same thing for an ellipse..
I guess I have to work again on the ellipses, but not this one, it’s enough!

The window sill

2011-08-05T01:48:00.002+02:00

oil on paper 7"x9"

I painted this for DPW this week.We were given this picture in black and white, and we had to paint the scene in color, respecting the values.
My pot is too big,maybe the colors are somber, but I enjoyed doing this exercise.
I have been arrived at the Lake of the Woods, Ontario, for one week now.We have a nice weather, although unpredictable, for example this morning at 11.00 am: suddenly a thunder storm burst, with a black sky .We were obliged to tidy up everything on the porch, fold the parasol, shut the windows..
It lasted about 30mn, and everything is ok now, the sun shines, sunglasses and parasol are compulsory.Maybe you know this kind of weather, but at home, in France, it’s not usual.
Here are some pictures taken yesterday from our terrace, at the twilight.”
I
We have a lovely landscape ‘, I don’t know why I’ve never painted it…

The first one

2011-07-25T14:29:00.000+02:00

oil on board 6"x6"

This one is the first nasturtium in my garden, this year;at the beginning of sowing the ground was too dry, then,it was too wet (it has been raining for 1 month, now), and here it is.I've sown a lot, and, of course, I'll be unable to watch them, since I am leaving in 2 days.

I painted that after a idea of James Coulter, for this weekly DPW challenge .The orders were to use only: blue, cad.med. yellow, cad red light + white, 3 brushes, large, medium and small, and paint a flower of our garden in an hour.This last one was, for me, the hardest thing about this challenge, and I am proud to say I succeeded!What usually I do in five-ish hours was done in one, and not worse than my other ones!I hope I'll be able to do it again.

Ne me quitte pas

2011-07-22T15:48:00.005+02:00

pencil on strong bristol 9"x12"

It is finished now, and done for this week DPW challenge, we had to illustrate a song.

Do you know Jacques Brel, and his song "Ne me quitte pas"? Nina Simone sang it in French too, Frank Sinatra and a lot of others (If you go away).

Here is a link to listen to the song, by Jacques Brel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2wmKcBm4Ik

PIQUE-NIQUE (picnic)

2011-07-21T15:36:00.000+02:00

black pencil on strong bristol, 9"x12"

Every year,in August, we are lucky to share a picnic, with twenty-ish islanders of the Lake of the Woods, invited by Jan & Dave.

Dave cooks on the huge outdoor stone oven he built by himself, 2 years ago, Jan takes the head of the operations.Everyone brings something for the meal, and we are sure to spend a enjoyable afternoon;49% Canadians,50% Americans, 1 French, who, after a while, feels her mind confused in the middle of the whole conversations!.

For the moment I am still at home, in France, and I'll join my husband in the middle of next week.

So, I drew after a picture of Dave cooking last year.

Homeless(wip)

2011-07-19T19:30:00.000+02:00

pencil on strong bristol 9"x12"

This drawing is not finished, I have to work on the young girl.The subject was proposed by Idrawandpaint .
Those days, I don't paint a lot, I were busy with the selling of my flat near Paris, at least!The final signature is next week, and just after I'll join my husband in Winnipeg, for the remaining summer.

N°5, 150ml

2011-07-15T22:17:00.001+02:00

oil on board 5"x7"

I suppose there will be enough until next Christmas...

What a mess!

2011-07-09T11:35:00.000+02:00

oil 5"x7"

There are some of my painting supplies, here.

For painting

2011-07-03T13:22:00.001+02:00

OIL 5"x7"

It was painted for PADT challenge.

TWILIGHT

2011-06-28T12:33:00.000+02:00

oil on oil paper 5"x7"

This was done for DPW challenge this week, after a picture given by Jean Nelson, who painted a lovely one.
After an underpainting in Alizarin, I used mainly one flat brush, and ended with a knife.

Watermelon and bowl

2011-06-24T19:05:00.000+02:00

oil on canvas paper 5"x7"

It was required, in the DPW challenge of this week, to paint after a picture, upside down.In fact, most of the time, I used to do that;I learned this technique, a long time ago, in Betty Edwards's books, and I like it.When I am not sure about my drawing, I turn my painting for checking it, and go on for a while, upside down, I find it funny.

Burnt Sienna

2011-06-22T06:20:00.000+02:00

At the beginning, I intended , as a title, to put the first name of this man with an initial, in case someone could recognize him;he is a man I like to listen quite everyday, on Radio Classique .But now, watching his face, I think he does not look like him..Anyway, among people listening to him, a lot don't know his face;and a lot don't know my blog..
I painted this burnt sienna portrait for DPW challenge, which run a few weeks ago, of course I am greatly late.I am just aware, reading again Carol Marine's instructions,(I like her instructions) she asked for burnt umber, but I never had this one.So, as usual, I overworked this portrait;if it was acceptable after one hour, maybe after 4 or more, the dark values are too dark;well, it's done, and I like the feeling, when I am slowly drawing or painting a portrait, to gradually learn about the model , understand his character.
Voilà!

The same cups

2011-06-15T18:18:00.001+02:00

The same cups, after a few hours extra work.I was not satisfied yesterday, and wanted to go on.It's better, now.

3 CUPS

2011-06-14T19:53:00.001+02:00

oil on paper 5"x7"

I painted those 3 cups for DPW challenge this week, it was asked to create a stack of something that is balanced, in many ways.Even this subject, the cups, was not very original, I enjoyed to paint it.

Happiness

2011-06-10T10:18:00.001+02:00

pencil on strong bristol 6"x9"

For once, I decided to follow a drawing challenge and give it a try.Maybe I didn't draw for years, and I am quite glad with the result.The picture was given by idrawandpaint, but apparently, they don't want any link to their site on the blogs.
So, it was drawn with a 2B pencil;I didn't remember how long I took for this kind of work,before, about 4h, I suppose, but I am now aware of the difference of mood I am with it.I am more concentrated, and I am "in"the character, I never have this feeling with painting; well, now I notice a few improvements I should do, of course!

FLEURS DE POMMIER

2011-06-08T17:51:00.003+02:00

oil on canvas paper 7"x 9"

It was painted for ARTISTICS SENTIMENTS challenge, and I enjoyed the subject, with thoses subtle colors.

From my window

2011-06-03T09:32:00.000+02:00

oil on board 5"x7"

This week, the DPW challenge subject was to paint what we see from our place, so it was an opportunity to paint a small view of our garden.
We have been living here for 3 years and half, now, and it’s such a pleasure;it’s a small village, just in border of a big river, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, at 30mn drive. We cross the fingers not to be flooded!Last year, during the storm Xynthia, we were fortunately spared.I like to hear the waves, in the night, with the open window, it's soothing.

2011-05-27T08:05:00.000+02:00

This week, and propably the next whole week I won't participate to any challenge, nor paint.We have been in Sevilla, Spain, since last Tuesday.It's a wonderful city, ant there is so much to do!

There are more articles and pictures HERE , if you are interested.

When I tell you...

2011-05-22T14:56:00.000+02:00

5"x7" Oil on board

Yes, we are twins!
I was painted with "normal" oils.Apparently, there is no difference at the final stage.

I am not alone…

2011-05-18T16:05:00.001+02:00

oil on board 7"x5"

Those last days werent very productive..In fact, April was a gardening month, and May so hot!The temperature is very high here for the season (30° today), everything is very dry, I start to feel guilty when I have to water my flowers, luckily we own a well.
So, a lot of bad excuses for no blogging!
I painted this cat twice for DPW, when I compare with the other paintings, I am not satisfied, they are so nice!
This one was painted with Artisan oils miscible with water.

Were you a guest?

2011-05-08T22:18:00.004+02:00

oil on canvas 4"x4"

It was painted for DPW challenge.Although it was not the first time I did a self portrait, it was a struggle , because I was obliged to paint with a mirror , having no recent picture . So, I chose to wear a hat I never had!I was inspired by the princely wedding I watched last week, with those crazy hats,since I was among the third of the planet who watched the princely wedding last week...

Greenery

2011-04-21T20:40:00.000+02:00

This week, the DPW challenge proposed a choice of 3 color schemes: complementary, split-complementary or triadic

oil on canvas 10"x12"

. Ok, I can understand, for the complementary, but split-complementary, triadic?No.
After several researches, several readings, I chose one,so, I painted, and once it was done, I realised that I'd chosen another one, which was not requested, the analogous scheme- colors following on the wheel-in my case, green, green-yellow and yellow.
And here is the result.

Cross swords

2011-04-20T07:31:00.000+02:00

oil on canvas 6"x6"

This painting was done for PADT challenge.
For once, I gave a new try to my Artisan water mixable oils.
When I begun painting with oil (late 2009), I used them, but was not satisfied, and bought "normal" oil painting.
This time, I was quite glad with Artisan, but I have not a very large amount of colors, so it's restricting, but it was ok for the cherries!

Road trip

2011-04-14T16:47:00.001+02:00

oil on canvas paper 6"x8"

This was the second landscape proposed by Carol Marine for her previous DPW challenge.It was another study about the greens, mainly with phtalo green (I have a huge tube), light yellow, indigo.I painted it with brushes first, then with a knife. The moment I took the picture, the left side on the bottom was not quite dry, due to the thickness of the paint…

Where are the girls?

2011-04-11T23:02:00.005+02:00

OIL ON CANVAS 8"x10"

This was painted for the weekly DPW challenge.I used my own picture of a rooster in my neighbourhood I took the other day.Michèle & Hervé bought it recently, because they lost 1 of their 4 hens ,which was run over by a car when it crossed without care, the little road , where they live.Arsène, the rooster, is now there present to keep them from their frivolity, and it works! It's a Sussex type.

After having plodded along for ages…

2011-04-08T16:07:00.002+02:00

oil on board 8"x10"

It was painted for DPW challenge of this week.I wanted to do a quick painting, and, as often, I reworked, and reworked..
As I wanted to use several purples ( I am usually inclined to give this color to my roads ) , I did a golden acrylic under painting.I changed a lot of times the trees in the background: at the beginning they were too strong, then too pale…I wanted to use a recipe with French ultramarine, violet, viridian, white, before noticing at the end that my green was not a viridian(which is an equal combination of blue and green), so the result was not what I expected.
My(other) bête noire was the tree in the foreground, I have to learn about those trees!
In any case, I had fun to paint that.

BZZ…

2011-03-31T14:34:00.002+02:00

oil on canvas board 6"X6"

This was painted for Artistic Sentiments challenge.
I was a little upset about the flower, I don’t know this type and was not sure about the shape.Maybe I’d ought to add something at the bottom left to root it?
N'étant pas familiarisée avec cette fleur, j'avais des difficultés de reconnaissance , et j'ai essayé de prendre une photo d'une abeille, il y en avait beaucoup cette semaine, mais ce n'était pas convaincant non plus!

Red currant bush

2011-03-27T22:54:00.002+02:00

oil on canvas board 5"x7"

One of the first blossoming in our garden.

COFFEE POT

2011-03-19T12:56:00.000+01:00

OIL ON BOARD 5"x7"

The DPW subject, this week, was to paint a white object, so I chose this pot I'd just bought last Sunday,at a "vide-grenier", for a song.We had to use only primary and secondary colors, and it was very funny to do it!

TWO CAMELIAS

2011-03-04T14:22:00.002+01:00

oil on board 5"x7"

Another painting for DPW, I am not sure, once again , I followed the directions, with one color by stroke, which I 'd like to properly understand! It's easy to say, but not easy to do...Those two camelias were the first flowers in my garden, but you cant' say on the picture what they are!I am aware maybe it's a little weird, because the potery vase has a tiny opening, it's a soliflore. I took the picture before a window, and painted there, in fact, but was a little sceptic about the background...

Hand towels

2011-03-02T17:44:00.002+01:00

oil on canvas board 5"x7"

This one was painted for DPW challenge, which I like because each one chooses one’s own subject that avoids uniformity.
The aim was to paint one color per stroke.I am not sure I strictly followed that, but I made an attempt, especially for the background, anyway I am going to make other tentative.

Viola Cornuta

2011-02-26T18:35:00.003+01:00

oil on canvas board 5"x7"

Ces petites fleurs timides fleurissent tout au long de l’hiver, il faut se pencher pour les voir dans l’herbe qu’il va falloir tondre bientôt.
Those little shy flowers last the whole winter, you have to bent to see them in the grass I am going to cut very soon.
This painting, for once, was not made for a challenge, I suppose I need a change, and it’s one, maybe, the first time I used a painting knife, it was a start, and a nice experience.Usually I like the details, here I was obliged to leave them, regarding the small size of my painting.

Got a light?

2011-02-22T11:55:00.001+01:00

oil on canvas board 6"x6"

This was painted for DPW challenge this week, we were allowed to use only 2 colors, burnt sienna, ultramarine + white.
Those days, with the onterdiction to smoke, I find strange when I see people smoking, although I used to smoke myself, a long time ago.I am so glad to be delivered from this funest habit!

IN THE OLD DAYS...

2011-02-19T23:51:00.000+01:00

oil on board 6"x6"

painted this coffee jar for PADT challenge,I've never saw this style of pot, but it's nice, it could be convenient, I suppose.

Mignonne, allons voir si la rose…(Pierre Ronsard)

2011-02-19T03:25:00.003+01:00

oil on canvas paper 5"x7"

This was done for DPW challenge this week, it was the 1st time I painted a rose, I think.

Do you like fuchsias?

2011-02-12T17:05:00.003+01:00

oil on canvas paper 5"x7"

I am aware I have no plant of fuchsia in my garden, although I like them, their little bells; so I am planning to grow them in April, I have to find a place in the half shade.
This was painted for Artistic sentiments, and will be sent by mail to a friend of mine, her birthday is the 28th of this month, she likes flowers.

2011-02-08T20:49:00.001+01:00

OIL ON GESSOED PAPER 4"x8"

Another entry for DPW, Carol Marine new challenge.This time, we had to paint eight times an object, in 10mn each.After ending the 2nd, I suddendly wonder if , maybe, was it due to make the whole thing in 10 mn?Fortunately, no!
Ouf!

Chrysler Imperial

2011-02-05T14:38:00.003+01:00

Oil on board 5"x7"

I painted this car after a picture taken by Carol Marine, this talented painter everyone knows, for her new “DPW challenge”.You can imagine I was not the only one to participate!Have a look on the other ones!

They’ve gone...

2011-02-01T18:47:00.005+01:00

oil on canvas board 7"x9"

The sky has been grey and low for several days now, the mood is easily gloomy, so friends were welcome!

THE WANDERER

2011-01-28T11:47:00.002+01:00

oil on canvas paper 8"x10"

The Monarch, or wanderer, is famous for its southward migration and northward return in summer in the Americas which spans the life of three to four generations of the butterfly .This one was painted for PADT challenge.

Under the porch

2011-01-24T15:57:00.004+01:00

oil on board 5"x7"

It was a sunny day, it’s good to remember this heat, when the frost it not far away…

coffee, or chocolate? WIP

2011-01-16T22:28:00.000+01:00

oil on canvas board 5"x7"

I think the background needs improvement!
When I took a picture of those 2 cups at home, yesterday, I thought it would fit with this soft cream woollen blanket ;in fact it looks weird,I am going to change the background, maybe in pale green. And the hardest thing will be to properly correct the ellipse of the saucer...

The head in the boxes

2011-01-11T18:21:00.002+01:00

illustration

Here we are, approximately 50 boxes block the garage for several months, even more some years before being opened!
And I am going to be available for painting, that it was not the case for several weeks!

Where are my glasses?

2011-01-09T17:21:00.002+01:00

oil on canvas board 5"x 7"

This was my recent entry for Rookie Painter;
It had been a long time since it was begun, but I had never finished;
December was very hectic with the move of my apartment in Paris, and now I am up to the neck in boxes and to finish, troubles with my computer, which is not nevertheless old (1year): unpleasant sites came every night, uninvited; I was obliged to restore the system, to reinstall it, thus I lost many data.
But I now think of being on form to begin the year.Tomorrow,I am starting a painting course on line with Nel Jansen , and I am very eager to improve my skills!
All my wishes to everybody, you who make me a favour by visiting my blog and leaving comments, which are always welcome...

SNOW ANGEL

2010-12-10T14:03:00.003+01:00

digital painting

No, it's not a child's drawing, it's my 1st attempt to digital painting. I 've used virtual paint, a brush,with a glass of water to clean it, a pen, an eraser and so on;
It is a small figure, 10cm high, made of cloth, with string to hang it, which accompanied a gift that had been offered to me , and then I kept for a long time.

For a while, I wanted to go back to the drawing and illustration.I don't know if I can, but I wanted to try, and I like that..
I think it's not finished, it needs improvments , but...

Irish landscape

2010-12-08T15:48:00.003+01:00

oil on canvas paper 8"x10"

It's been awhile since I had painted a landscape. I find something, or someone, is missing, a sheep, a cow, but what a challenge to add, if it's not there!
So, there is a lot of green ..
It was painted for the Virtual Paintout december challenge.

Swedish clogs

2010-12-05T14:26:00.002+01:00

oil on gessoboard 6"x6"

I loved wearing these shoes, long ago -I guess, in years 70-. It was just before the platform shoes (it made you 10cm , at least ,higher) and bell-bottom trousers ...

Seaview

2010-12-02T16:38:00.020+01:00

oil on gessoboard 5"x7"

Grand Piquey is a small village, near the Cap Ferret,in the Arcachon Basin.Painted after a picture of Marion B.Overcrowded in summer, I presume, it's of course ,available now for quiet lovers.

Three in a bowl

2010-12-01T11:43:00.002+01:00

oil on gessoboard 6x6

These days, I saw a lot of pears in painting, of course, is the season and I wanted to put me there, too ..
I often go to the food blog of Dominique,( Take a look, it's worth, if you love French cuisine), where I draw ideas for my paintings, because of her fantastic beautiful pictures.

blue clogs

2010-11-27T11:41:00.004+01:00

oil on canvas board 5"x7"

I noticed these blue clogs, hung on the facade of an oyster shack in the Arcachon basin, where we spent a few days early, and photographed by Marion B. The colors, for once, were not complicated, cerulean and white for the majority.

Reflexion

2010-11-26T11:11:00.002+01:00

acrylic on wood, 14"x15"

Just back from Paris, it was a week that I did not paint. I found this painting I had done in acrylic and gave my daughter Camille at Christmas 2006, so it's not a novelty! My daughter is still in migration, between Paris, London, and since more '1 year in Barcelona, it does not imply anything with her.
So I installed these 2 women in my bathroom, where they are a most beautiful effect, (although I now see faults that were unknown to me at this time), against a wall rather dark gray.
It was a reproduction of a painting by Henri-Edmond Cross, a neo-impressionist 1816-1910.

Days in Paris

2010-11-21T22:02:00.004+01:00

For a week, I am again in Paris, after over 35 years-of work- spent here. I am going to definitively draw a line on this past, selling my apartment-which it’s not on the picture;here is the Boulevard Malesherbes, in the 17th district;in the afternoon, we went there to a concert at the Salle Cortot ,with the pianist D. FRanc Nohain, who played Shumann & Chopin;

Yesterday, we went to the salle Gaveau,
rue de Miromesnil, to attend Shani Deluka a famous pianist who wonderfully played Mendelssohn, Chopin and Beethoven. So, it was a musical week end, as I love it.And I won’t take my brushes before next week, because the preparation for the moving, and so on takes all my time..
But this has nothing to do with the painting...

Pomegranate

2010-11-18T10:53:00.002+01:00

oil on canvas paper 8"x10"

This painting was done for PADT November challenge.It was not as easy as I thought, at the beginning, and I had to struggle! as usual…

Apples

2010-11-18T10:32:00.002+01:00

oil on linen 10"x14"

This painting was done for Studio Atelier November challenge.
I chose to crop the original picture, keeping those 2 apples, because the other ones didn’t look exactly as apples( for me) , and it was hard enough to have only those 2!

ORANGE SLUSH

2010-11-07T16:03:00.001+01:00

oil on canvasboard 5"x7"

This painting was done for Rookie Painter challenge;from the beginning, I didn't like the short foot's glass ,and I had to struggle with it. On the another hand, I enjoyed painting the spoon, even if it was hard to find the right depth .I add a recipe which fits with the painting, for a light dessert, for hot days!

Ingredients,for 4 people :
40 cl of orange juice ( 3 oranges)
70 g of powdered sugar
15 cl of water
2 teaspoons syrup grenadine (or sugar syrup)
Preparation: Using a vegetable peelers, remove the skin of an orange. Chop coarsely, file in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil. Rinse under cold water. Drain again.
Combine the sugar, water and orange zest in a small saucepan. Bring to the boil 1 minute. Cool cover. Strain through a fine strainer syrup.
Squeeze oranges. Retrieve the juice and mix with the syrup. Pour into a dish of 1 cm of thickness approximately, put it in the freezer for 1 hour.
Add 1 teaspoon of syrup grenadine . Stir with a fork to break the slush before it becomes ice (woo!is it correct?hard to translate...). Put in the freezer.
After 30 minutes, complete with the second spoon coffee grenadine (or sugar syrup).
Still stir with a fork.
Put in the freezer for 1 hour.
The slush is ready.
Bon appétit!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T22:19:00.000+01:00

Here is something very funny, a CARD (click)that a friend sent to me.Enjoy!

lazy morning

2010-10-30T11:50:00.003+02:00

oil on canvas board 5"x7"

This was painted for Rookie Painter ;
I like windows, there is always a part of mystery in them, you never know what to expect beyond.
The hard part for me was the bed: I did not know whether to describe, let in the dark, put colors .. This is a study, but I intend to continue on to another topic

HEAT WAVE…

2010-10-25T16:18:00.003+02:00

oil on paper 8" x 10"

It’s my last contribution to PADT.
The hard thing for me was this translucent bowl, even the shape was not easy.So….

LAST BUNCH OF GRAPES(wip)

2010-10-15T15:11:00.004+02:00

oil on canvas paper 8"x10"

from the garden.They are still a bit green, but if I had left them,they would have rotted.I never thought they would be so difficult to paint.
I'm still working on the stems and the grapes!

HUTS ON STILTS

2010-10-13T10:47:00.005+02:00

This painting was done after the blog of Marion B., Du côté du Teich , a talented photograph who daily puts wonderful pictures of her environment.I like those log cabins perched on stilts,typical of the Basin of Arcachon. They are located east of Bird Island, in the town of La Teste-de-buch;the huts on stilts have the characteristic of seeing their environment change several times a day. According to the tidal cycle, the stilt huts are anchored in the sand , or the bottom of their stairs can be in the waves, too.These 2 were built in 1883, their first mission was to serve with oyster farmers,so they did not really need comfort, and nowadays they are only for the view..

a picture, representing them in their environment.

oil on paper 8" x 10"

leaves

2010-10-07T16:54:00.014+02:00

oil on paper 5"x7"

This is my submission to Rookie Painter Here is a poem
about the fall.

L’automne Paul Verlaine (Poèmes Saturniens 1866)
Les sanglots longs
Des violons de l’automne
Blessent mon coeur
d’une langueur monotone.
Tout suffoquant et blême,
quand sonne l’heure,
Je me souviens
des jours anciens
Et je pleure.
Et je m’en vais
Au vent mauvais
Qui m’emporte
Deçà, delà,
Pareil à la feuille morte.

The following is for the sound!
As it is not easy to translate a poem, I chose to record my voice.I have had trouble assembling this,it is a test, I ask your indulgence! After the word "fin" look at below, in the other videos,the poem is song by Charles Trenet, a famous French singer (1913-2001.

Madame Tutli-Putli (2,continued)

2010-10-04T09:55:00.005+02:00

As I announced in my previous post, here is the version integral of the short Film. Everyone can interpreter, at his convenience!It’s a remarkably well done film, which required more than 2 years of work, when they spent 14 hours a day, in a dark room , without week end, that is admirable for young people.I traveled on this train last year between Toronto and Winnipeg for 2 nights. The dark night, this string of big fir trees endless here makes the atmosphere heavy and murky.

For fans of thrillers!

Madame Tutli-Putli (1)

2010-10-02T12:35:00.006+02:00

oil on canvas paper 7"x9"

Do you know her? She is a puppet, the main character of a marvelous short stop-motion ,directed by 2 young Canadian, from Toronto, I think,Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski .They won an award at Cannes’s festival for the best short film, in 2007.
”Madame Tutli-Putli boards the Night Train, weighed down with all her earthly possessions and the ghosts of her past. She travels alone, facing both the kindness and menace of strangers. As day descends into dark, she finds herself caught up in a desperate metaphysical adventure. Adrift between real and imagined worlds, Madame Tutli-Putli confronts her demons and is drawn into an undertow of mystery and suspense.”
I love this animated film, and for a long time have been willing to paint the puppet.

château Yquem

2010-09-30T12:29:00.004+02:00

gouache on strong paper 10"x7"

A small quick gouache of the entrance of the Chateau d'Yquem, in Gironde, where the harvest just completed. It is said that it will be a good year, for Bordeaux wine, but maybe the 2009 will be better…

an apple a day….

2010-09-28T22:19:00.003+02:00

oil on canvas board 5"x7"

the doctor away!
this painting was done for Paint and Draw Together challenge;it was hard for me to find the right shade of red, I hope it will!I quite like it.

les carrelets perdus

2010-09-28T07:17:00.005+02:00

We live on the edge of the estuary of the Gironde, and fishermen have these squares, mainly for fishing shrimp. Unfortunately, the storm Xynthia came here in February 2010 and won several small houses on stilts , like this one, below.

SELF PORTRAIT

2010-09-23T08:09:00.004+02:00

GOUACHE ON BOARD 8"x8"

Here is a gouache I just run for Calypso Moon Artist.I 'd like to reconnect with this medium, which gives a velvet painting soft to the eye.

An old barn

2010-09-22T12:43:00.004+02:00

gouache on board 8"x8"

Here is my contribution for Adnw this month. I took the gouache that I had long abandoned, with pleasure.

AND YOU? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

2010-09-11T22:42:00.005+02:00

OIL ON CANVAS BOARD 6"x6"

This painting was done for Paint And Draw Together ;at the beginning, I struggled with black and Prussian blue colors, and it was a total mess;I put the painting in a dark corner, got rid of this blue which dirties everything,(maybe I was heavy-handed) and forgot it;2 days ago, I saw Nancie Johnson’s puppy and was amazed of what she had done;it encouraged me, I took it out of it’s shade and went on until the end;there I used French ultramarine , instead.

The title referred to an Iroquois hair, –at a certain moment it should have it-but now it seems quite classical!

Orange

2010-09-10T00:12:00.001+02:00

oil on canvas board 5"x7"

It was for Studio Atelier last challenge;I wanted to avoid the details,for giving a kind of surrealistic appearance;well, it’s a beginning!

Crème au citron

2010-09-09T18:36:00.006+02:00

This painting was done for Rookie Painter September challenge.When I posted it, it gave me the idea of making a crème au citron with a meringue topping, it’s very fresh and light.

oil on wood 5X8

These are the ingredients:

-milk(2 cups)
-eggs (2)
-sugar(4 soup spoons)
-flour(4 soup spoons)
-lemons(2)
Bon appétit!

-Beat 2 egg yolks with sugar until light and pale to form a ruban.Add flour, pour gradually the boiling milk

over mixture.
2-Put the pan on the stove, stirring constantly, until the formation of small bubbles and a light cream.
3-Add the juice of 2 lemons to the cream, put in 4 ramekins and leave to cool, then refrigerate for 2 hours.
4-Beat the egg whites until stiff, add sugar vanillé on meringue.Spread over the ramekins.Put 8mn oven to 200 ° c, then brown under the grill.
It may take a few cookie crumbs in the bottom, it will be crisp.

Ontario peaches

2010-08-31T03:46:00.005+02:00

oil on canvas board 6"X6"

I started to paint those peaches this morning, the last day to post it to Rookie Painter;I had bought 3 peaches at the market, but only 2 hold on this small plate.I was in the verandah, there are not windows, only screens;after a while, 2 people paddling in a canoe hailed and whistled for help;when we got down, it was in fact a small motorboat with gas missing…

A moment later, suddenly, a storm came;for 20mn everything was upside down,wind, rain, I was obliged to put inside peaches, brushes, paint…

When I was able to put again my painting on the easel, of course the shadows were not the same, I did not remember the place of the peaches… Pictures are so convenient!
Maybe it’s not finish, but it will be the object of another painting…

HEP! TAXI!

2010-08-31T03:27:00.004+02:00

I painted this for ADNW with pleasure, but I don’t know why, I had to struggle with the snapshot,and the result is not quite good.Well, there was also some distortion, because I have to paint after my screen(here, I have not a printer), and it is hard, in a sense, when I’d wanted to enlarge it, a part was missing, and so on..The more difficult for me was that left light.But I liked the yellow color.

So,we would come from the same branch?

2010-08-27T16:38:00.002+02:00

oil on canvasboard 6"x6"
This one was painted for Paint & Draw Together 's August challenge., I like to think they could be people wondering if they are from the same dynasty and coming from the same branch on the fig tree.

HUGUETTE

2010-08-23T20:48:00.003+02:00

pen on paper 8X8in

H. is a charming Briton woman who has been living in Winnipeg for about 30 years;she owns a nice cottage high perched on a small rocky island, not far away from ours, on the lake.I have to say that for 20 years there was no cottage at all,(she slept in a tent) until the day she met a bear face to face, and decided to have a solid roof!

I took this picture when she came for dinner , and drew it by on a stormy day.
When it was our turn to go to hers, the lake was completely raging, I thought we were on the Titanic,maybe it was my last day, by miracle we could arrive and land, and by the way offer her the drawing, .

HANG UP

2010-08-05T23:16:00.004+02:00

5 X 7 in Oil on canvasboard

In my retreat, I don’t paint so much.We had’nt running water for 18 days, so many things had to be done inside in priority, our Internet connexion was low, but everything is getting better, now.I can watch your painters’ blogs, and sometimes it is hard to leave a comment, so don’t be offended, I don’t forget you!

CHERRIES

2010-07-19T16:46:00.004+02:00

Those Little cherries were painted yesterday, just after our arrival here, on the Lake;
I had to buy them , at Safeway, in town, our Internet connection was not activated, and I had not the reference picture;I painted them in the afternoon, and had trouble with the shadows, after a while, of course,they changed, because it was a very sunny day...at the beginning, the shadows were weaker than the cherries, but at the end, completely the opposite;it's a lesson, nextime I won't paint a still life outdoors.
I am not sure the photo is as good as usual, but I ‘d like to participe to the Rookie Painter challenge!