Grow Paint Cook

I have moved

2011-09-26T18:57:00.000+02:00

I have moved. This is my new address:

www.growpaintcook.com

The content of this blog has been integrated into it, and all new posts will only appear on the new one.

Please come on over and have a look around. I'm still unpacking and arranging the furniture so it's not perfect yet.

If you are a subscriber, I'd love it if you re-subscribed over there.

See ya!

Music that speaks to the soul

2011-09-21T20:45:00.000+02:00

Ah, the power of music to cross boundaries, bypass the intellect and ego, and appeal directly to the soul!

If there's one thing I identify with, it's humanity and it's capacity to create beauty.

Close your eyes and listen.

Living with a Zen Master

2011-09-10T20:53:00.000+02:00

I'm learning so much from living with this little cat called Pepper.

Simple living at its best.

Home-grown Salsa Verde

2011-08-13T10:00:00.001+02:00

August greenness from my garden:

lots of wild rocket
borage leaves
basil
coriander
chives
red orach

Chop everything up finely, along with some chopped capers and anchovies.

Add a splash of balsamic vinegar and a good slug of olive oil.

Ooh, and some chopped red chillies for a bit of complementary colour and bite. (you could use tomatoes for less bite).

Makes this:

A glistening, colourful side salad to accompany anything really. Roast beef, mackerel fillets, charcuterie, omelette....

Not to mention the vitamins, and the pleasure to be had in gathering leaves from the garden and turning them into something delicious.

How I know that I will always be alright

2011-08-11T17:11:00.000+02:00

I happen to be at a time in my life that we call crossroads, or going through a transition. I have made some major decisions that were very difficult to do, and that are leading to big changes.

As always in these transitional moments in life, when we decide on the big things – whether it be change jobs, move house, get married, divorce, have a baby - there is always that in-between stage where you have made the decision to let go of a big thing, but you don’t really know what will take its place. You can only imagine.

Our emotions about the future are fuelled by what we imagine. It is very easy to slip into fear, worrying or panicking about what we think we are losing, what if it’s not what I want after all? What if I’ve made a dreadful mistake? What if this happens? What if that happens? But that leads straight to a mindset of fear.

So if I find myself slipping down that road of negative “what ifs”, I’ve found that the best thing for me is to stop what I’m doing, breathe and concentrate on being in the present. To sit with the emptiness.

So, yesterday, attempting to be calm and in the present, there I was sitting in my hammock under the catalpa tree, swinging gently in the dappled shade with my book*, watching birds visit the branches, the odd bee buzzing around - how did that earwig get into my hammock? - the smell of ripening blackberries, alternating between reading, musing and dozing.

Then it hit me. Well, it came into my mind very clearly anyway, and woke me up.

I know deep down that however low I am, whenever I hit rock bottom, even if it feels like the end of the world, I will always be alright.

How do I know?

Because I will ALWAYS find beauty around me.

Of this I am sure.

As I was writing this today I remembered being soothed by an email from a friend recently, after he had heard my fear in my voice. When I went back and reread it, I found he had written this:

Put fresh flowers on the table. Laugh with your girls. Talk to the animals. Seek beauty.

Yes.

*Beauty, by John O'Donohue

Taking a break to fill my well

2011-07-07T20:04:00.000+02:00

I'm taking a little break.

Off for a week in the sun.

Sorting out some big changes in my life.

Looking after myself, filling my well.

I may do some sporadic painting and blogging over the summer, but it will come after looking after myself and my girls.

In the meantime, here's something I recommend reading. It came in my inbox just today, and I think it's absolutely lovely. It's a free e-book called Of This Earth, by Bill Gerlach of The New Pursuit. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

This is the kind of thing I'll be focusing on this summer.

I'll be back, stronger and wiser.

Enjoy your summer. Make the most of it.

I've given you something to read, now listen to this:

Life. Golden. Yay!

And what a beautiful face!

Artichoke

2011-06-12T17:18:00.000+02:00

40 x 40 cm oil on canvas

I did this one on a bigger canvas this time, and I'm very happy with the result. It worked well with a subject that needs more detail.

I like artichokes, particularly artichoke hearts, but not many people take the trouble to cook them from scratch. Here in France, we boil the whole artichoke head for about half an hour, or until the leaves peel off easily. Drain it, leave it to cool, and then eat by peeling off each leaf, dipping it in mustard vinaigrette, and then sucking off the soft bit. Mmm. A bit time consuming, and not a lot is edible compared to the size of the thing, but it's good fun.

I found great instructions here on how to cook and eat an artichoke, complete with photos. If you haven't ever cooked them this way, try it.

When you're squeezed, what's inside comes out

2011-06-06T11:58:00.000+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas

I subscribe to a blog called lifebyme. I get daily emails of stories from a huge variety of people who share their meaning of life. I was struck recently by a paragraph in a story by martial arts teacher, Tristan Truscott. He said:

"When you squeeze an orange, what comes out? Orange juice. When we’re under pressure, what comes out is what’s inside. If what comes out under pressure is anger or fear, it’s because that’s what’s inside. It’s a big wake-up call. You can point your finger and say, “You made me feel this way!” but all they did is put the pressure on."

What about you? Have you been squeezed recently? Did what come out surprise, frighten, or reassure you?

My Mother's Day

2011-05-30T10:13:00.000+02:00

It was Mother's Day yesterday here in France, and my two girls (10 and 12) gave me a lovely day.

It began with with bacon and eggs on this pretty table for me. See the rose petals around my plate?

A delicious lunch with my friend and her two girls at an open-air restaurant by a lake.

A leisurely stroll around the sparkling lake in dapplied sunshine, spying on mother coot, watching the fishermen, the girls running in and out of the woods.

Back home for a cup of tea on the deck with a good book, dozing in the sunshine to birdsong and the smell of lime blossom.

And my presents!

A beautiful heart pendant made of woven crystals from my 10-year-old:

and a fabulous pastel drawing from my mad-about-animals 12-year-old:

= Happy Mummy.

Going Bananas

2011-05-25T16:10:00.002+02:00

oil on canvas 30 x 30 cm
What can I say? Some days lately I feel like I'm going bananas.

My life is turning upside-down. Things are not what they seemed, not what I believed.

And then I garden, paint or cook, and I remember who I am and where I'm going, if not precisely, then in the general direction.

“….power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.”

Martin Luther King

A swarm of bees for my blog's first birthday

2011-05-17T16:54:00.000+02:00

It’s the first anniversary of my blog today!

One whole year already. I thought I’d post a painting – maybe an exceptional one - but I’ve been unable to paint. Or rather I did a couple, but they were both awful. That’s the first time that’s happened to me.

I'd given up on doing something special for the blog today, when this happened: a friend came to see me for lunch and we were having coffee in the garden when a swarm of bees started assembling right in front of us. Now, as you know I do have a beehive in the garden, but I don’t know whether this particular swarm came from my hive, or somewhere else. Maybe they were checking out the empty hive – perhaps it smelt too bird-like for their tastes since the blue-tit started making a nest in it.

This is the second swarm this week. We had one on Saturday which assembled at the base of a conifer tree. you'll need to look carefully to see the bees, and the shadow at the base where they are clustering.

Today's swarm very kindly clustered together at the base of a hazelnut tree – nice and convenient for the beekeeper to collect them, and a much prettier photograph for me, with a little help from the anchusas.

Sunday’s swarm had already gone off again by the time the beekeper came, but he arrived in time this for this lot and was able to put them into a hive. He simply chopped off the branch they were attached to, popped it into the hive and gave it a little shake.

For a moment there, we thought we'd lost them because as he was putting back the frames, most of them flew back out of the hive, buzzing around. We stood there in the midst of the swarm. Really special, and what a sound! But the queen accepted it, and he showed us how the worker bees hover in front of the hive with their bums in the air, fanning out the smell of the queen bee to tell all the others to join them. Leaning over the hive I could smell the scent - it's a sort of lemony-honey smell. (I'm sure there are proper technical names for all these things...). They eventually all went into the hive, so we'll leave them to settle down for a couple of days before he comes back to collect the hive.

Felt like a treat to me. An extra-ordinary event. Celebratory. There’s something about bees that makes me feel immensely privileged to see them at work and to host them in my garden.

Other than that, the first of the cherries are ripening. We have a very old tree that produces less sweet yellow ones that are perfect for making jam. Although this year, they seem pinker than usual and the birds don't seem to have noticed them yet.

As in life, things don't always turn out how we think we want them too, but sometimes even better things happen instead. I can paint any day, but it's not every day I get to stand in the middle of a swarm of bees in my garden is it?

Avocados and memories of simple living in Hawaii

2011-05-06T11:56:00.000+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on board

When I was in my early twenties, I sold my flat, gave up my job, bought a round-the-world ticket and set off with my backpack and my thumb. The last place I got to nearly two years later was Hawaii, the Big Island.

I was working on a building site, preparing new-build houses for the painting crew - filling holes and joins, sanding, prepping. It was a great job. We started very early before it got too hot, and finished about 3pm. It was a manual job that left me free to go off in my thoughts, or listen to music, or talk to my colleagues while we worked. A nice feeling too, to contribute in my own little way to a structure that would become a home for someone.

I rented a room in a house up in the hills on the west side of the island with a view over the coast and the most beautiful sunsets.

I had the use of a little moped to get me around and to and from work. On my route were many avocado trees, so I would regularly stop and pick up a couple of windfalls for my dinner. I would cut them open, take out the slippery stone, and fill the hole with fresh and spicy tomato salsa. Healthy, fresh, easy, local, that's what I call simple living.

Get's me thinking about how we spend so much effort, money and time in our lives accumulating stuff that we think we need, and then we become trapped by the fear of losing what we have. Minimalism, simple living, having less means more freedom.

Here's an interesting post I read yesterday about how to cook yummy food without a fridge by Rowdy Kittens, the simple living blog by Tammy Strobel.

Roll over Bill and Kate, I'm doing my own Spring Watch*

2011-04-24T16:45:00.000+02:00

Birds - trilling, twittering, squawking, flitting, splashing, preening, pecking, collecting, building, dunking, chattering, arguing, hiding, swooping, cooing.

Wasps - scraping the wood off the deck to make pulp for their nests, drinking at the pond, buzzing.

Hornets - prowling around the bees, drowning in the water butt.

Slow worm - basking in the sunshine.

Dragonfly - perched on pond reeds, big, beautiful, graceful, flying in circles. (look carefully on the photo)

Boatmen in the pond - rowing upside-down, doing secret things in the depths.

Bees - busy busy busy collecting pollen and nectar, fanning the hive, drinking from the pond.
See the hole in the top of the hive on the left? That hive is empty and a finch is making a nest in there.

Vegetables - sprouting, bolting. Strawberries promising, asparagus shooting up, seedlings thirsty but surviving, seeds sulking in the drought, rocket threatening to flower and very spicy.

Plants - growing, shooting, flowering, spreading, shrivelling in the unseasonal heat.

And me? I'm reading, eating, drinking, dozing, reflecting, gazing, watching, listening, admiring, smelling, reminiscing, smiling, hoping, writing, dreaming, praising, marvelling, remembering, understanding.

And thanking - for having the opportunity to care for this little patch of planet, to restore biodiversity, create homes for wildlife and a healing, nourishing and welcoming place for humans too.

*Spring Watch is a very popular TV programme by the BBC in England.

Letting go

2011-04-07T21:19:00.000+02:00

eyes aching

from the tears never shed

threatening to flood

there's no rush

close the floodgates

let it out in a trickle

when you feel safe

water is powerful, flowing, pure

it heals, cleans and soothes

seeps in all the hidden places

gathering strength

deep and mysterious, unafraid

stop, be still, let it flow

The Wayseer Manifesto

2011-04-02T21:36:00.000+02:00

I just love this. Give yourself the next 9 minutes 50 seconds or so to be inspired, roused.

or see it on Youtube here

Peeling away the layers

2011-03-30T13:57:00.000+02:00

20 x 20 cm oil on canvas

Onions

peeling them

peeling away the layers to get to the raw

makes you cry sometimes

In praise of Sorrel

2011-03-24T14:10:00.000+01:00

Last summer I sowed some sorrel. I didn't really take much notice of it then because there was so much else going on in the potager.

But now, at the beginning of spring when nothing much has got started, I've found some lovely clumps of sorrel. I've never really tasted it properly before, except for the odd sorrel sauce with fish in the traditional way, which quite frankly never titilated my taste buds.

But it's amazing stuff! Stringent, lemony, fresh, and it feels like it's full of goodness. I've been looking up recipes for what to do with it. So far, we've eaten it mixed in salads, and I've made a sorrel and nettle soup which was delicious, if I say so myself. The girls agree too - honestly! This is how I know they love and trust me!

These are very good reasons why seasonal food is best. It's what the body needs at any given time of year, it's fresh and tasty and at it's best.

For my soup I fried off some onions and chopped bits of chorizo, then added some potatoes and stock (in this case I used water and MSG-free stock powder). Once everything was cooked and soft, I added big bunch of washed sorrel leaves and nettle tops. I turned off the heat and just let them wilt in the boiling liquid, then whizzed it all up into a lovely deep green soup full of spicy, lemony flavour.

I found a great selection of recipes for sorrel here.

I'm going to try the sorrel in a quiche with goats cheese, in an omelette too, and I think it could probably replace spinach in any recipe - with ricotta for example....

I'd love to know if you have any other ideas or tried and tested recipes.

You see, it's all about looking at things in the right way, at the right time in the right place.

And here's another little gem I'd like to share with you: our early-flowering plum trees in full blossom at sunset. They produce juicy, sharp, small, orange plums in July. Makes enough jam to last all year.

Introducing Grow Paint Cook

2011-03-19T15:10:00.000+01:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas

Following on from yesterday’s pear painting I am still in the mood for soft and gentle. But when I painted this clove of garlic, it was so soft and gentle, I found it flat and boring. So I got out my palette knife and slapped it on a bit. I like it much better.

Have you noticed that the name of my blog has changed to Grow Paint Cook?

I’ve been blogging about why I am a daily artist, how I express my creativity in different ways. How my painting is fed by my other pursuits. I even asked the question in one post: what ecology do my paintings fit into?

It’s clear that among my many creative pursuits, three stand out from the crowd.

I have been designing and creating my garden for the last five years, and I grow my own fruit and vegetables organically, and have started keeping bees. I especially like old or unusual varieties, and I want to help preserve diversity for future generations. The physical connection to earth feeds me, grounds me. I have no roots of my own, so growing plants helps somehow.

I’ve found that I am drawn to paint the beauty in simple things, or even subjects that are generally considered humble or even ugly. I like to look up close at every-day things and in a different way. To be reminded of the beauty in our lives if only we know how to look.

I’m a foodie. I cook every day, with seasonal and local produce, including my own vegetables. Creating new and beautiful recipes is another very gratifying outlet for my creativity, and I get to share the results with my family and friends.

Actually, come to think of it, I get to share all three with my family and friends.

I asked my daughter what she thought of “Grow Paint Cook”. She thought for a moment, and then she said, “Well, it’s what you do”.

So there we have it.

Sod the landscapes! (well, maybe now and then).

Three's company, four's a crowd

2011-03-15T17:41:00.001+01:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas
It's not a very inspiring time of year for local, seasonal food. I'm getting bored with the winter root vegetables that are looking rather tired, and I'm running out of inspiration for exciting recipes. The apples and pears are still going though.

I needed something soothing and calm today, hence the soft palette and negative spaces. And it came off the brush easily.

Methinks one of these pears sliced into a salad of lambs lettuce, goats cheese and walnuts and tossed with a raspberry vinegar dressing will be very satisfying.

Getting back into my groove (with a frog)

2011-03-12T11:18:00.000+01:00

20 x 20 oil on canvas
Price €110 + p&p available for sale at my Facebook shop

Back to work. Holidays are over, enough distractions, resistance, procrastination. And no using someone else's paintings instead, even if they are by my lovely daughter! (well maybe sometimes, seeing as you seemed to like it)

Speaking of which, she got an prize! Check it out on Keith Eckstein's blog A Taste of Garlic. He said:

"A special prize had to be made up in a hurry for Elizabeth’s 12 year old daughter at Elizabeth Destouches Paintings who absolutely stole the show with her polar bear displayed in My talented daughter."

see me puff up with pride

My talented daughter

2011-03-01T17:33:00.001+01:00

12 x 12 cm, oil on canvas

I'm very proud to show this painting by my 12-year-old daughter. She's passionate about wildlife conservation.

She missed her art class the other day, so I said she could paint with me in my studio.

Seeing beauty

2011-02-24T17:33:00.000+01:00

20 x 20 cm oil on canvas

We don't usually think of toads as beautiful. Princesses don't generally like them. But then they ~~turn into a prince~~ get the princess to see that they are really a handsome prince, and the princess falls in love.

Do you think something's ugly? Try looking at it differently.

Artist Karin Jurick has finished her project 100 faces. She painted 100 mugshots from around the US - look at the beauty she found!

Creating beauty in my life every day

2011-02-14T16:16:00.000+01:00

A while ago I posted about why I am a daily artist. I realized back then that being creative every day wasn’t only about my paintings, that it involved other aspects of my life, like my gardening, how I raise my children, etc. Now I am realizing just how that creativity extends throughout every aspect of my life. All that I have been learning about creativity and the meaning of beauty through painting can apply to my life in general. It has been taking me much further than I ever imagined. I keep coming back to how everything is so inter-connected and the importance of balance in all things.

I am working on how to create a life that gives me the freedom to love and be loved by my family and friends, do what I love, live closer to nature, be active and involved in a local community and economy, and to tread much lighter on the earth, with less dependence on unsustainable sources.
I want to build more resilience into my life. I am accepting that although I have already been working on many issues, it may now require more fundamental changes. This is hard, because it sometimes looks like you are denying or not appreciating what you already have or have worked hard to achieve. Like an artist who decides to shift from realism to a more impressionistic style or even abstract. Look at Picasso – where he started and where he ended up. It takes a certain amount of courage too as it means that many “fans” won’t understand and follow you. But he absolutely needed to be an excellent "acadmic" artist in order to get to his form of abstract art.

I don’t always understand how it all works in a linear way – I am drawn to things that don’t always make sense, but I am beginning to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. I have learned in an intuitive way that if I am drawn to something that makes my heart sing – that is good, go for it, and if something happens that makes me feel bad, or provokes a negative reaction – there's a lesson to be learned. Sometimes I feel like I’m in one of those Olympic sleds sliding down that tube at top speed. I keep banging against the sides instead of gliding smoothly and serenely down the middle.

As I work my way through it all, things gradually become clearer and I am able look for creative, sustainable solutions.

I don’t think I am alone in this. Wherever I turn it seems to me that people are seeking alternative solutions ad asking for change, whether in the Middle East, or among friends. Is the whole world in transition, or is it just me noticing these things more?

I am in the process of assessing what I already have before looking outwards for solutions. What capital do I already have in terms of family and relationships, money, skills, possessions, health….? Then I need to find creative solutions to make all that work in the most intelligent and sustainable way.

Examples of this could be:

- money - investing money in a way that earns interest and increases the initial capital (instead of being entirely dependent on earnings to pay debts)

- using the land I own (my garden) for food, remedies, recreation and sharing,

- living in a house that is close enough to amenities not to require driving a car for every little thing, that uses the minimum amount of renewable energy for its needs.

- living in a community that shares my values, where my contributions have value.

There are many different ways to find creative solutions, and it’s not one size fits all – it’s all about the balance.

Once I have started to find creative solutions, It's not always that straightforward putting them in practice. But it does pinpoint the areas where I need to build skills (or find help). For example, I am a complete novice when it comes to finance, so I am busy at the moment building up skills in that area. All this takes time, so painting has taken a back seat this week.

In Jonathan Porritt’s book Capitalism as if the World Matters, he says “Behind the notion of capitalism lies the notion of capital – which economists use to describe a stock of anything (physical or virtual) from which anyone can extract a revenue or yield.”

So does that make me a capitalist in the true sense of the word? A sustainable capitalist.
I suspect that’s quite different from today’s model and understanding of capitalism!

Anyway, all this does leave me with dilemma today – how to illustrate this kind of blog post when I haven’t done a painting! How about some music this time? Your reward for getting to the end of this post is this song by Mumford and Sons from the album Sigh No More that I have only just discovered. I’m not sure how this piece fits into the puzzle, but I find it very moving, so it must have its place somewhere.
The video's not great, but the sound is good.

I'm so chuffed with a new skill I learned this week - I downloaded this album in the MP3 version. That saves on producing a CD and transporting it to my door.

Watching Seals in the Baie de Somme

2011-02-03T18:33:00.004+01:00

20 x 20 cm oil on canvas
Price €110 + p&p buy it here (search for "Seal")

This little painting is in honour of the seals in the Baie de Somme.

I was back there last weekend with my girls. Long, long walks on the long, long beaches. This time we were south of the bay between Le Hourdel and Cayeux-sur-mer.

Bitterly cold, gentle winter sun shining weakly, the place to ourselves.

Back to St Valery sur Somme by sunset.

On Sunday we went with a guide from the Maison de l'Oiseau out across the bay while the tide was out (it goes out for miles) to see if we could see some seals basking on the sand banks at the edge of the water, not to mention the masses of sea birds. When the tide is in they stay in the water, so the only time to see them is when the tide is out. They were so far away though, that we only got to see them through binoculars.

Being out in the bay feels like being in desert, albeit rather cold and wet.

Really blew away the cobwebs.

Bird prints:

and patterns in the sand:

Last little paddle:

We stayed here in this charming apartment in St Valery sur Somme, fully of shabby chic-ness.

with a view over the roofs and the bay.

What is the meaning of Beauty?

2011-01-24T13:48:00.001+01:00

I was talking about my painting at a dinner party the other night, and I said I was only interested in creating beauty through my paintings. It’s no more intellectual or high-brow than that. And it's true. The more I paint, the more connections I make between the way I want to paint and the way I want to live. I realize that my whole life is in the pursuit of beauty, whether through my art, gardening, making a home, bringing up my children, my relationships…

As I was putting branches through a shredder yesterday - nothing like a boring manual job to free the mind (except for housework funnily enough) - that conversation came back to me and I found myself asking, what do I mean by beauty? It's so much more than just "decorative". We all know the expression “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. I think we all have a different notion of what’s beautiful to us.

So what’s my idea of beauty? Where do I find beauty? Those things I find beautiful, what I am drawn to, what do they have in common?

The answer for me is simplicity, honesty and harmony, where everything fits together in its right place, all connected to one another, benefiting one another, interdependent. Put some colours together and they clash, put others together and they are harmonious. Put certain notes together and they clash, change just one and you have a harmonious chord, put them all together and you get a concerto, a painting, a sculpture, a landscape, a friendship - an ECOLOGY.

Lightbulbs going on in all corners of my brain.

Each person's life is its own ecology. We need harmony and balance. When one thing is out of kilter, it has a negative effect on all the rest. And if there’s something out of balance or harmony in my painting, then the overall effect is just not quite right.

Why are certain people considered more beautiful than others? I think I read somewhere that it’s to do with the harmony and symmetry of their features.

Why are natural landscapes so much more beautiful than man-made? Because I think humans do not have the intelligence and ability to create beauty in the way that nature can. Not surprising really when you think for how many generations we have been concentrating on creating wealth instead of beauty, particularly in the West.

What I am learning through paintings is much more than technical skills, even though I need them to create my vision. When I know something’s not quite right but I can’t put my finger on it, technical knowledge won’t always help me. I need to be able to identify what's wrong, then to know what's needed, and then go about finding how to achieve it in a gentle way, remaining open and receptive to letting it happen.

It’ll take the rest of my life, but as James Taylor sings, "The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."

It’s all very well creating my idea of beauty, but that's only the half of it. I'm hoping my beauty will appeal to others too. Not everyone, I know, but some. Something to benefit others, much like my garden. I garden organically and am creating a wildlife garden, because it’s not just for me, but for all other livings things on this patch of land and other humans too.

It’s a conversation. I need to go beyond talking to myself. What ecology do my paintings fit into?

So many questions! What does beauty mean to you? What do you find beautiful and why? I’d love to hear from you if you share my thoughts.

If you like my work and enjoy reading about my thoughts and want to know more, you can subscribe to get each new post directly in your email box (top right hand side of blog) - this way you can comment directly to me as an email if you are not comfortable about leaving comments on a public blog. You can also sign up as a Follower to check in whenever you want.

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Here are some links to people who I read who seem to me to be on the same wavelength or quest, looking for simplicity, minimalism and beauty. People in whose words I have recognized my thoughts and feelings. You may like them too.

Leo Babauta from Zen Habits - the King of Minimalism. I love his book "The Art of Minimalism" Click here to view more details and have commented on it here and here.

Chris Guillebeau has a great site and blog. His book The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World is so simple and enlightening.

Far Beyond the Stars Everett Bogue is another minimalist looking at where it’s taking us, particularly in terms of human/technology evolution.

Sustainably Creative – Michael Nobbs explains how he is exploring ways to find his balance, and looks to me like he's doing a pretty good job so far.

Green Spirit - a network of people who celebrate the human spirit in the context of our place in the natural world. I have bought and read the book "GreenSpirit: Path to a New Consciousness" by Marian Van Eyk McCain, and felt right at home.

Permaculture - inspiration and solutions for sustainable living.

Just as I was about to to publish this post, I remembered that I had bought a book a few months ago, and hadn't got around to reading yet. It's called Beauty, by John O'Donohue. Can't wait to read it now.

What I like about landscapes

2011-01-20T13:50:00.000+01:00

oil on canvas 40 x 40 cm
Iceland landscape

After my last post about struggling with painting or this one about my difficulties with landscapes, here's another landscape! I painted it last week though.

I've been thinking about what I'm attracted to in landscapes, what it is that I want to convey. So far, I know that I like horizontal lines, the sense of distance, interesting and quite abstract colours and shapes, and a sense of wanting to be there.

When paintings flow

2011-01-18T11:52:00.001+01:00

oil on canvas 20 x 20 cm

price 110€ + p&p buy it here

Ever since I began painting, I have noticed an interesting thing. The paintings I have done that seem to give the most pleasure – because people say they like them, or buy them - are invariably those that came easily to me, the ones that flowed, like poppy heads, on the slab, Plumpkin or Dripping Tap.

And yet I often find myself pushing and struggling along trying to make progress, forcing myself to push through the barriers to get to the next level of expertise. I will master landscapes, dammit!! It feels right to put in effort, but it doesn’t feel right to fight.

Why have we been taught to think if something is easy, it must be wrong or we are cheating? We have learned to force things to happen. If we look at Nature, a little seed doesn’t fight and struggle to grow. It just lets itself be taken to the right place, and once it has the right conditions, it simply grows. Perhaps I should be using the word "simple" instead of "easy".

So for the moment, I intend to be kind and gentle with myself, and go back into my comfort zone just enough, and paint simply (or simply paint). I’ll look at creating the right conditions. When I garden, I only use the plants that are suitable for my soil. I don’t bother trying to force something to grow if the soil is not appropriate. It will never thrive and be beautiful. I’m going to try and apply that principle to my painting.

Did this one flow? Somewhat. Although there’s something that doesn’t feel right for me when I paint flowers, something to do with values.

Keeping a Lookout

2011-01-13T16:14:00.000+01:00

10 x 10 cm oil on canvas

How to translate my blog posts into your language

2011-01-13T11:28:00.001+01:00

I have been translating my blog posts into to French recently, but although I am fluent in spoken French, it takes me quite a long time to translate my English thoughts about my work into French words, which is time I would rather spend painting. So I would like to try out the Google translator tool which I have put on the top right of my blog. I would really appreciate it if my French readers would let me know how they get on.

Dernièrement je traduisais mes billets en français, mais je trouve que cela me prends trop de temps. Même si je parle le français couramment, c’est un travail laborieux de traduire mes pensées anglais sur mon travail dans les mots français, et je préfère consacrer ce temps à ma peinture. C’est pourquoi je voudrais essayer l’outil Google de traduction – je l’ai installé en haut à droit de mon blog. Pour mes lecteurs francophones, j’apprécierais recevoir vos commentaires sur le sujet. Dites-moi si cela marche bien pour vous.

How to look at your own art differently

2011-01-13T10:10:00.000+01:00

One of the things I love about art is that it forces us to look at things, often ordinary things, from a different perspective, through the eyes of an artist, raising all sorts of questions, realizations, emotions.

I've found this great site called Dumpr, which enables me to take a different look at my own art, just simply on a different scale.

How about a giant cabbage?

or a landscape:

or even a larger-than-life holiday shot (this one's called "What They All Looking At?")

Have a go - it's fun. Let me know how you get on.

Mmm. Quite fancy painting some huge canvases now...

Dripping Tap

2011-01-06T15:54:00.005+01:00

SOLD
20 x 20 cm oil on canvas
110€ + p&p
Here’s a little piece I did before the holidays. Being away the Christmas week, and sick with flu this week, I haven’t got back into painting yet. I’m missing it.

But there’s always some good to come out of the bad because it’s enabled me to take the time to think about my art and where I want to go with it in 2011.

What I do know is that I want to get better and better at painting, and that I want to explore how to get them to places where they provide joy and inspiration.

Can’t wait to get back to my easel.

Voici une peinture que j’ai faite juste avant les vacances de Noel. Etant en vacances pendant une semaine, et grippée cette semaine, je ne suis pas encore retourné à mon travail et cela me manque.

Mais, il y a toujours quelque chose de bonne dans un mal parce que cela m’as permis de prendre le temps de penser à ce que je veux faire avec mon travail en 2011.

Une chose est sûre, je voudrais m’améliorer encore et encore, et que je voudrais trouver comment mettre mes peintures dans des endroits ou elles donneront de la joie et de l’inspiration.

J’ai hâte de retourner à mon chevalet.

Gouvieux Snowscape

2010-12-20T16:22:00.001+01:00

20 x 20 cm oil on canvas

Hubby and I took a walk yesterday afternoon, up on the plateau called “les Carrières” in Gouvieux where the huge agricultural fields were covered in deep snow. The big expanse of flat white made them almost look like salt lakes. The clouds parted briefly and let through a few warm rays.

Je me suis promené hier avec mon mari sur le plateau “les Carrières” de Gouvieux où se trouve les grands champs d’agriculture couverts d’une bonne couche de neige. On dirait un lac de sel presque, tellement ils étaient lisses et plats. Les nuages se sont écartés brièvement pour laisser passer quelques rayons chaleureux.

Are you my Mummy?

2010-12-19T13:39:00.001+01:00

oil on canvas 10 x 10 cm

I like doing these little pieces. Takes my mind off the end result, and I'm not worried about whether I'll have enough time before the light goes, or I have to do the school run.

J’aime bien faire ces petites toiles. Je ne réfléchis pas au résultat finale, et je ne me demande pas si j’aurai assez de temps avant que la lumière baisse, ou si je dois aller chercher quelqu’un à l’école.

Flooded Field

2010-12-17T16:47:00.001+01:00

19 x 24 cm oil on canvas

forlorn, forgotten field

flooded and cold

until the dying sun’s rays

gave it a flash of beauty

un champ morne, oublié

inondé et froid

puis les rayons du soleil couchant

l’ont donné un moment de beauté

Exhibition at Shara, Chantilly

2010-12-15T18:10:00.001+01:00

I'm exhibiting a few veggie paintings at Shara, in Chantilly, a local restaurant and maison de thé opposite the station.

You can find Beet Leaf, Funky Squash, Quince'n'Quetsche, Apple and Chillies, Bring on the Hollandaise, Caterpillar's Dream, Frères de Terre, Heirloom Beets, Corseted Tomatoes

J'expose quelques peintures dans la maison de thé, Shara, à Chantilly, en face de la gare.

Winter Sun

2010-12-13T16:47:00.001+01:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas

Winter sunshine is comfort and warmth to my eyes, like an open fire is to my body.

Le soleil d’hiver m’apporte du confort et de la chaleur pour mes yeux, comme fait un feu de cheminée pour mon corps.

Sunshine - Nature's Bling

2010-12-09T16:27:00.000+01:00

The cold grey snow's been keeping me in.

The sunshine enticed me out this morning.

Look what I found while walking the dog.

My own winter wonderland.

(my first attempt at a photoshop collage!)

La neige froid et gris me gardait chez moi

Ce matin le soleil m'as attiré dehors

Regardez ce qu j'ai trouvé en promenant le chien

Mon propre pays des merveille hivernale

(mon premier essai à un collage photoshop!)

Grazing

2010-12-08T17:34:00.002+01:00

20 x 20 cm oil on board

More playing with simple landscapes.

Je m'amuse encore avec des paysages simples.

Sir Ken Robinson - Changing Education Paradigms

2010-12-07T16:30:00.002+01:00

I subscribe to Robert Genn's newsletter which is always full of very interesting information and reflections and this is how I found out about this absolutely brilliant RSA Animate video lecture by world-renowned education expert, Sir Ken Robinson. More fabulous RSA Animate video lectures can be found on YouTube.

On a similar subject, you may be interested to read something I posted over on my other blog My Mummy Said about a book by Daniel Pink called "A Whole New Mind - Why Right-Brainers will Rule the Future".

Messrs Robin and Finch

2010-12-03T08:55:00.003+01:00

10 x 10 cm oil on canvas, huile sur toile

This week I’ve been playing with some tiny canvasses – 10 x 10 cm. They are fun and quick to do and I find it a useful exercise to do a few at a time to free me up, and there's something very relaxing about painting birds. The robin was a gift for a lovely friend.

I’m starting to feel all Christmassy and seasonal. The snow helps. I’m looking around for some interesting snowy landscapes to paint (not plein air, brrrrr!) but it’s all rather grey. We need a bit of sunshine to warm up all the colours. I remember being blown away by a Monet exhibition in Paris several years ago, entirely of his snow paintings. Amazing colours!

I’m loving the driving through the snow paintings that Liz Hirst has been posting this week. It’s a wonderful example of painting what’s around you at the moment, even an unpleasant experience, and making it beautiful.

10 x 10 cm oil on canvas, huile sur toile

Cette semaine, je m’amuse avec des toutes petites toiles de 10 x 10 cm. C’est sympathique et rapide à faire et je trouve que c’est un bon exercice à en faire plusieurs à la fois pour me libérer. Je trouve que c'est reposant de peindre des oiseaux. Le rouge gorge était un cadeau pour une bonne amie.

Je commence à sentir dans l’esprit de noël – aidée par la neige sûrement. Je cherche autour de moi des paysages de neige intéressantes à peindre (pas en plein air, brrrr !) mais tout est plutôt gris. Cela me rappelle une exposition que j’ai vue il y quelques années à Paris des paysages de neige par Monet. Des couleurs incroyables !

J’adore ces peintures que Liza Hirst à posté cette semaine de la conduite dans la neige. C’est un excellent exemple de peindre ce qu’il est autour de soi, même des expériences désagréables, et de les rendre belles.

Solitary Tree

2010-11-27T18:46:00.002+01:00

22 x 26 oil on canvas

Interesting progress this week with my landscapes. Earlier in the week I thought I would do a larger piece, thinking it might free me up a little, working with big brushes, just playing with shapes and colours. I was rather underwhelmed by the result, so I haven’t posted it yet as I may work on it some more. But the interesting bit is that I had some time left over (incredible, but true!) and quite a bit of paint still on the palette, so I just played around with the palette knife, and came up with this one. And I am very happy with it. This is a lot closer to what I am striving for.

It often happens that way, doesn’t it? Things happen when we are not trying too hard.

I like that tree, firmly rooted, calm and solitary, when all around it is in movement.

Du progrès intéressant cette semaine avec mes paysages. Plus tôt dans la semaine je me suis mis à peindre une pièce plus grand, en me disant que cela pourrais me libérer, à travailler avec des gros pinceaux, à jouer avec les formes et les couleurs simplement. Le résultant m’a laissé plutôt mitigée, donc je ne l’ai pas encore posté parce que je pourrais le retravailler. Mais ce qui est intéressant, c’est parce qu’il me restait du temps (incroyable mais vrai !) et pas mal de peinture sur ma palette, je me suis mis à jouer avec un couteau, et j’ai accouché de celui-ci. J’en suis très contente. C’est beaucoup plus proche de ce que je veux.

C’est souvent le cas, n’est-ce pas ? Des choses se passent quand nous n’essayons pas trop.

J’aime cet arbre, fermement enraciné, calme et solitaire, quand tout autour est en mouvement.

Baie de Somme marshes

2010-11-23T17:44:00.002+01:00

19 x 24 cm oil on canvas

Here’s another study from the Baie de Somme. Still not very comfortable – I found it difficult fitting it all into such a small canvas – I obviously need to simplify more. I think I’ve captured the bleak feel of the place that afternoon though.

I’m looking for ways to force me to stick to the essentials, and not get into too much detail. Tips anyone?

Voici un autre étude sur la Baie de Somme. Je suis toujours un peu mal à l’aise – je l’ai trouvé difficile à rentrer tout sur une petite toile – je dois apprendre à simplifier encore plus. Je pense néanmoins que j’ai capturé l’ambiance un peu maussade du lieu cet après-midi là.

Je cherche des techniques pour me forcer de peindre que l’essentiel, et ne pas rentrer dans les détails. Avez-vous des astuces ?

Le Crotoy Seascape

2010-11-21T16:54:00.003+01:00

19 x 26 cm oil on canvas

I’m persisting with my landscapes, but it’s Hard. It’s uncomfortable, and I’m not entirely happy with the results as I can’t recognize myself in them. But I’ve had a very good artist friend staying with me this week, so it’s been a real pleasure catching up and painting with her. She’s been helping me as I wade laboriously through my landscapes.
I used my photos of a recent weekend in the Baie de Somme for this one.

Je persiste avec des paysages, mais c’est Dur. Je ne suis pas à l’aise, et je ne suis pas entièrement contente du résultat parce que je n’arrive pas à me reconnaître dedans. Mais une très bonne amie artiste me rend visite cette semaine. C’est un vrai plaisir à peindre avec elle et se retrouver. Elle m’apporte un soutien pendant que je rame.

J'ai peint celui-ci à partir de mes photos de mon weekend récent en Baie de Somme.

Icelandic Sheep Grazing

2010-11-16T22:42:00.003+01:00

30 x 30 cm oil on board
Price 150€ + p&p buy it here

A funny think happens to me when I try to paint landscapes from scenes that have moved me. I take plenty of photos so that when I get home I can use them for my paintings, but then I don’t. I haven’t quite put my finger on what it is, but it’s something to do with being so moved by a place, that I’m afraid I’ll ruin it with a bad painting, or I’ll never be able to do it justice.

Today I had planned to paint from my photos of the Baie de Somme, but that resistance kicked in again. I painted this one instead. Some else took this photo in Iceland, not me. Somehow makes it much easier. I thought I could have fun with the colours, and there was no emotional memory of the scene itself.

Having said that, I did manage to do the painting of Barley Cove in Ireland the other day from my own photos, and I think it turned out alright.

I'd be interested to hear if any one else has this problem, and how they get through it. For the moment, I'm thinking the best thing is to simply persist.

It’s an interesting journey, this painting business…

Un drôle de chose m’arrive quand j’essai de peindre des paysages qui m’ont émus. Je prends plein de photos pour qu’à la maison je peux m’en servir pour mes peintures. Et puis je ne le fais pas. Je n’arrive pas à identifier le problème exactement, mais cela à avoir avec le fait que je suis tellement émue par une scène que j’ai peur de ne pas être à la hauteur.

Aujourd’hui j’avais prévu de peindre à partir de mes photos de la baie de Somme, mais cette résistance s’est pointé le nez. J’ai fait celui-ci à la place. Quelqu’un d’autre a pris cette photo d’Islande, pas moi. Donc, c’est plus facile. Je pensais m’amuser avec les couleurs, et il n’y avait pas de souvenir émotionnel du paysage lui-même.

Ceci dit, j’ai réussi à peindre Barley Cove en Irlande à partir de mes propres photos l’autre jour, et le résultat n’est pas catastrophique.

Cela m’intéresse de savoir si d’autres personnes ont le même problème, et comment ils le ressoudent. Pour le moment, je pense que la seule chose à faire est de persévérer tout simplement.

C’est tout un cheminement…

Weekend in the Baie de Somme

2010-11-08T14:55:00.000+01:00

Soft blue/grey landscape, bracing sea air, big skies, moules frites, sipping Lapsang Souchong in a comfy hotel tearoom, shifting northern light, and hearing laughter burst from my daughter as we cantered along a huge empty beach.
Bliss!

Paintings to come, but first a few pix:

Homely simplicity in Les Tourelles hotel in Le Crotoy where we stayed, with its fabulous view over the Baie de Somme.

A stroll along the beach in front of the hotel

Timid sun but double reflection

Sparkle

His name is "Gump"

An hour through the wooded dunes to reach the empty beach

What a palette!

Home to pasture

Here are a few links about my weekend
We stayed at Les Tourelles in Le Crotoy.
We booked our 2-hour hack with the Domaine de Marquenterre on the beautiful Henson horses.
Pippa Derbyshire is an English artist in Noyelles-sur-Mer, whose serene paintings are exhibited in Les Tourelles.
Tourism in Baie de Somme

South West Ireland

2010-11-05T19:57:00.002+01:00

23 x 18 cm oil on canvas

This ones is painted from a photo I took a couple of years ago in the south west of Ireland, in November. I spent a blissful day with my three girls, walking along the cliffs, the sun shining, wind blowing, chilly. We were rewarded by this beach at the end of the day when the sun was low in the sky, and a mist was rising off the water.

I'd love to know how this one makes you feel...

J'ai fait cette peinture à partir d’une photo que j’ai prise il y a deux ans en novembre sur la côte sud-ouest d’Irlande. J’ai passée une journée délicieuse avec mes trois filles – nous avons marché le long des falaises, le soleil brillait, le vent soufflait, il faisait frais. Nous avons été récompensées par cette plage à la fin de la journée. Le soleil était bas, une brume se levait sur la mer.

J'aimerais bien savoir ce que vous ressentez en la regardant....

Autumn Leaves on my Window Sill

2010-11-03T18:28:00.002+01:00

15 x 15 cm oil on canvas

This was nice to paint, and I like the end result. All those abstract shapes joined up like a puzzle, and you stand back and find you've painted leaves. I like to use a neutral or grey back ground with strong colours like these because I find it makes the colours sing.

The house has been covered in these vibrant red Boston ivy leaves for the last two or three weeks and I’ve been looking and them thinking I’d like to paint them. When I saw today that the last of the leaves had fallen, I made sure I caught a couple before they went all crinkly.

Nothing like a deadline to get things done!

J’ai pris plaisir à peindre ces feuilles, et j’aime le résultat. Toutes ces formes abstraites assemblées comme un puzzle. Je recule et je trouve que j’ai peint des feuilles. Avec un sujet d’une couleur forte, j’aime utiliser les gris pour le fond. Je trouve que cela fait « chanter » les couleurs.

La maison a été couverte de ces feuilles éclatante de vigne vierge pendant deux ou trois semaines. Je les regardais en me disant qu’elles seront sympas à peindre. Quand j’ai vu aujourd’hui que les dernières feuilles étaient tombées, j’ai vit pris le pinceau avant qu’elles deviennent toute fripées.

Music is God, says Alice Herz-Sommer

2010-11-01T17:38:00.005+01:00

I sometimes have this inner nagging voice which says things like:

“Come on, Elizabeth. It’s all very well painting all these pretty little pictures and I know you would be utterly miserable if you couldn’t paint or do your other creative stuff, but how does that fit in with the meaning of your life? What’s the point? Is it worthy? Does it contribute to humanity; is it something you should be paid for doing?”

When I saw this moving extract from an upcoming film on YouTube about Alice Herz-Sommer, it shut me up. Music is God, says Alice. I’m happy with that.

Parfois j’ai une voix intérieure qui me dit des choses du genre :

« Allez, Elizabeth. C’est bien de peindre tes petits tableaux et je sais que sans ça tu seras malheureuse, mais où est le rapport avec le sens de ta vie ? A quoi ça sert ? Quelle est sa contribution à l’humanité ; est-ce que tu devrais être payée pour ça ? »

Quand j’ai vu cet extrait émouvant du prochain film sur Alice Herz-Sommer, cela m’a cloué le bec. La musique, c'est Dieu, dit Alice. Cela me va.

Beet Leaf

2010-10-27T15:04:00.006+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas
Price 150€ + p&p buy it here

What I love most about painting, is about the process of creating colours. My emotional response to colour means it has the power to make me feel SO good. Some colours make me feel like I want to wrap myself in them like a blanket, others calm my spirit, and some can leave me cold or positively repulsed.

While painting this one I was struck by how similar painting is to cooking and eating.

There’s something very sensuous about the process of mixing up the luscious textures of oil paint to just the right hue or shade and applying it to the canvas alongside others that will render it sublime. Much like blending flavours to create something delicious, that surprises, delights, refreshes, or simply comforts.

While I paint I am constantly searching for what makes me feel good. There’s a definite notion of hunger or thirst behind it. If I achieve what I am after, I am nourished, satiated.

I licked my lips while painting this one.

Ce que j’aime le plus dans la peinture, c’est la création des couleurs. Ma réaction émotionnelle aux couleurs leurs donne le pouvoir de me faire sentir tellement bien. Certains couleurs me donne envie de m’emmitoufler dedans comme une couverture, d’autres me calme l’esprit, et d’autres me laissent froide ou carrément dégoutée.

Pendant que je peignais celui-ci, j’ai réalisé à quel point la peinture est comme cuisiner et manger.

Il y a quelque chose de très sensuel dans le processus de mélanger les textures succulentes de la peinture à l’huile, pour créer exactement la bonne teinte et de l’appliquer à la toile avec d’autres couleurs qui la rendent sublime. C’est comme mélanger les arômes pour créer quelque chose de délicieux, qui surprends, rafraîchis, ou tout simplement qui réconforte ou soulage.

Quand je peints je suis constamment à la recherche de ce que me fait du bien. C’est sûr qu’il y a la notion de faim et de soif derrière tout ca. Quand j’y arrive, je suis nourrie, rassasiée. Je me suis léché les lèvres pendant celui-ci.

Funky Squash

2010-10-21T21:22:00.004+02:00

20 x 20 cm oil on canvas
Price €110 + p&p

I love the subtle colours of this Crown Prince pumpkin, and the way it picks up reflections from around it. There are such an amazing number of varieties of squash, and they are all stunning.

I like to focus on the beauty of humble things.

J'adore les couleurs subtiles de ce courge "Crown prince", et comment il reflète d'autre couleurs. Il y a tant de variétés de courge étonnant, et tous sont exceptionnellement beaux.

J'aime focaliser sur la beauté des choses humbles.

Call that Huffin' and Puffin'?

2010-10-14T21:54:00.003+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas
Price 150€ + p&p buy it here

Some time back I was browsing around the art forum WetCanvas and their huge reference image library and I came across these little pigs. A girl needs a bit of pink now and then.

So you thought I’d stopped banging on about minimalism, did you? Well, no. But it's a short one:

drum roll

It’s easier to juggle with fewer balls.

‘Nuff said.

Il n'y a pas longtemps, je parcourais le forum de WetCanvas et leurs archives de photos quand j'ai trouvé ces petits cochons. Une fille a besoin d'un peu de rose de temps en temps.

Comme ça vous pensiez que j'avais arrêté avec mes histoires de minimalisme? Eh bah non. Mais c'est court:

da da...

C'est plus facile à jongler avec peu de balles.

C'est tout.

Quince'n'Quetsche

2010-10-08T19:15:00.002+02:00

20 x 20 cm oil on board

"What is a minimalist life? It's one that is stripped of the unnecessary, to make room for that which gives you joy. It's a removal of clutter in all its forms, leaving you with peace and freedom and lightness."

I absolutely love that quote from Leo's Babauta's book The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life. I couldn't put it better myself. I try to apply these principles to my paintings too - the minimum number of brushstrokes, each one counts, put it down once and don't rework it. Know when to stop.
Easier said than done.

However, I have learned that I get closer to achieving that when I have a clean (minimalist!) palette, not too many colours, and I must remember to pre-mix a good amount of the main colours so that I am not scrabbling around the palette looking for colours, breaking my flow. If I haven't mixed up enough colours, I tend to lay the paint on too thinly and rework it.

These quince and quetsches come from a lovely lady from Gouvieux who brought me crate of them from her garden. I'm wondering if these quetsches are the same as the Damson plums I remember from the UK...

Frustratingly, I can't adjust the photo to get the true colours. It's less grey in real life.

On m’a demandé de traduire mes postes en français. Je vais faire un essai, mais je vous préviens, il y aura des fautes.

“C’est quoi une vie minimaliste? C’est une vie qui est débarrassée de tout ce qui n’est pas nécessaire, pour faire de la place pour ce qui vous donne de la joie. C’est l’effacement de tout ce qui encombre, pour vous laisser avec de la paix, la liberté et de la légèreté."

J’adore cette citation du livre par Leo Babauta The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life. J’essais d’appliquer ces principes à mes peintures – le minimum de coups de pinceaux, chacun compte, poser-la et ne la retravaille pas. Sacher s’arrêter à temps.

Plus facile à dire qu’à faire.

Ceci dit, j’ai appris à avoir une palette propre, pas trop de couleurs, et je dois penser à mélanger mes couleurs principales en avance pour ne pas chercher des couleurs quand je suis en plein élan. Si je ne l’ai pas fait, j’ai tendance à peindre trop maigre, et faire trop de retouches.

Ces coings et ces quetsches viennent d’une amie de Gouvieux qui m’en a emmené une caisse de son jardin. Je me demande si les quetsches sont les mêmes prunes que les « Damsons » que j’ai connus de mon enfance en Angleterre.

J’ai eu du mal à avoir les vrais couleurs de cette peinture avec mon appareil. C’est moins gris en vrai.

The Spiders are Out

2010-10-02T13:41:00.000+02:00

My daughter found this huge cobweb just outside our front door.

We always get massive spiders crawling around the house at this time of the year, particularly now that it’s getting chilly and we have starting bringing in the wood to burn, so we get a few stowaways.

I think it’s their mating season. Although, frankly, I think I’m past it now, and the girls are really too young yet.

A Chilli Bunch

2010-10-01T19:13:00.003+02:00

SOLD

20 x 20 cm oil on canvas

I’m enjoying these small works. I do like it when I can start and finish my paintings in one go. It stops me from over-working it, and helps me keep to the essentials. These small paintings mean I can still get something completed even if I only have a small window of time in my day.

The chillies are still going strong in the greenhouse. I can’t eat them quick enough. I need to find out the best way to preserve them - dry or freeze?

If you like my paintings or ramblings, please comment. I love reading them. And feel free to click on my Facebook “like” button and share me with your friends.

The Pleasure of Decluttering

2010-09-27T17:57:00.003+02:00

"I'm Watching You"

20 x 20 cm oil on canvas
Price 110€ + p&p buy it here

I had a couple of wipe-outs last week – I just wasn’t in the mood. This little gull was just what I needed today – something simple to get me back in the groove.

For the last few years I have been moving towards a simpler, greener, more minimalist life. My desire to paint more often has highlighted just how hard it is to find the time. I am a STAHM with two children still at home, so it’s understandable I suppose, but I am constantly seeking ways of how to free up more time for painting and other creative projects.

The clutter in the house has been bugging me recently – hence not “being in the mood” to paint. I mentioned before about needing pockets of stillness. I also need a quiet environment. Clutter in my environment is like clutter in my mind.

Which reminds me of an incident in my past life in the corporate world, when my boss told me my desk was too tidy and that no one would believe I did enough work! I guess we’re all different, but I need a clear space around me to get creative.

So for these last few days I have been on a mission to sort out my sewing room at the top of the house, to turn over half of the room to painting, instead of using the dining room and having to put everything away each time. While it’s not a particularly pleasant job, I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to see all those bags going off to the charity shop or the bin (can’t tell you how many either).

I now have a small but tidy space for painting, just below the north-facing skylight. I used to feel cut off in this room because I didn’t have a view of the garden, but I’ve positioned my easel so that while I am standing painting, I can just about see out. And, look, I even have some empty shelves!

I’ve been following a couple of excellent mimimalist blogs and found this post by Leo Babauta on his zen habits blog about conquering your clutter that really touched the spot.

I’ve just bought his e-book The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life which I can’t wait to read.

Simple Pleasures

2010-09-20T20:45:00.003+02:00

I've just had one of those days faffing around doing nothing productive - catching up on mails, surfing the net, making endless lists of things I have to do, or want to do, not knowing where to start. Feeling blue after leaving the fruits of my womb in another country far away from me. Thinking that I'd be better off doing something creative, instead of just reading about it. Bought home some lovely Lincolnshire sausages that I found at Lincoln's farmers' market and walked down to the veggie patch to see what I could find to go with them. Found this lovely bunch of yellow beans ripe for the picking. Cooked them for dinner - boiled until just tender, knob of butter and some sea salt - nothing better. Feel better already.

Autumn Evening

2010-09-14T21:25:00.001+02:00

I’m content in my world this evening.

Gentle autumn sun, flowers and raspberries, simple things of beauty.

I need pockets of stillness in my hectic life as a SAHM where my days are fractured and busy. A moment to remember where I am, to look at the beauty around me and feel like I belong, anchored. And in those moments, I create.

I spent most of the day last-minute shopping for Daughter No 1who is flying the nest, off to Uni in England on Friday.

Mini rant about Swedish superstores, please: Giant spaces filled to the brim, florescent lighting, recycled air, noise, invisible staff = not a happy bunny. Grrr.

I was unable to paint or garden today, so I went into the garden and picked some late summer blooms, fresh raspberries and put them together with some other favourite things and took a moment to enjoy the fruits of previous creative moments.

Crown Prince

2010-09-11T19:40:00.006+02:00

20 x 20 cm acrylic on canvas
price 110€ + p&p buy it here

Here's another little acrylic I did today. It's the only pumpkin from my veggie patch to date, so I think it deserves to be painted. It has the most beautiful bluish green skin with orange flesh. It's the variety "Crown Prince" and I bought the seeds from Sarah Raven's online shop (lovely website it is too).

I like the fact that acrylic paints have no solvents, smells, are easy to clean up, and fit in much better with my whole eco outlook on life, but I really miss not being able to push my paint around the canvas and mix or adjust the colours directly on the canvas. I'm just missing the whole, well, oiliness, of oil paints. I'm going back to them for the moment, I think. Perhaps I'll get back to acrylics at a later date, when I've used up all my oil paints, maybe.

Let's not forget the figs. I'm sharing my favourite recipe for figs ever with you. It's Jamie Oliver's Easiest Sexiest Salad in the World. And it's on tonight's menu for us.

Apple and Chillies

2010-09-08T16:41:00.003+02:00

"Chilli Jelly"
20cm x 20 cm acrylic on canvas
price 110€ + p&p buy it here

I'm back at the easel at last! The holidays in Canada were amazing. Of course I didn't get an opportunity to paint as we were on the move the entire time. But I tried out the acrylics once I got home. This is my first attempt. It's smaller than my usual format, but it went on smoothly and I'm quite pleased with it. Not everything survived my absence, but these chillies came up a treat in the greenhouse. This one's called "Chilli Jelly" because it's the ingredients for my family's favourite condiment: made from apple juice, chilli and garlic. Gorgeous with roast chicken.

Does any one know how to thicken up the paint so that it is somewhat closer to the texture of oils? I love the way it dries quickly so I can add layers on top of one another, but I don't like that it dries so quickly on the palette and I have to keep making up fresh batches! I used a medium to slow the drying time, but I'm wondering if there is a different medium which could thicken up the texture...

I couldn't paint on holiday, but I could take photos, and I can't wait to get started on them. A great way to prolong the holiday.

St Leu Ecole de Voile

2010-07-20T18:50:00.002+02:00

oil on board 22 x 27 cm

This is a little plein air I did the other day at a lake nearby in St Leu d'Esserent which has a sailing school. I sat in the shade and painted these boats while hubby and girls went sailing and windsurfing. It didn't quite turn out as I would have liked since I forgot my lemon yellow, and I was painting over an old painting that I had whitened over. I think that's why I couldn't get the transparence and depth of the water. A nice calm moment though.

My blog will be very quiet for the next four weeks because we are leaving for our summer holidays tomorrow. We are going to British Columbia, Canada for a whole month! So exciting! Ever hopeful, I have bought some acrylic paints and I am taking them with me in case I get a chance to paint, but we shall be on the move most of the time, so it's not sure. I think we shall be seeing some amazing scenery so I shall certainly be taking lots of photos to paint from when I get back.

Teapot and Nectarines

2010-07-12T19:00:00.001+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas

Wow! This one proved to be a real challenge for me - a silver teapot on a brown tablecloth. What was I thinking?

The light source made it tricky too: lit from behind by a tall window with the sun that moved across it, sometimes blinding me with it's reflection on the teapot lid, and the moving shadows, and the constantly changing reflections on the pot. Plus light from big windows on the right. I like the reflection of the outside sky on the lid and think overall I have managed to describe the silver.

I'm still struggling with the the edge of an object where it meets the surface it's sitting on. Any tips gratefully received.

I hadn't quite finished when the girls came home from the pool. "Mum, where's the teapot? Oh there it is." and that was the end of my painting for the day! Probably just as well - I would have faffed around a lot longer which wouldn't have achieved anything.

"Corseted" Tomatoes

2010-07-10T20:39:00.002+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas
price 150€ + p&p, unframed. Buy it here

I picked up these little tomatoes at our local organic shop. They are an unusual shape - sort of nipped in at the waist with a little knobbly bit at the end and dents all over. Quite a challenge to paint. All sorts of defaults show up once I've photographed and posted, particularly the values. I've remembered to keep the edges loose, though.

I'm going to save some seeds to sow for next year. Last year, I saved seeds from some purple cherry tomatoes, and some little green and striped ones. The plants are going strong and flowering, although we are going on holiday for four weeks this year (!!) so I am hoping there will still be some left when we get back so that I can paint them, and eat them. As long as our house-sitter keeps watering and picking. If any one knows what variety of tomato this is, do tell.

My Creative Endeavour of the Day or Why I Haven’t Been Painting Today

2010-07-09T21:19:00.002+02:00

“I’m definitely painting this afternoon”, I said to my girls this morning with firm intention.

Then after lunch I looked at the weather forecast – storms coming. Phew! It has got so heavy it’s unbearable. Then I looked at the plum trees laden down with plums, some starting to fall. Then I thought about the 30 pots of jam I made last year from the plums and how much we all loved it for breakfast for almost a year. Then I thought I don’t want them being battered by a heavy storm, and I do want that jam. Then I got the girls to help me pick all those that were ripe. Then I made 7 pots of jam. And that’s why I haven’t been painting today.

Now, is that procrastination, or is that a perfect example of why I am a daily artist, and not a daily painter? Until I work that one out, I am making sure that painting is only put off until tomorrow if it is replaced with another creative activity. Balance is key – in my life as well as in my paintings.

And then I got to 9pm and it's still 31° and hasn't rained!

Anyway, I can’t do a post without a photo, so here are my new bees. I’m so excited! I am officially a bee-keeper (apprentice). Local beekeeper, Stéphane, is training me in the art of bee-keeping. He’s got me started by lending me a hive and giving me a swarm he collected recently. We have had a swarm of bees set up home in one of our chimneys for the second year running, but unfortunately we can’t get our hands on their honey. I’ve just got to get this little lot through winter and then I can really get started next Spring.

I think the bees must be as thirsty as us in this heat. There are so many around the wildlife pond I made this Spring.

Beach Race

2010-07-06T17:44:00.004+02:00

"Catch Me if you Can"
30 x 30 cm oil on canvas

I was browing some old photos the other day, and came across this one taken of my two youngest when they were little on a Norfolk beach, running in the wind. I have been admiring the charming beach scenes by Debbie Miller and Karin Jurick and thought I'd have a go.
I tried to capture the delight of children when faced with a wide open space. They just gotta run!

Why I am now a "Daily Artist"

2010-07-05T11:43:00.003+02:00

I was inspired to start this blog by the many fabulous artists out there on the Web who are “daily painters”. They do a painting a day and blog their work. I wanted to do the same, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to paint on a daily basis. Why? There are so many other things I do in my life as a result of the choices I have made, or simply because they make my heart sing, that mean I ~~don’t have the time~~ don’t yet know how to make the time to paint every day.
So today, I offer you my living painting. Our garden was a field when we arrived nearly 5 years ago, and I have loved, and am still loving, creating a garden out of it. A peaceful wildlife garden, buzzing with life, food for the soul and body. It’s not mine. It’s for sharing, with wildlife and the occasional human. I have just tried to provide the right conditions for beautiful things to happen. I can tweak a bit here and there, but I love the fact that nature has the final say. This is another way for me to share it with more humans. Being in our garden is my yoga, my meditation, my sustenance.

So why “Daily Artist”? I have just finished reading an amazing book called “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield, mostly about how to break through resistance to doing one’s art. I had ordered it thinking it might help me understand why I was not managing to paint every day, and I have finished it with the realization that being an artist for me is not just about painting. It’s about so many other things I do every day too: I have given birth to three children and daily I add to their creation, there’s my garden, I feed my passion for vintage textiles by sewing them into something or other, I am creating a home for my family, I cook and invent recipes, seek to think creatively, and even this writing is a form of creation (and I am hoping that, like other art forms, through constant practice it will improve!).
So while I am not (yet) a daily painter, I am certainly a daily artist. And I’ll be adding my other creations to this blog now and then. If you’re visiting my blog regularly, there’s every chance you might like it too.

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go do that. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman

Maisons-Laffitte Tennis Club

2010-06-15T10:52:00.003+02:00

SOLD
30 x 40 cm oil on canvas

I've been busy this last week working on this painting. It's a commission for someone who wanted a souvenir of her tennis club. I love the colour of the clay courts and the club itself conveniently has some lovely vibrant orange chairs on its terrace, which echoed the colour nicely. This was a new experience for me, particularly as it's not my usual choice of subject, but I'm happy with how it turned out. It also brought back a few memories, because I used to have tennis lessons there myself a few years ago.

On the slab

2010-06-01T21:38:00.007+02:00

SOLD
oil on board 30cm x 30cm

Some fish have the most amazing colours in them with such interesting reflections. This is a painting I did a while ago and forgot to put it on the blog. It's going into an exhibition next week with two others (Marmelade and (Poppies) in Verneuil en Halatte. The exhibition runs from 5 - 12 June

Bring on the hollandaise!

2010-06-01T21:27:00.005+02:00

oil on canvas 30cm x 30cm
Price 150€ + p&p buy it here

I love asparagus! I planted an asparagus bed this spring, but I'll have to wait a couple of years before I can begin harvesting. But then I'll have it for years to come. Yum! Why does it make your pee smell funny, though? This painting was inspired by my visit last weekend to my lovely friend in Bavaria. We had a delightful evening on the terrace of a restaurant watching the sun go down over a beautiful calm lake, eating asparagus with moussy hollandaise sauce and steamed potatoes. I've added a new option to my blog. You can now subscribe and receive my updates in your email inbox. Thanks to the very helpful people at http://www.emptyeasel.com/ who are willing to share their information for free.

Beached

2010-05-17T15:30:00.007+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas

That's it. I am up to date. This is the last painting I did. I shall try and keep the blog posted as and when I finish a painting. I welcome comments, criticisms, suggestions. I haven't quite worked out where I am going with my painting yet. I have no idea of my destination but I'm enjoying the ride. It certainly has something to do with communication, though, so any feedback would be lovely. I suppose it's a bit like starting a conversation. Making the first comment and hoping someone finds it interesting enough to respond. Certainly the whole painting experience has been very interesting so far, and I'm looking forward to what's next! I'm reminded of words from a song that stuck in my head many years ago when I was travelling in Australia: "The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time". Can't remember the name of the singer for the moment...

Tree at dawn

2010-05-17T15:29:00.004+02:00

30 x 30 cm on board

I had finished my painting the other afternoon and still had a little time left before the girls came home from school, and some fresh paint on my palette. So I slapped this one out very quickly. I was concentrating on achieving some colours I like.

Iris

2010-05-17T15:26:00.003+02:00

30 x 30 oil on canvas

The irises in my garden are loving this exceptionally dry spring weather we've been having.

Caterpillar's dream

2010-05-17T15:24:00.003+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas
Price 150€ + p&p buy it here

I don't believe our most talented designers could ever design anything more beautiful than nature.

Plumpkin

2010-05-17T15:21:00.003+02:00

SOLD
30 x 30 cm oil on board

This is probably my favourite so far. I'm fascinated by how the mind "joins up the dots". You don't have to paint everything, and the mind can join up the missing pieces. This is so obviously an orange pumpkin, but I actually used the minimum amount of orange paint. The main colour I used was lilac, although it doesn't seem to show up so well in the photo.

Frères de terre

2010-05-17T15:20:00.003+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on board
Price 150€ + p&p buy it here

Who ever thought the humble little mushroom had so many colours in it!

Marmelade

2010-05-17T15:17:00.003+02:00

SOLD

30 x 30 cm oil on board

This could be that jar I found in the garden, but it's not. It's such fun painting all those shapes and colours, and then standing back and finding you've got a jar of marmelade with light shining through it. Can you spot the little drip on the outside of the jar (top left)?

Ruffled

2010-05-17T15:15:00.003+02:00

SOLD
30 x 30 cm oil on board

Brrrr!

Poppy heads

2010-05-17T15:06:00.003+02:00

SOLD
23 x 35 cm oil on canvas

Hazy summer days.... This was one of those that flowed.

Flemish jug

2010-05-17T15:04:00.003+02:00

SOLD

30 x 30 cm oil on board

This one has a Flemish feel to it I think. There's something about that northern European light...

Cluck

2010-05-17T15:03:00.004+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas

I want to have chickens one day. In the meantime, I'll have to make do with painting them.

Heirloom beets

2010-05-17T14:58:00.002+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on board

I just love vegetables! Sowing them, nurturing them, picking them, painting them, eating them.

Jam jar

2010-05-17T14:55:00.002+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on board

I found this old jam jar buried in the garden when I was making my veggie patch. It cleaned up well with a bit of vinegar. I love it's irregularity and the way it reflects the light. The photo has come out a little too grey though.

Pile o'pots

2010-05-17T14:53:00.002+02:00

26 x 30 cm oil on board

I bought these green pots in Marrakech some years back when i was on holiday with my husband. I love their rustic simplicity. I'd love to find some more of this crockery, but it's not something sold for export unfortunately. Mmm, might have to go back there!

Snow Rabbit II

2010-05-17T14:52:00.003+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas
Price 150€ + p&p buy it here

Now and then I like to do simple little compositions to get me back into painting after a break. Something I don't have to think about too much. This is one of them.

Marigold and jugs

2010-05-17T14:49:00.002+02:00

24 x 30 cm oil on board

Another favourite jug made from hand-blown Mexican glass that came from a friend. The marigolds are from the garden. Such a vivid orange. Shame I seemed to have cropped the photo.

Squirrel

2010-05-17T14:48:00.003+02:00

30 x 30 oil on canvas
Price 150€ + p&p buy it here

My daughter asked me to paint this from a calendar she had been given. I think she prefers the photo!

Pears

2010-05-17T14:45:00.002+02:00

24 x 30 oil on board

I was intrigued by the light coming from behind these pears. I must do something to improve my photos, though. Oh well, one step at a time.

Snow rabbit

2010-05-17T14:43:00.003+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on canvas

This is another one with a palette knife. Sometimes paintings can just flow from the brush (or knife in this case), and other times it's more of a struggle. This was one of those that came together so well, it was a pleasure to paint.

Mayo

2010-05-17T14:41:00.002+02:00

30 x 24 cm oil on board

I did this one over a year ago. It was one of my first attempts with a palette knife. I think it turned out quite well.

Cliffs

2010-05-17T14:37:00.003+02:00

30 x 30 cm

I'm constantly trying to be looser in my painting. I've managed it somewhat in this one. But still learning.

Egg on plate

2010-05-17T14:35:00.002+02:00

30 x 30 cm oil on board
I have been inspired by other painters who paint eggs. I thought I would give it a go. Not that easy, particularly the shells, but it's fun to find all the colours.

Alone and chilli

2010-05-17T14:33:00.002+02:00

30 x 30 cm
I have a thing about jugs. Just the simple aesthetics. This is one of my favourites. I grew this chilli in the greenhouse.

After the rain

2010-05-17T14:31:00.002+02:00

Ever since I was little, I have always loved the colour combination of a dark grey sky full of rain and the spring green of vegetation. I tried to capture it in this one, but I can't say I am entirely happy with it. I will try again one day.

Stormy seaweed

2010-05-17T14:29:00.002+02:00

38 x 46 cm oil on canvas
More stormy skies.

Tornado

2010-05-17T14:28:00.002+02:00

I have a thing about stormy skies. Some people find them unsettling, but I find them beautiful.

Welsh Hills

2010-05-17T14:24:00.002+02:00

50 x 37 cm oil on canvas
This is one of my early paintings. As an avid gardener, I was inspired by a photo of a walled kitchen garden with a view of the Welsh hills at dawn. Dream location.