Nature shots, France 2013

Went for a lovely walk up the hill today.  Had some photo fun!

And me...

French Life, seen through my eyes....

Yesterday I ventured out in the car in search of eggs and gas.  By the afternoon I was successful!  We had no gps or map and although it was supposed to be a straight run, we got lost more then several times.  I only stalled the car no fewer then eight times.  Luckily we had nowhere in particular to be, and I was able to somehow get a French only speaking policeman to direct me to a gas station, and got yelled out by gas attendant which I took to mean that you pump first then pay.  I am communicating on a very high level at this point due to great interpretation skills....

These were taken in the building where I am staying at.

Le Couvent, My Third Full Day!

A rainy and cold morning clearing to sun and wind. Here are the small tree paintings from this morning.  But first, a painting done last night titled "Driving in France".  Enjoy!  ~

Another Day at Le Couvent, Auzits, France

Today I took the car, a standard, out for a spin in the countryside.  My navigator, Laura, the artist from Australian.  We got lost several times, her phone, with GPS, had a water incident, so we were without a map.  Did we let that stop us, not at all....

We found neither the gas station or food (both very needed).  Apparently they shut down from noon to 3pm.  We did get postcards and stamps, at two different locations, use a public bathroom and actually found our way back to the counvent.  I admit, I stalled the car more then a few times, I did some amazing k-turns, and did not get us killed.  I am really an excellent driver...

Here are painting and photo diary updates:

The church, or my take of it!

Out my window...

This is the view out my studio window.  I saw some tourists walking around yesterday, and I thought, wow, I am staying at a place that people come to sight see.  I get to experience actually living in that place!

Been in the studio!

Yesterday and today were very productive days.  Below are the results, I hope to start working larger as soon as I have a direction in place.  Enjoy!  ~ callie

(Click on to enlarge)

My life at Le Couvent, France

The countryside is so green, the curved roofs remind me of Gaudi, and the people, super wonderful.  My French is less then minimal, but I am smiling a lot and thanking everyone.  I had a group of students march through my studio yesterday, I was not even set up yet, so we had a computer art viewing.

I have since begun painting.  I have a desire to paint the houses, will see if that comes to fruition.  In the meantime I am working on my tree series and waiting for new inspiration to hit.

Ah, Le CouveNt, France...

 My arrival happened in a drizzle of rain.  Night was falling and I had been mostly sitting in airports all day, so after a drive through extremely windy roads, filled with excitement, I was there!  Lynn set out a dinner for me, since I would not get to shop until the next day.  Laura, another resident there from Australia, showed me how to make my way around the kitchen and cook my chicken.  A nice bottle of red wine awaited me, and I shared this with my new friend and savior.

Many stories of her upbringing in Sidney later, we went out for a walk, but it as way too dark to explore the cemetery.  That could wait for daylight.  Which I did walk through today.  It is tiny and family members still seem to be buried on top of each other there.  I saw a headstone from 1960!

Sergio and Lynn run the residency.  I believe that Sergio owns a few of the buildings around the church and is from Argentina.  I respond to him in Spanish and French, or as I like to call it, "English".  A group of teenage school children came by today for a tour.  They were super curious, and I had nothing to show them.  So I brought some artwork up on my computer, brought out my paints and paper and smiled a great big American smile!  I think they were thrilled with me, right?   And were invited to come back for my final day.

The church bells went off at 8am this morning and ring forever, but I was able to fall back asleep until 11:30 and hopefully avoid any jet lag.  Luckily Laura also awoke at that time so I could bum milk and coffee off of her.  I had my packets of oatmeal with me, along with some power bars to hold me over.

You need the car to get to town, we are situated on top of the hill/mountain.  I am the only artist, out of us three, who can drive, or brought an international driver's license.  The car is standard, the streets steep and windy.  I will be fine.  Ah, the church bells are going off again, it is four.



The building we are in is quite ancient, today Laura and I explored the attic.  Although very clean, a bird was flying around in one room.  The windows are many, and screens are unheard of.  Past artist projects are about, but my studio was cleaned and I was provided with whatever I needed.  Sergio even hooked my computer to speakers for music, he is a very musically oriented kind of fella.  Musicians come to perform here, the first floor has a huge gallery space and a church alter area with two huge stained windows.

I am off to begin my work here.  More photos to come.  ~ callie