FRANCE IN COLORFUL BLOOM

FRANCE IN COLORFUL BLOOM

FRANCE IN COLORFUL BLOOM
12x12 unframed oil on gessobord
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For ten colorful painting days I stayed in this magical place.
In this courtyard alone at
Le Vieux Couvent in the Lot Region of France

there were painting opportunities to last for weeks.

I love the color of the flowers, medieval stone building, and the shade umbrella.

PATCHWORK FIELDS IN FRANCE

PATCHWORK FIELDS IN FRANCE

Patchwork Fields in France
9x12 oil on gessobord
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France is a gorgeous country.
The Lot Region is a farming area with many small quaint towns, rolling hills and patchwork fields.
I painted in the hot sun, 
getting a well earned farmer-tan,
 looking out across fields and valleys. 
Sheep came up to the fence three times to visit me
 and eat while one sheep piled next to the other. 

 "Give each other room", I called.

Silence

 Oh

 I'm in France  Wrong language

Then the "sheep head" bleated and off they ambled for 
greener pastures

still stuck to one another

RIPENING LAVENDER, LHERM, FRANCE

RIPENING LAVENDER, LHERM, FRANCE

Ripening Lavender, Lherm, France
9x12, unframed oil on gessobord
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The lavender fields in the Lot Region of France are small but exquisite.  The owners are expats and started these fields after visiting similar fields in New Zealand.  Their story and website is interesting.  DreamaTollePerry took her "June Painting France" participants to visit these fields.  Though there wasn't time enough for me to paint oil en plein air, I painted a watercolor postcard while there.  Since I am not a watercolorist, I am not showing my attempt.  No, honest, you don't want to see it.

VILLAGE CHARM

VILLAGE  CHARM

"Village Charm"
12x12 oil on gessobord
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Frayssinet is such a charming village
 I thought I would tell you just a bit more about this little town in which I stayed for ten days.

Just across the street plus a bit is the old medieval catholic church, which you can see it center in the photo just below and the last photo as well.
Church bells ring every hour and half hour 24/7.
It is a delightful sound, something one quickly comes to love.

The foreground of the photo below is the artists lodging, Le Vieux convent, a 17th century convent.
(Le Vieux means old)   See third photo as well.

The town is situated on a hill with the lower part of the village being the town center.
The hike to the top is strenuous but every step is scenic.

One stone building is adjacent to the next.
 Around the edges of the tiny community is farming, with fields in colorful patchwork.

RURAL LIFE IN FRANCE

RURAL LIFE IN FRANCE

France is an amazing country, romantic and beautiful.  

In the Lot Region, the hills roll and twist as they follow river valleys. 

 Honestly, everywhere you look, is a scene worthy of painting.  

During our artists' 10 day retreat with DreamaTollePerry (not a workshop), 

we took in as much as we possibly could.  

Except for two days, we visited quaint villages near our home 

base in tiny Frayssinet, 

a village of fewer than 300 souls. 

I painted everyday, either watercolor postcards or in my watercolor journal

 or a larger oil painting. 

"Rural Life in France" was a hike of about 1/2 mile from the artist compound.  My load was heavy, carrying paints, easel, and all other necessary equipment.  I didn't tire; the anticipation was great. 

 I have so much more to share!

Rural Life in France
12 x 12 unframed oil on gessobord
Click here to purchase

FRAYSSINET, FRANCE VILLAGE SCENE

Frayssinet, France Village Scene

Ten days painting in France has been a dream come true...a long-time desire I may be able to cross off my bucket list.  Every oil painting completed in France was done in plein air (fresh air).  Without my easel umbrella (which I sorely missed) I got a lovely tan.  Additionally many people stopped along the roads where I painted to tell me how beautiful my paintings were.  I felt so encouraged as most of you know I am a creature of comfort and love being near a refrigerator, computer, and away from the constantly moving sun.  I gave myself two hours to complete a painting....didn't always work, so by the time three hours passed, I had a different light.  Fortunately I knew early on to establish my light and shade so usually I was fine.  

DreamaTollePerry and her husband Ron set up this "Paint France with Dreama" event, not a workshop, but still held many opportunities to learn.  We visited many quaint towns and I have hundreds of awesome photographs, enough to last me quite a while.

Plein Air Painting
8x8 oil on gessobord
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NO POSTS FROM FRANCE.....oh dear

LOVED THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE

so why no promised posts on my blog?

For the most part my Internet connection was very sporadic and attempts to post blogs failed mid-stream.  Additionally I was immersed totally in the area, the activities, and painting. I will share much more once I am no longer jet lagged and blogging now in the middle of the night.

TRAVEL NIGHTMARE

so stressful I arrived a wreck with no luggage and a full day late due to missing my international flight.  The upper midwest had thunderstorms and hail so no flights were coming in or going out of the Chicago Airport after I arrived there for my first plane change.  Seven hours of sitting in that airport gave me more than adequate time for my online travel agency to cancel completely my flights and rebook them.  (Thank goodness for travel insurance!)  Once I arrived in Toulouse it took four days for my suitcase with painting supplies to arrive and five days for the suitcase with clothes to make it.

FINDING JOY ANYWAY

DreamaTollePerry and her husband are wonderfully positive people and immediately the group began to see the French countryside and I began to do a bit of watercolor journaling. This I could do since those supplies were provided for workshop participants. I found watercolor journaling to be fun and light hearted.  

MUCH MORE SHARING AND BLOGGING TO COME

CHRISTMAS 2013

First Step in Decorating

My grandson Eli and I
are going on the
ADVENTURE
of our lifetimes.

Going, doing, eating, experiencing
CHRISTMAS
as we have never before experienced it.


NORWAY


So
I planned no decorating at home
until
I just had to
even though I won't even be here

Here are my first steps
Need more red and
tons of fresh greenery



Below is a link to the most uplifting
beautiful
videos I have seen.

Enjoy

http://www.wimp.com/upliftingaffirmations/

Flam Valley, Norway II

Flam Valley, Norway II
Little Gem
oil on canvas mounted on board

FLAM VALLEY, NORWAY II"


Landscapes are my favorite genre.  Norway is my favorite European country.  If you haven't been there, you surely must go.  The walls of the fjords are very steep and beautiful.  Water flows from melting snow creating thundering powerful falls.  The smart Norwegians channel the falls into huge tubes which are part of their power plants (hidden in the mountains) used to generate electricity.

Peace is the essence of this painting.  Peace and beauty.

Click here to purchase on dailypaintworks.com.

AND THE WINNER IS....

SHARON BLOOM....you are the winner!  Congratulations!  Choose a Little Gem from dailypaintworks.com. 

French Country House
Click here to buy

I have several Little Gems and Larger paintings available through the New Mexico Cancer Center .  The Cancer Center takes a percentage of the artist's sales to assist cancer patients.  "French Country House" is just one of ten paintings I currently have available there.