Another day, another landscape

Thursday, August 16th

I went up on another hill this morning, the tall hill guarded by the white horses. It was so hot when I got to the base I plopped right down and did a quick study of a farm well surrounded by unmown grass. After I walked up with my bike, because it was too steep, I looked below at the town rooftops and acid green hills.  The trees were dark and warm in their shadows and the distant harvested farms were dusty orange.  I had breakfast under the trees and peered down at what I was going to paint next, I was content.

Then I road my bike around the flat trail that went around the top of the hill and down onto the bike path all the way to Vernon. Where I locked it and wandered; looking at the collection of art at the Musée de Vernon and then at the Collegiate Church of Our Lady (which was bombarded through the ages by wars from the Revolution to World War II, and as a result, has striking modern stained glass windows). 

(section of) The Cabbage, Blanche Hoschedé Monet, Museé de Vernon

Baudy's

Wednesday, August 15th

I returned to "Hotel Baudy's" tonight, early evening, and sat in the fading sun and drank a glass of wine while I watched the people and petted the owner's dog, who was at my feet.  I had been here years ago.
When I got off the train from Paris the line was too long for Monet's garden and I had no idea where I was so I walked down the road and an old, stylish man had beckoned me into what looked like a tavern.  He told me to go see the garden through the back door.

Baudy's is no longer a hotel, but has the memories of one.  It was the residence that the American artists claimed when they came into town.  The Baudy's provided a place with room and board, garden and studio; a place so welcoming that they never wanted to leave.  So they stayed and did their work and Giverny became an artist colony.

 Little Dog, Cafe, Ivy Hickam, ballpoint

I said goodbye to the little dog and walked down the street.  Watching the light fade on the buildings, I too never wanted to leave.

The Hamlet

After first week's crit, leaving Le Hameau

The studio area the Terra Foundation gave us for the two weeks is called "Le Hameau." The studios are said to have a lot of soul.  They are rich in history; Lilla Cabot Perry, Frederick Carl Frieseke, Mary Wheeler, and Richard Miller all painted here.

"Lady in a garden," Frederick Carl Frieseke

The interior of my studio is always cool inside because of its thick walls.  It has an old fireplace and touches of paint from previous residents. I've contributed gesso marks to the floor and a large branch from a berry bush cut and left by the gardener.  The gardens hiding to the right of the building are a little wild; not too perfectly kept and lovingly overgrown. 

Giverny

Tuesday, August 14

Today I rode up a hill with a borrowed mountain bike to the edge of a farm field.  I could see little houses and valleys below.  On my way I met two horses, one black, one white. Irritated by flies in their eyes they kept nodding their heads at me.  I patted their warm brows.  A young French girl, who must have stepped out of a painting, walked over to me calling out the horses' names.  She was rosy cheeked and wore a dress the color of the sky.  I spoke to her in my broken French and she patiently waited to understand.  When I said "Je suis Américain," she smiled.  She lives in a house down the way.  I wished I could paint her.  I said "À tout à l'heure" and hopped back on my bike.

An attempt at a landscape was made farther on up the hill.  A sweaty brow and spilt water decided when it was done. I had fussed with it too much and the lights were muddied.  But with renewed excitement for watercolor and landscape, I decided I would try again the next day for I'm out of practice in plein air and I knew that's how the day's painting would go.

Recent Works

The Writer, 2012, 51x54, oil on canvas

Self-Portrait (In Grass), 2012, 64x76, oil on canvas

Self-Portrait (Warm, Cool), 2011, 28x22, oil on canvas

Self-Portrait (In Black and White), 2011, 30x24 ,oil on canvas

Self-Portrait (In Green and Red), 2011, 40x 30, oil on canvas

Carrots on Windowsill, 2011, 9x11.5, oil on canvas

Citrus and Blue Bowl, 2011, 10x10, oil on canvas

Purple Onions, 2011, 11x14, oil on canvas

Man with his Shadow, 2012, 42x43, charcoal on paper

Study in Red, 2011, 20.5x 16.5. red chalk on paper

Self-Portrait (Late Night), 2012, 16.5x 12, charcoal on paper

Self Portraits

One of the hardest and strangest things to do is a self portrait. You learn a lot about yourself as an artist, but also as a person. When you stare at yourself for a few hours you ask yourself why am I doing this? But you can't really stop until it's figured out.

self portrait (work in progress), 2010, 20x16, oil on canvas

Self Portrait (listening to Mahler), 2009, 24x18, oil on canvas

Self Portrait, 2008, charcoal on paper

What I've been up to lately

I need a place to share my recent work and the site I use for my painting portfolio is down so below I give you some of the figures I have painted recently:

Emma, 2010, 48x36, oil on canvas

Althea, 2010, 60x48,oil on canvas

Dan, 2010, 48x36, oil on canvas

Edward, 2010, 24x18, oil on canvas

Betty's Daughter, 2010, 24x18, oil on canvas

Demetri, 2009, 23x20, oil on canvas

Julie, 2010, oil on canvas

Nina in Scarf, 2010, 24x18, oil on canvas paper

Tom, 2010, 24x18, oil on canvas

Tom (profile), 2010, 24x18, oil on canvas paper

Tanya, 2010, 48x36, oil on canvas