It’s a long day at the art fair. I usually draw my neighbors acress the way.
Once a year the Art’goat Association Artistique has an art fair in the town of Chateau Neuf de Faou. Perched on a hilltop, Chateau Neuf has a dramatic setting that swoops down into a forested river valley. There are campgrounds along the river and our art fair took place in a big (mercifully heated!) public building on the bank of the river. This year I made a decent breakthrough connecting with some of the french visitors.
We went to the Louvre of course. The routists are back now and every other voice I heard was American.Watercolor.
It was a bit of a scramble. I had to rush back from Paris where I had met up with some American art pals who were in town for a visit. These days Paris is a place I can visit easily and can easily take for granted. My American friends, however, had not visited for years. For them this was a monumental visit, a grand adventure to be savored and celebrated.
I think I’m getting a little blasé about Paris, even though I do a lot of watercolors of the place.
A glorious sunny day at Huelgoat. Oils.
It was fun to see the city through their starry eyes. We did touristy things, museums, a boat ride and strolling through cool neighborhoods.
We even went to “the best chicken restaurant in Paris” the “Coq & Fils” where we met up with some of Leslie’s Paris crew. It was a glamorous, cosmopolitan night in Montmartre with friendly, knowledgable waiters and delicious food. I can dine out on that night for a while, if you know what I mean.
I appreciated Paris all over again.
Acress Anna Karina in a movie still. Egg tempera.
As a slightly schizophrenic artist, I have three channels of artistic direction. There are the watercolors of European cities and landscapes – mostly Paris but other sites as well. There are larger oil paintings along a similar thematic vein. And then there are my recent series of egg tempera paintings exploring beauty and nature and big attitude.
My impromptu Paris visit has given me a beneficial kick in the behind. There are several summer exhibitions to prepare for, and I am working myself into a painting frenzy to get ready. Good times!
The days are longer and the sun is finally making an appearance. This is the nicest season to be in this part of the world.
Happy spring everyone!