Two boat sketches, in moleskine with ink and watercolor
I have to share with you all these fascinations I found here in SC.
First thing I saw was these magnificent, frightening spiderwebs in the trees. They cover whole branches, sometimes even whole small trees. I tried to do a search on the internet for the type of spider, but couldn’t stand looking at all these spider photos coming up on my screen. So I still don’t know….they captivate me completely, scare me and fascinate me at the same time.
I am also fascinated by the hundreds of car dealers on every which road out there, with their hundreds of cars in every color, parked in neat rows, almost measured distances next to each other, the angles perfect and decorated with colorful flags and balloons…how can you not stop and buy a car? They have turned car sales into an art! I get a kick from these scenes every time I’m on the road and find those without this flair very boring
I also have to mention the kudzu, which took my breath away. I have had nightmares where I stand still for just a moment too long and I’m being taken over by these vigorous growers! Once again, an exhilirating sight where they form thick carpets in the valleys, growing up trees and wires and poles, everything and anything that can be a host…magnificent and scary…
There are many more of these enthrallments I find on my daily outings, but I’ll leave them for next time.
All done in moleskine with pen and watercolor.
Well, at last a post from me…
It was a struggle from the moment we set foot on US soil! and I’m still struggling! But that might be a story for another day. We’ve settled into a condo, overlooking the beautiful Keowee lakes here in Oconee county, SC. We’ve stepped into an incredible heat wave and I have a suspicion I am being punished for my constant complaining about the weather back home in France!
I’ll start off my experiences here in Oconee, SC, with some sketches of people. Because I had no internet or a computer up to to now, and it was too difficult for me to be outside, even for sketching, I kept mostly to coffee shops, watching and sketching the people of SC.
I do enjoy watching people, making up stories about them, wondering what keeps them going, what inspires them, what depresses them, what makes them laugh, what are their sadnesses…
One day, I hope I’ll have the ability to convey that hrough my paintings, not the realism of thier appearance, but the story behind their living, the emotion in their gestures.
So, meet the strangers I swiftly met in my wanderings to Paneros, Joe muggs, Barnes and Nobles, Bi-Lo, on a bench in the mall; some were empty nest-moms, serious writers, some just enjoyed reading and some did interviews, others were almost asleep and some were watching the wordl go by…
These sketches were all done in pen in moleskine, given a few washes afterwards….
and now I’m leaving you to go throw another tantrum!!…I’m completely fatigued – I’ve been interrupted and I’ve restarted this post so many times since this morning, I’ve lost count and now I’m completely fatigued from driving around to 5 different places to find a connection! And this is my birtday…sob, sob!!!
PS: Please forgive the many mistakes and bad writing, I have not done any editing on this entry…
My bags are packed…no not yet, but almost.
I’m packing all my sommer clothes and three tubes of toothpaste, because I use a particular kind. My tennis gear and all my art gear, my computer and some back up. And many shoes. Just because I love shoes.
I’m also packing Hartman, but truth be told, it’s the other way around. He’s tagging me along…joyfully of course!
Our daughter will babysit Tokala and Aiyani, she will water the garden, she will clean the house, cook her own food, pay the bills. She will not touch our car and she will never have parties. For the next three months.
We’re exchanging our Peugeot for ..I don’t know, maybe a Ford or maybe a Mustang…convertible would be nice?
I’m also packing my strong will and self discipline. I’ll need it where we’re going. The food is too easy available everywhere and anywhere and at all hours.
We’re leaving in two days and in 10 days, I’ll be up and running and computing, posting and commenting from my laptop for the next three months from “You know where”. I’m VERY excited!!
See y’all in 10 days!
Both sketches done in pen and colored pencils in moleskine.
Today is Casey’s birthday, Monday 23 July. She turned a wonderful 21 today…again..!
Happy birthday! May your year be filled with ecstatic moments
I bought my first watermelon of the season this morning. They’ve been in season for some time, but I just wasn’t in the mood. Watermelon wasn’t created to be eaten on cloudy days. And that is France for you this summer. A sunny day here and there. Like this morning. So I thought it is summer. And bought a watermelon.
I stared a long time at this cute little round fruit on my table. How very elegant, I thought, very chic and small enough to carry in my basket. It can even fit into my fridge. I could even have chosen a yellow one and one without seeds….a watermelon without seeds! What has civilation done to us?
Let me tell you a little about those I grew up with. I run the risk of being tagged as a tough, sturdy amazon after this, but that’s OK, you might be thinking that already!
I love a huge long, oval watermelon, big and lush in its greenness. Too big for the basket or under the arm. Too big for the fridge. And too big for a dainty lady like me too carry. You need a strong quarterback. You scratch it, you knock it with that knuckle, move on to the next one, scratch it, knock it, nod your head and Mr Qurterback lifts it onto his shoulder.
This prize is taken home and wrapped in a cold, wet cloth, stored in the coolest corner of the garden, often splashed with cold water to keep it cool.
Then, there’s a time and place to eat a watermelon. It is not eaten as an amuse bouche at a candle lit dinner table with a drizzle of balsamic, or cocktail picked on a pretty platter or served on a bed of mesclun with fancy feta cheese or graniteed, a la mediterannean!It is eaten on a buzzing hot, late summers afternoon, cut up by Mr Quarterback right there on the lawn, into proper oblong watermelon slices, crackling broken off so that the luscious “crown” is displayed, the creme de la creme, and a sigh escapes from all onlookers, eager awaiting their slice. You then dig into your share with bare feet and hands and gusto. Finesse and manners have no place in eating a watermelon. With your slice, you plonk down on the grass and chainsaw through it, with your knees almost draped around your ears, making room for the dripping juices and seeds. Every so often you’ll shake those hands to prevent the juices from running into your armpits and you’ll spit those seeds gathered in your cheeks olympic distances.
That’s how a watermelon asks to be eaten. The only knife in sight will be the panga for slicing it up and a small knife for Aunt Posh, who doesn’t want to dig her freshly coiffed hair into a slice.
Then of course comes the smearing and peel-attacking and seed fights and the pool and the throw-ins….
But unfortunately, I’m miles away from that kind of watermelon. So, here is mine from this morning… decently small, round and chic, calm and quiet…. and the clouds just moved in front of the sun.
Watercolor on Fabriano CP.
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