Dog days of summer

It has been hot, grey and drippy in South West Florida.

Day after day of it.

So I pulled out my paint and my yupo and made a colorful statement.

Yet another background.  I had to come up with a plan rather than adding it to my growing

collection of backgrounds.

I am not done yet.  I think I will stamp a few solid white letters around.

So that was one day.

The next day I took on an old background  (from the "collection")

I spent hours cutting out my stencils
But I got a nice a flower arrangement for my efforts.

In the midst of the grey drippy weather, two of my orchids are blooming

I wish you could smell them.  They have the lightest, most delicate scent, each one different from the next.

Wishing you a Happy Paint Party Friday!

Vacation sketches

I always have the best intentions when I am traveling.

I have my Peerless Water Colors, my water brush and my microns.

The problem is that we get so involved in going and doing that nothing gets drawn.

However, sometimes when I return, if I have the time, the memories are vivid

and I can sketch out impressions.

So that is what I am sharing today...impressions of our vacation in Ornans, France.

(See previous post for photos)

Flying into Geneva, we flew over Lake Geneva and I was impressed with the 

plots of sunflowers, corn and hay.  

Walking around Ornans, next to the Loue River, I loved the many gardens tucked next to old

stone walls that may have been there since 1300. There were old  "sheds" of stone and stucco in many of the yards.

You can see, I have no idea of perspective but I do enjoy random sketches.
Happy PPF

A visit to Ornans, France

We have just returned from an amazing trip to Ornans, France.

We visited friends who have a summer home there.

I don't know what I was expecting but this was a spectacular town built along the Loue River.

Some of the homes, including the one we visited, are 400-500 years old.  They must maintain the original exteriors but the interiors are all updated beautifully.

Spectacular rocky cliffs and castles overlook the town.

(This is a view from our third floor bedroom window)

The surrounding countryside is a painter's dream

Petunias everywhere

Gorgeous woods nearby

Beautiful old churches topped with the typical rooster

And of course, amazing food!

We were also fortunate to visit the Gustave Courbet Art Museum.  Not only was his collection amazing but the building housing the collection was as unique as any I have seen.

They built around his original home with a very contemporary style complimenting the old walls of his home.  Portions of the building have a glass floor looking down on the Loue River.

This was an awesome trip for us.  It will be hard to top.

It pays to play

More of the same, but it is always different!

This is acrylic paint on yupo.  I let it sit a bit and then dragged a comb through it

Yet another background

We have a beautiful passion vine that covers an arbor.

Each year it is chewed to pieces by the caterpillars of the fritillary butterfly.

But then they "transform" and my side yard is filled with these little beauties.

Wishing you all a Happy PPF!