April 10
April 9
Up and around about 7:30 am….sat around , Robin had coffee water ready and dripped….talked, dressed, and wandered down to the studio for a time. Turned on the i-pod to tune out.
Continue to wonder if I came all the way to France to make collage paper. Oh well, “the process” meanders until it finds something to stop for and so far, there is nothing to stop and stay for on my canvas/paper.
I’m still on the look-out for any kind of light weight “stuff”…bits and pieces that could or not end up in a work on down the line.
Rummaged up a version of lunch….grilled cheese (Comte), Fuji apple, and leftover coffee made into iced coffee…..don’t know where everyone else is.
Down for more studio time……i-pod battery getting low so stopped and charged it, sat down to make the blog entry….maybe in a few days I can add/upload again.
NOTE: It will take a bit of treading carefully….some people awake early, some late, some UP late…all with differences in allotment of time, noise, foods, etc.
Happy that we are still able to use the ceramic studio downstairs here at the Maison de Patio since my left foot has been doing some strange aching….not the one I sprained.
We have all been invited to congregate for dinner at the other house this evening 7:30 ish….so better go soon. To finish ….wonderful dinner with soup provided by Karen…..and an assortment of other goodies appearing from all the others inn attendance….12 people at the round table. So much fun…
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April 8
Plans are to get up and over to Esperaza to do some internet communications that we can’t do through the I-MAC here at Cat’Art. Some of the group are going to attend the life drawing session Ellie goes to on Saturday mornings.
Pat and I took the long way around through Quillan of the steep and winding roads since somehow we missed the turn that was to be a short-cut through Rouvenac…next time we’ll be on the look out for D121.
All things happen for a reason and ours was the reward of being able to stop high about the town and see and photograph the spectacular view.
Also, we were fortunate today to get a parking spot right in front of the pastesserie (spelling is not to be held against a person who can’t speak French, much less write it) next door to Ellie’s home.We stopped for a bite first. I got some business stuff finished, then loaded blog entries and a few pictures, checked out a few other things and closed down to go to lunch. Have I mentioned how important two hour lunches are?…although this one wasn’t that long today.
I didn’t get to talk to my daughter on that nifty Yahoo messenger with voice….as I don’t think she would have wanted to talk at what was 2 am there at home….BUT, this program allows voice mail….so I left a message.
Suzanne….Pat and I thought of you painting Puivert last time as we went by the castle…..wish you were here.
Robin and Debbie just got back from Barcelona…………..so on to hearing all the traveler’s news.
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April 7
The forecast was correct….nice bright sunny day although cold this morning. Ellie and John come by for us to all get together for lunch so we all head into the village for another wonderful repast.
Before we leave Karen comes in looking for Annette because there is a message on their door that her daughter Susan called ……good news indeed, as the publisher DOES want to use her proposed outline for the new book after all….before we left it had gone to another writer.
Back to the studio for a time to continue making collage papers…what else can I do without a plan in my head/mind??? Stores should be opening back up around 4 pm to pick up the things on our list again before tonight and to get back out into the countryside.
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April 6
This is a picture of some of the trees in the parking lot in the village studio area.
Slow day today…….cloudy, colder (don’t know how cool)….but saw that the area is supposed to be 39–60 today…..so I’m waiting for the 60…..and the skies just brightened a tad.
Guess I should go over to the kitchen and find something to eat since we didn’t go out to lunch today. Annette went to Toulouse with Catherine and Christophe……glad she’s getting to do one of her planned explorations there at the cathedral, etc.
Today is just not a painting day to me…..took a nap and goofed off, then cooked some potatoes, etc.
My under-paintings are feeling a little more like they are drying flattened now…..so will start to work on them tomorrow.
Went online and found the forecast for Carcassonne is sunny and 64 tomorrow so it should be a good day.
Saturday morning and Sunday/Monday all have a forecast of rain and cooler again.
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April 5
This is one part of the view into the corn fields from out our basement studio under Maison de Patio (our house for the residency
Thought we were going to the Chalabre market this morning with Annette…however, they left early and Pat and I are going to the studio downstairs here at Maison du Patio instead.
Robin and Debbie got off about 9:30 am for the coast and Barcelona for a few days.
I washed a few things and hung them on the clothes line outside.
Checked on the two little pieces I worked on yesterday and they did flatten down some thank goodness..fairly curled edges yesterday.
I took out the other four quarter sheet pieces of Arches paper today and under-toned them with an arbitrary color from the palette….left under weights to dry since they were starting to curl. I hope something emerges tomorrow from shapes I’m picking up here and there as we roam around. So far not much studio time and more roaming around time getting acquainted with the area. We drove west today out of Ste. Colombe and stopped in Bastide sur ‘l Hers at a restaurant for lunch………..and it was very good. Seems long lunches and light on dinner time is working for us this week.
Not a lot of luck on the Mac with the French menus and Spanish keyboard at the office but better than nothing for email. I don’t think I want to use it to blog so this diary will have to do until I can have a longer time with a connection from my PC.
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April 4
Got up about 8 am….fumbled around slowly in a place where all your stuff is scattered about in unfamiliar spaces.
Looking out the window of Maison du Patio this morning, I see that the corn fields that were freshly plowed when we arrived are now starting to sprout little green sprouts in just these couple of days…..feels like spring is sprung around here.
Procrastination is the word of the morning….dreading hauling art supplies down stairs on multiple trips with the sprain….but gotta do it sooner or later.
Started two small paintings….usual fields landscape type…under-paintings in red violet on one and blue violet in the other with the thought in mind that the final paintings would have a yellow green dominance or at least some. Using lots of pale golds and grays… .I may have not used enough value change…..one of those things I need to sit back and think about later with fresh eyes.
Came back later after lunch and checking out the other studios, taking photos and decided the “magic genie” had not come into the studio to wave her magic wand over the paintings and make them into masterpieces……..they’ll do though.
Hummm….don’t know what happened to that photo…..it rotated and is going the wrong way. Pretend it can be rotated counter clockwise one click.
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April 4
Got up about 8 am….fumbled around slowly in a place where all your stuff is scattered about in unfamiliar spaces.
Looking out the window of Maison du Patio this morning, I see that the corn fields that were freshly plowed when we arrived are now starting to sprout little green sprouts in just these couple of days…..feels like spring is sprung around here.
Procrastination is the word of the morning….dreading hauling art supplies down stairs on multiple trips with the sprain….but gotta do it sooner or later.
Started two small paintings….usual fields landscape type…under-paintings in red violet on one and blue violet in the other with the thought in mind that the final paintings would have a yellow green dominance or at least some. Using lots of pale golds and grays… .I may have not used enough value change…..one of those things I need to sit back and think about later with fresh eyes.
Came back later after lunch and checking out the other studios, taking photos and decided the “magic genie” had not come into the studio to wave her magic wand over the paintings and make them into masterpieces……..they’ll do though.
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April 3
First chance I’ve had to post anything since coming to Cat’Art.
Right now I’ve got the mug of coffee, sitting here looking out at freshly tilled fields behind the house. We were told the whole place is surrounded by corn fields in the summer.
Trying to get over jet lag and the party last night. Looks like a glorious day ahead. Ellie and John are coming over in an hour to take us over to see their new house here in Sainte.Colombe and then we’re all going on over to the Sunday market in Esperaza, look around, and use the wireless connection at her house there.
.BTW…we got “fished” by Annette…she read up on the French customs for April Fools Day and stuck little Nemo stickers on everyone’s back or pant’s leg etc, while they weren’t looking.
We went to the 8 a Huit…..(we da wee)……..AGAIN…this time we found some cannelle…aka cinnamon. It will be nice in the cafe….
Finally got my computer going on the French internet through John’s help and was able to talk to Cyn through Yahoo messenger with voice…..Yaaay.
Came back to the house and cooked some zuchinni, shallots,garlic, and tomatoes for dinner…..and we’ll add a little baguette with olive oil on the side to go with it. Bon appetite………
Got some of my business stuff done on the internet and found another ATM so I’ll have enough to pay the art center for our house/studio fees.
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April 2
First chance I’ve had to post anything since coming to Cat’Art.
Right now I’ve got the mug of coffee, sitting here looking out at freshly tilled fields behind the house. We were told the whole place is surrounded by corn fields in the summer.
Trying to get over jet lag and the party last night. Looks like a glorious day ahead. Ellie and John are coming over in an hour to take us over to see their new house here in Sainte.Colombe and then we’re all going on over to the Sunday market in Esperaza, look around, and use the wireless connection at her house there.
.BTW…we got “fished” by Annette…she read up on the French customs for April Fools Day and stuck little Nemo stickers on everyone’s back or pant’s leg etc, while they weren’t looking.
We went to the 8 a Huit…..(we da wee)……..AGAIN…this time we found some cannelle…aka cinnamon. It will be nice in the cafe….
Finally got my computer going on the French internet through John’s help and was able to talk to Cyn through Yahoo messenger with voice…..Yaaay.
Came back to the house and cooked some zuchinni, shallots,garlic, and tomatoes for dinner…..and we’ll add a little baguette with olive oil on the side to go with it. Bon appetite………
Got some of my business stuff done on the internet and found another ATM so I’ll have enough to pay the art center for our house/studio fees.
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Baggies and Ziplocs
Baggies and Ziplocs………..my whole world for the next month is compartmentalized into baggies and Ziplocs…. at least to get there and to get home.
When I pack stuff for the trip to France, I need to make sure that all is separated in case some artist paints or facial cleanser or all that other stuff leaks out into the suitcase……….Even in my purse, I happened to think that all those little cables for the i-pod earphones and stuff would get tangled up unless they’re in a bag. Maybe if airport security has to inspect stuff they can re-arrange it better in bags…oh well, it’s a thought anyway.
Right now, I’m slowly finalizing the last stuff to pack in the bags. When Pat gets here with her digital scale so I can make sure I’m not over pounds in the art supply bag, I can finish up arranging some of it. Decide if a few things can go in the other checked bag.
So, as usual, it is hurry up and do stuff so you can then sit and twiddle thumbs with time left over.
By going to Dallas today, we can try to relax, have a nice dinner and take our time with getting to the flight tomorrow.
Gotta put some pj’s in another bag to leave at Cyn’s condo or I’ll have nothing to sleep in since everything is packed :>/…..one more bag.
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Why Do I Create?
I was going through a lot of old email this morning and saw something I wrote not too long ago……….it feels so strange sometime to read later what you write, almost like reading something from another person.
On “why do I create”…………….
Hum………….why do I create? I don’t know, it’s just in-built into my self. If I didn’t paint, I would do something else creative. I do know that I can’t really spread the creativity around too much or I become scattered and don’t have any focus. Still, I consciously, for the most part try to keep an open mind when I’m doing whatever I’m doing. I’m always looking for a better or more interesting way to go about whatever. I’d say that it starts out doing it for yourself………for some people it may stay that way. Now, however, I also like to have feedback from others who know this creative urge…and of course, I like the money that comes when people actually pay money for what I make. It’s a tightrope you walk when you start to make something others are inclined to buy………keeping on doing what you want to do and trying not to think of whether or not someone else will like it. I’m inclined to think that I gravitated to abstract work in the beginning because I felt I could do what I wanted without as much judgment from others about what they thought I was saying. Now I know that it doesn’t really matter if it’s abstract or representational…….people just have gut feelings about what you are saying………even though sometimes it’s their own voice they are hearing. Someone asked about how you feel showing your work……………I don’t know if I feel like you HAVE to feel totally unnerved by showing your work at a show to be an artist as someone suggested. I am always feeling the butterflies until I get to talking to like minded people and relax a little. Sometimes that happens and sometimes you feel uncomfortable the whole evening. I definitely feel uncomfortable talking about my work in a formal manner………..conversations one on one are fun and even invigorating in the right circumstances.
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