VILLAGE CHARM

VILLAGE  CHARM

"Village Charm"
12x12 oil on gessobord
Click here to purchase

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.

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
Click here to purchase

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