I stalked Tokala and Aiyani today with my new Rotring art pen, water and petit gris brush, and moleskine. I do enjoy the ease with which the pen bleeds, which caused me to be a little overzealous with the washes.
La galette des rois
We are eating again. It is tradition here in early January. Galette des rois, literally cake of kings.. It is eaten as the twelth night cake. I got the féve (lucky charm) in my slice, so the crown that accompanies the cake, belongs to me. I am queen. And I have chosen my king. And I have to buy the next cake.Traditionally the youngest member around the table has to direct to whom each slice has to go, but since we were only two (and I’m the youngest), I just simply divided the cake in two(!!). Read more about the tradition of Galette des Rois. Different regions have different cakes. Towards the South it is more a brioche with a sugar topping and towards the north it is puff pastry with an almond paste filling. Now we are REALLY done with eating.
Watercolour and ink in moleskine.
Things to do
I don’t have resolutions. Nor do I have goals. Many moods, but no goals. And a lot of things to do, which could probably be seen as goals. But my list of things to do comes straight down to my current mood when making the list and so, goals are ruled out. Except for the end-of-week goal, or anti-procrastinating-bill-paying goals.
Here is my list which needs checking off as soon as posible, before the wind of moods changes direction.
First and foremost, I have to reach the tighter hole in my belt before the end of January, for after that I can give it up for a bad job.
My purse is to be ball-and-chained. The only time it can be opened, is when some cash needs to find its way in, which isn’t very likely, so the key will be safely deposited at the bank. Question is, can I trust the bank?
Because of the very uncharacteristic availability of cookies in this house recently (the result of having a foodblog!) my consumption of coffee needs to be speedily reduced by two cups a day. The empty cookie jars is a sad sight, so maybe this one is easy…
I won’t bore you with the rest of my “to do list”.
But I do have one resolution actually. Or rather, more of an attitude change. Every year something or someone crosses my path to bring it along. Just recently we spent an evening with a Peruvian family of seven brothers and sisters, with their families, all together for Christmas (here in France). I learnt something from them that evening(apart from their exuberant passion) and especially from my friend Letitia and I decided it would be my perspective as well from now on. I have never heard Letitia passing judgement on anybody. She sees no reason to voice a negative opinion about anyone, whoever it may be and under whatever circumstance. That is an example I want to follow.
Sort of in this spirit of being positive and promoting all that is good and uplifting, I’d like to introduce you to some new artists I came upon whose art is beautiful. I was actually tagged by Cindy(see below), but since I’ve done a tagging just a while ago and instead of tagging 5 other people I want to show some work of artists, which I think we’ll all enjoy more! Have a look at these artists’ work, much to appreciate and much to learn. I’ve copied a painting of each of them underneath their names to wet your appetites, so you can click on either one which will link you to their blogs.
Cindy Revell, who does lovely food paintings!
Christopher Stott, whose beautiful work I found through Cindy.
D Prizzi, who also does the most beatiful food art and literally had my mouth watering, just seeing this berry tart!
Sandra, with her radiant, yet gentle watercolours AND recipes alongside.
Jerry Lobo, who gives great practical advice with his beautiful loose paintings, which can be applied to any medium.
To a 2008 filled with creativity, individuality, hard work and exhilirating results!
A peaceful Christmas to all.
Trees in ink
Yesterday was a lovely sunny day, so I took a walk along the Loire. I thought of Robyn, who did a watercolor painting and an ink drawing with a beautiful tree in her scene. I remember thinking that I’d like to take on trees, so, I took out my unipen and looked for trees to draw.
I’m afraid of trees, so this was really getting me out of my comfort zone. I find them complicated and I never know where to begin, what to put in and how to depict those intricate branches, not to mention the odd dry leaf still hanging for life, the magnitude of dead twigs intertwined like spiderwebs, the stunning moss growing on the shady sides, the windswept bending to nature’s unforgiving blows. I just find it hard.
I did four and then realized I need to do many more tree sketches to really grab hold of the character of a tree. In fact, next year one of my goals will be to take on plein air, piece by piece, studying trees and rocks, foliage, texture in nature. These are actually my first ever trees and now the ice is broken and the work awaits!
A tree standing in the water. Done on site in unipen and afterwards washed with indian ink and “petit gris” brush. Moleskine
A crab apple tree next to the Loire. Done in unipen and some inksplatterings at home to depict the gravel alongside the tree. Moleskine
An old split-open tree with a lot of spiderweb twigs hanging , which I tried to depict by a fine spray of black and silver ink at home. Moleskine.
This is my favourite tree, the Tilleul(along with the oak). I just love their statuesque shapes that change from season to season. In late winter we just simply call them knot-trees, because they are pruned back to the thick knots, which some people find grotesque, but I think it’s beautiful. Some day I’ll do this tree again and hopefully do justice to it! Done in brushpen and I splotched some brushpen sprayes on the thick trunk to depict the beautiful moss. Moleskine.
Africantapestry 
