Do you journal?

Many of us write when we travel. I do, sometimes. It is a great way to record, not only the events, but also my feelings as I experience new people, new land and new cultures from New York to Nepal. As an artist, I also record expressions in drawings and paint. I love to chronicle those unspoken pings, pokes and thrills from my heart. My senses come alive when I visit a new environment and I interpret that into the way that I paint.

Coming home from France last Saturday, I brought not only memories, but a few treasures. I also locked into my consciousness a deeper sensitivity to life. It happens every day to all of us, but when I travel, the awareness is so much stronger and deeper. Once I am home, I paint and allow those fresh feelings of travel translate into a work of art.

On Sunday (with my luggage still missing and our friend Dorothy bringing us flowers from her garden) the mood was set for swinging my brushes on home turf!

This is the result, full of feelings and joy.

on the street in France

Painting on the streets and vineyards anytime, daytime or nighttime, is always a challenge, no matter where you are in the world. It always helps to have an admirer or two or four to cheer you on.

Here I am in France with some darling young eager artists watching me! It turns out that their father is a chef for the Prince of Monaco and cooked for his wedding! When I travel , I always meet the most wonderful people in all sizes.

Bon Jour!

flowers in Vence

Here I am in Vence! France is ablaze with flowers. Summer is alive and well here in Southern France. Everywhere that I turn, there are paintings waiting to be put on canvas.
No wonder the impressionists were so in love with the light and subject matter here. Even though I have traveled to France more than 14 times, this country still has the ability to take my breath away. It is more than the light and the flowers, it is the gentle joy that history has laced through every village.

On my first painting day, a lovely couple from the Lake District in England fell in love with the painting that I was doing in St. Paul de Vence..... and bought it! Now that is a nice way to start the trip!

Today we were in Villefranche, a charming little port, full of boats and lively colored buildings. Visiting the nearby Rothchild Massion, put "the icing on the cake" to a spectacular day!

The sun has been following us around, but tomorrow it may rain. That will make for a perfect day to stay inside and touch up our paintings. Several of us have been creating nocturnal paintings under the moonlit skies. It has been a challenge to start as the sky is still light, guessing and anticipating what our subject will look like as the night turns quickly to dark. Then adjusting as we finish our paintings. Great fun! My eager students are painting flowers and cities by day and the villages with stars and moon at night. Wonderful!!

Fountain in Vence at night