Yak Bell

Not very French this painting, but I love the bell, I have two, I brought them back from Nepal after trecking to the base camp of Annapurna in the Himalayas several years ago, I loved the country but more so the people who were so welcoming and friendly. The bell is a metaphore for a hard unforgiving landscape yet looks beautiful and produces a warm melodious sound.

Yak Bell, Oil, £99. Purchase details: click here

Tools of the Trade

Tools of the Trade, Oil, £99. Purchase details click here

Little Nest

While I was gardening the other day I discovered this beautiful little nest, not sure if it's a Wren's or not, there was some evidence of broken nut shells in it, perhaps a Blue Tit?  It seems a shame that it should go unnoticed, a little bird spent a long time building it. Wrapped around it was a small amount of blue nylon twine, which is the bale string of choice around here whereas in England little nests may have small bits of orange twine in them.

Little Nest, Oil, £99. SOLD, for website: click here

Daffs

A dull day today here in the Limousin, but I've been out in the garden recently trimming 

back the hedges and removing part of an overgrown laurel shrub, so now I have an extra 8 sq meters of garden to tend! Also digging the veg plot, a bit late I know, but planted some Brocolli, cabbage and Strawberry plants I'd bought off the local market, the locals tell me it's too early to plant beans etc yet, at least thats what I think they said...I had thought of building some kind of swimming pool, not for me for Jemima as she really enjoys a dip and splash whenever we're near any water, so maybe after the veg plot is finished, all this and I have paintings to do, an exhibition to work towards so I'd better get back to work, hang on though, coffee's just ready.

Daffs, Oil, £99. SOLD click here to visit website

Cabanon and Spring Flowers

Cabanon and Spring Flowers, £99. Oil. Purchase details click here

Barn Door and Vine

Not quite a seasonal painting today, but not far off, the shrubs are beginning to bud so Spring can't be far away...can it?  I'll be in the garden later digging some more of the veg plot and preparing the ground for seed, hope the good weather continues.

Barn Door and Vine, £99. Oil. Purchase details click here

The Old Well

On the other side of my local town Rochechouart, lies this lovely old rambling house, not sure if its lived in or not, I go past fairly often on my way to St Junien and the bigger shops and sometimes there is a shutter open on the middle floor and the floor above but never on the ground floor. The garden is unkempt and overgrown, perhaps someone does live there but only in one or two rooms, The well will have been in daily use and the garden cultivated, I want to go inside and peer out of the windows like so many have before. Today the shutters were open on the ground floor! I love the mystery of it...

The Old Well, £99. Oil. Purchase details click here

Seeing off the Buzzard

During a walk along the banks of the lakes at Viedex with the dog the other day there was this aerial spectacle taking place, so I painted from memory when I got back home. It's back to using oil paint after a few meanderings with the watercolours. I'd missed using the oil paint and really enjoyed the buttery texture and feel of it.

Seeing off the Buzzard, Oil, £99. Purchase details; click here

A Walk through the Village

Todays painting is a familiar view Jemima and I see most days, a small lane wanders through Verinas which is more or less a collection of old barns with a few more modern houses on the outside of the village, when you wander through it's not hard to imagine life as it must have been over a hundred years ago.

A Walk through the Village, £99 Watercolour. SOLD

Jemima had a lovely walk with some new friends this evening around the lake at Rochechouart, my nearby town, it's great to see how dogs interact with each other; one a bit grumpy so she stears clear for a while and takes her time before getting too close, one a typical friendly playful Labrador and one (the breed I cant remember apparently used to herd cattle in France) which had a problem with its legs, but was so happy and friendly she didnt seem bothered by it.

BIG NEWS - I've told Jemima Coco's in town, well she's in Nice actually. A friend from Washington is working there for a while and has brought her dog Coco with her, so there seems to me there is a good excuse for her to visit the South of France! Mary is writing a blog about her experiences in and around Nice called 'Mary & Coco in Nice'  it's worth a look!

La Charrette Bleue

Just around the corner in the old village of Grand Meynieux there sits in hidden corners the memories of a farming life apparently long gone. And I cant wait until I can get out once it gets a little dryer and warmer with my sketchbook and really search out these places.

La Charrette Bleue, £99 Oil. Purchase details: click here

Beside the Hedgerow

Beside the Hedgerow, £99 Purchase details click here

Couldn't resist another Summer painting as it's gray and wet here again today, and although it is there's no reason why the moody and limited colour images can't be studied, so watch this space...

Walks with Jemima have been a little shorter this weekend but I took her to the local lakes this afternoon when the clouds lifted, she's hopeless about travelling in the car and I almost had to lift her in, she hasn't figured out that each time she is taken in the car it's because at the end of the journey something good happens for her (well most of the time) And so it was; she leapt out and ran straight for the water, skidding to a halt at the last moment 'this might be too deep for me'.  She couldn't help herself though and once she found a place where she wouldnt be out of her depth she was in! great entertainment too, it allowed me to enjoy the stillness of the lake and the late afternoon light.  When I'd had enough, she did her best to dry herself in the dried grass....but this time I did have to lift her into the car, this place is clearly too good to leave after just one hour!

Poppy Lane

Poppy Lane. SOLD

Todays painting is yet another from last Summer, and a slight Monet influence again. I'm going to do more and larger for the forthcoming exhibition back home in Sibford, more details will be posted here at a later date.  

Last week was sunny almost every day, couldn't believe it, really gorgeous, and warm! (sorry) Jemima was treated to extra long and frequent walks, I notice now that she watches the weather forcasts with eager anticipation! On one particular walk we sometimes come across a lone horse, a friendly and pretty young lady who just wants to play, however Jemima can't quite get it, she's bigger and that must mean dangerous, I can understand her in a way, the other day she was brave enough to go under the fence into the field, the young 'pretty' horse was between her and the barbed wire fence! I thought she hadn't thought that through very well. Young 'pretty' horse thought funtime! and chased her around the field, Jemima was terrified and legged it under the horse and through the fence leaving a large chunk of golden fur behind on the wire! It'll take a while before the pretty young horse has this playmate in her field anytime soon...

Jemima and "Pretty ' young horse