girl at large

Maison des Arts, round two

i wish every week could be like this one was.

Bert: "THAT is YOU!"

Abstract/Expressive Self-Portrait, acrylic on paper, 20" x 25.5"

i didn't intend to look so cross, that's just my natural expression when i'm concentrating. i'm pleased with this one---a good example of academic study with my own personal expression and preference for strong line, composition. blah blah arty farty blah blah blah... i think it's pretty cool, that's enough said.

more naked ladies

Marta, seated, oil on paper, 20" x 25.5"
Seated Sophie, acrylic on paper, 20" x 25.5"

figure studies

Vanille, oil on paper, 20" x 25.5"
Reclining Woman, acrylic on paper, 25" x 20"
Sophie, reclining, acrylic on paper, 9.5" x 22"

this is not what the brochure described!!

lightening, rain, gale force winds, African sand storms, high seas, closed roads, broken shutters---this is not what i was promised! yesterday morning the previous night's storm lingered, blowing red Sahara desert dust over the rooftops and cars and sloshing down large terracotta puddles in the street--the sky was glowing orange, yellow-green and gray--no way to describe it here, but it was eerie and beautiful.

and then it was just crappy, wet and cold.

Elizabeth Taylor (young) meets Liza Minelli (aged and drugged out) meets Velma (of Scooby Doo fame)

Then: Classic Self-Portrait (not completed), acrylic on paper, 20" x 25.5", May 2003
Now: Classic Self-Portrait, oil on paper, 20" x 25.5", February 2004

self-portraits suck. even I don't want to look at myself in the mirror that much. the double mirror approach (so that the true image of yourself--how others see you--is shown) doesn't help the matter of the double chin. it is an important academic exercise and good practice but it's making me dizzy and giving me a headache. or it could be all those fumes---the weather has gone crap-ola and we can't open up the studio windows as much or as often as in the summer time.

update: marked improvement from the first session at Maison des Arts to this one, if i do say so myself. just having completed it this time is an improvement!

what day is it? where am i? did i just stir my coffee with a paintbrush?

view of St. Paul from the bus stop in La Colle sur Loup

i'm taking a week's intensive painting course again at Maison des Arts in nearby (only one train then one bus ride, not too bad) La Colle sur Loup this week---long days--up at 6:30am in order to get the doggie out before i go each morning--then lots of work with new live models each day and then back home late. i'm exhausted. but a happy exhausted--sleeping very well. and painting not to badly either. more updates and posts of new work to come when i am less nicotine and caffeine dependant next week.

those are some serious lemons baby....

there's alot going on this week--Carnaval in Nice, Menton's Lemon Fest---too bad i'm going to miss seeing all those girls in bikinis on parade floats.

sloppy kisses

Miss Ruby--what other Valentine's Day kisses could a girl want? i adopted her two years ago this week. Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, shame I have to pick up my Valentine's Poo.

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, When is my Cupid due???

walking down rue d'Antibes in Cannes the other day, i thought to myself when admiring the new window displays--"oooh goodie, looks like red, my favorite color, is the new color for spring! how nice!"---then i realized that no, the frenchie fashion color scheme will shortly return to the standard black, grey, camel and olive. it's just Valentine's Day.

this morning i walked out into a lane with piped in open-air music--french love songs, and garlands of red heart balloons overhead as far as the eye could see.

the universe hates me. tell me what nation doesn't do VD these days--i'll go there.

sometimes you have to go home again.

i have really missed my furniture (too bad it's rented til next Jan.).

well, it's decided---i'm going back to the good ol' US of A. probably the first of September, sooner only if the right job comes up. i knew it was coming, but i finally did have to make the decision. and now that i have, new adventure possibilities come to mind, things i've always wanted to do back home, like Route 66 in a convertible.

i'm on the job hunt, with places like Design Within Reach and other businesses catering to the Design Addict like myself in mind. i thought some time away would lessen the need, but no, i remain hooked--but at least my new-convert modern design evangelism has mellowed over the past year. i can now pursue a proper job for the first time and not sell myself short--i'm tired of the exhausting grief and low rewards of sales and service. i want to use all the experienced i gained running the train wreck that was my last job to get a Buyer (or at least Assistant Buyer/Researcher) position with a larger, stable company. preferably in a warm and sunny climate---California here i come?!?

exploser!

Bert blew up another vacuum cleaner this week. that's right--another. this is at least number two, the cause of the first vacuum incindiary incident remains unknown but the memory of the burning canister is still fresh in some minds. he claims this incident, like the previous, was entirely unintentional and the result of a freak accident while using the doomed vacuum aboard sailing yacht Tishie Mae. the vacuum succumbed after "complete submersion in salt water leading to motor failure and eventual complete system shut down", evident in the smoke and flames. Bert was quoted as saying: "It was quite a fireball".

if you don't believe me now, you never will. i'm cursed.

the ONE time i make a mistake with my train ticket. the ONE time out of how many?!?!? of course, i sit there unknowingly holding a ticket for Juan les Pins when i am going one stop further to Antibes. honestly, an honest mistake--i was in a hurry, throwing coins in the machine, turning the silly knob while looking at the time board, and rushing to catch my train that was pulling into the station. i never even glanced at the ticket until it was too late. so, of course, this ONE time, after nearly hundreds of inspector-free trips (always with correct ticket in hand!)---the inspectors are on board. and i'm in trouble. 25 euros. for a one stop (75 cent) mistake!?!? and why, why, why does it take THREE inspectors to complete the transaction? one to hold the credit card machine (how handy), one to write the paperwork, and one to give me a lecture and wag his finger at me.

i wonder how many frenchie functionnaires it takes to change a lightbulb?

potting around

i've really been enjoying my little pottery group (both the clay work and the French conversation practice) and now that i have a few hand building techniques under my belt i've been more experimental/expressive --pics of recent work to come, they're being fired later this week. i found a little art society/studio here in Cannes awhile back and now can finally join up later this week. with membership comes the perk of access to both the drawing/painting and ceramics studios during three open sessions each week--AND they have a RAKU kiln! yippee!

with my interest in pottery growing, i've been looking for some pot blogs (ha ha) and haven't had much luck--seems i'm not the only one.

i wonder on what occasion one does NOT wear a scarf?

i helped Maria dye her hair this afternoon and noticed that the instruction sheet was undeniably french....the illustrated woman demonstrated the use of the post-color conditioner while wearing a scarf.

she wasn't drawn smoking a cigarette however--perhaps the stuff is flamable?

land of Lincoln

Angel and Dan are moving to Chicago! good timing--i still have that list of 'must-do's' i made the other week for Emma. it will be easier to visit them now---i can get to Chicago much more frequently than i can Texas. but i wonder, will they miss the ten-gallon hats?

FYI

i'm farting around with the categories and organization of the GALLERY site, so it may be goofy until i've finished sorting it in a few days.

economies of scale

Maxi Bazaar (Woolworth's meets The Dollar Store) has curtains on sale...by the kilo. there's a little handy electronic scale in the display. well, whaddya know.

easel update

Red Shirt, 20" x 25.5", oil pastel, watercolor and graphite on paper
Lemon, 20" x 25.5", oil pastel on paper

Bert in his natural habitat

making friends with the frenchies

it's been a banner inter-cultural exchange weekend here.

last night i was stopped by Sweet Hair Girl as i walked up to the market. she was excited and animated--after a proper greeting (kiss kiss, ca va?) i understood that she and her two girlfriends (whom i was introduced to!) were telling me that she's left our usual salon! non! she was worried about finding me and Maman again--she knew we lived just down the road, which she wandered up and down a few times searching for us. imagine. thank goodness we ran into each other--i'd not have anyone else do my hair--she's absolutely charming and i really enjoy speaking in french with someone near my age, someone i would be friends with. well, maybe we are friends now--after she's settled in her new salon, opening in two weeks, we're going to go get a coffee!

then this morning, Monsieur Bernard rang the bell at the house with mom's wallet, keys and Carmex (?!) in hand. we had arranged to meet at La Poste because he wasn't familiar with Antibes, but he managed to find it afterall from my inadequate-in-any-language directions. another happy greeting (kiss kiss ca va?) what a charmer! he was expressive and excited to have found Maman. though the cash and cards are gone of course it is a comfort to have the wallet back--and the all important Carmex.

and then, a few minutes later i was walking Ruby down Dog Pee Lane when a small Frenchman started talking to me--i wasn't paying attention at first, but then realized he was complimenting me on my 'picking up'. he did a little dog-poo-avoidance dance to demonstrate how he has to walk down his lane until everyone picks up 'les crottes' like i do. and he smiled.

i can't describe what a triumph a few interactions like this feels like. the frenchies walk about with grim, dour faces on --a wall between themselves and the strangers they are surrounded by. to crack that, to make a connection--especially in their language--is a feat! and when it happens--their smiles are so genuine and remarkable. it makes me feel good all day.