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A postcard from my walk – a global art exchange.

Just a quick interruption in my break..which I’m still enjoying…to tell you about a project that I’m involved in.

…pen sketch by Cathy Gatland…

A postcard from my Walk  has its roots in Sketchercise, a group of artists  sharing a love for art and the outdoors, nature and different forms of exercise. As our project name suggests, we are painting postcards from our Sketchercise outings and mailing  them this way and that way to each other, criss-crossing over 4 continents.

…a collage of works from our group..

Please visit our new blog, a postcard from my Walk, to follow along in our adventures the next year and more and where you can meet all the members on their introduction posts, see all the postcards and get fired up yourself to do more exercise and be creative while doing it.

Hope to see you there!

à bientôt!

Ronell

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Sketches in January 2011-flora of the Loire

There is always something to pick up on a walk and take home to sketch, especially on a rainy day like we had today. I picked up a few twigs and leaves..which are always good to sketch. Leaves in winter have fascinating shapes which make up for their overall monotone brown color.

I also sketched some scampi and prawns, which are normally a translucent, greyish color, but turn red after cooking. Unfortunataly I couldn’t put these to mouth after sketching them..it felt a bit too “cannibalistic” to eat them after studying them so up and close…

..all sketches done in Fabriano artisico water color sketchbook, 18x26cm, with inks and watercolor..

…scampi and prawns..

..dry leaves of “Platanes” (Sycamore)tree and moss covered twig..

..a variety of seeds, leaves and twigs..

..bon week-end et à la prochaine fois..

Ronell

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Sketching troglodytes along the Loire.

In winter the troglodytes all along the Loire are much more visible than in summer when they hide behind lush green vegetation.They are nestled in the cliffs high and low and some are still inhabited, although it is getting less frequent, as circumstances are changing and cliffs get unstable and dangerous.

I went down the road this morning and sketched two spots where the caves/troglodytes are still inhabited and a smoke trail is often seen escaping the hidden chimneys.

…troglodytes in Montlouis sur Loire…

..sketches done in sketchbook, 14 x19cm, pen and watercolor..

My contribution to Sketchercise, where sketching and exercising combine to keep us healthy and creative at the same time!

 

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A few sketches in December

A few sketches of December…a leisurely walk by the Loire, some faces in a bar and a shed in a friends garden.

…a shed in a friend’s garden…

.. sketchbook 15,3×25 cm, watercolor and pen…

…bare tree at the loire…

..sketchbook 15,3×25 cm, watercolor and pen..

…faces in a bar…

..sketchbook 15.3 x25cm, watercolor and rotring pen..

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Sketching in Bretenoux, France

I was dropped off at the market in Bretenoux, about 30 minutes drive from Coin Perdu, early this morning. After doing my market shopping…olives and saucisson and tomatoes and peaches and berries….oh, and salad… I had time left while waiting to be picked up. Took out my sketchbook, walked around, sketched two market scenes and the “eglise”, opposite the market. My ride showed up and I had just enough time to blotch the church. A quaint little town in the department of Lot…see the link above for some nice reading on Bretenoux. But I still prefer the much quieter and rustic Correze where we have our little hide away…

…le marché à Bretenoux – baskets galore…

…colorful umbrellas on a sunny day at the market…

…l’eglise à Bretenoux…

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Sketching in Beaulieu.

Poor Africantapestry is in some abandonment. Not completely, but just enough to make her feel a bit lonely. I hope (how many times have I said this already??) to get back to frantic activity soon….one day….hopefully very soon…!! So, to all those who follow in such good spirit, thank you for your patience and loyalty and hang in there, I’ll be back with gusto soon…one day….hopefully very soon!

About two weeks ago, I went sketchersizing by the Loire at our Loire house and stopped only once for this pencil sketch, which I then added some ink lines to with an ever so slightly wash, because the pencil was too hard to get some feeling into the sketch.

…sketchersizing by the Loire…

sketch done in pencil pen and light wash in watercolor sketchbook, 26x18cm

I went sketchersizing here in Beaulieu a few days ago and sat down just when the morning market started packing up  for the day. I enjoyed a deca allongé at Les voyageurs with a view on the place and the marché.

If interested in seeing some photos of the medieval town of Beaulieu, you can visit The Charming character of Beaulieu sur dordogne at Myfrenchkitchen.

…sketchersizing in Beaulieu sur dordogne…

sketch done in pen and watercolor in watercolor sketchbook, 26x18cm..

à la prochaine!..

Ronelle