Rue Droite

Rue Droite. Oil on canvas.
Summer 2003




Rue Droite yesterday.


I took the photograph of Rue Droite yesterday when it was quiet and no-one was around. It led me to think of the painting I did here in 2003 which I sold some years ago. I searched for the image on my laptop and was disappointed that the colours are less vivid than the original painting. Nevertheless I remember the summer well and I remember painting the picture. It was coming to the end of my stay and I needed to go into Cahors and search for an art shop to buy a fresh canvas. The shop now sells other things - the Art shop has gone. It happens all the time!

Back at work.

My family left for London yesterday and today a friend who is passing through the Lot will call for lunch. Then it's back to work. Two paintings completed and two more to finish. I have sold two paintings this month back in Wales which is always a nice touch! I reckon I have three weeks to paint and two to let them dry sufficiently to be able to transport them home. During the drying time I'll go and stay for a few days with a friend near Limoges.

It's hot!

It's very hot and I've suspended work to prepare for my family who will be arriving in a couple of days. The music from the fair in the centre of the village has just started up and it floats across the rooftops to where I'm sitting. It will still be playing when I go to bed and when I fall asleep.

August in France

The mornings are sunny and the air fresh but by mid morning it's very hot and lunchtime always offers a welcome break from work. I have two paintings finished and the third I expected to have completed by now but I'm struggling a bit. It's a large canvas and they are always more difficult, as are the very small ones. Tomorrow I'll start again and hope that the work goes well.

The Millennium Stadium in Montcuq.

Saturday was always going to be a good day. I worked hard all morning and then went to the café in the village to watch the rugby on TV - Wales playing England at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The only Welsh person there I felt a lot was riding on this game. Surrounded by English men who were becoming increasingly confident that England would win I was willing the Welsh squad to prove them wrong. When Hook scored the try I yelled and the French barman yelled with me. Nothing could wipe the smile from my face - with the final score of 19-9 - it was the sweetest moment.

From Wales to France

I came in time to see the fields of sunflowers although it won't be long before they lose their colour. When I left my garden in Wales the flowers were in full bloom. I picked a large bunch of lavender on the morning I set off and it travelled with me in the car to Montcuq. It could be seen as madness to bring lavender to France but the fragrance kept drifting across as I drove and it felt good. Now the drying blooms sit in my kitchen, still fragrant.
Yesterday I went to the opening of a friend's exhibition of photographs in the Mairie. It was a good chance to see everyone since most of the village were there. It is possible to have an exhibition there but the gallery takes around 30 canvases. I can't see how I could get that many together, not in the short term anyway.
In the meantime I'm concentrating on the 20-25 paintings I need for the Albany Gallery in April.
My studio is set up and I'm already at work!