MY 300th BLOG!

Hello friends and followers, I've come to a landmark, my 300th blog post and I've decided to celebrate with a look back over the last 5 years of blogging.  This hydrangea was the first picture I posted on Nature sketchers after I was invited to join by Cathy Johnson who runs the Artist's Journal Workshop group on Facebook.  She had seen my drawings and thought I might be interested in contributing and to qualify for the group I had to have my own blog, hence the birth of Colours in the Breizh.

In January of 2012 I started to keep a nature journal to record the happenings in and around my home here in Brittany.  I really enjoyed the discipline of going out every day to find something to draw in my sketchbook and then later I re-visited all the pages again to post on the blog.  I've shown the book to several people here and I hope I've inspired some to start the drawing and observing habit too.

By the end of 2012 I was looking for a new project and discovered the 75 day challenge organised by Brenda Swenson, a watercolour artist and sketcher in America. The aim was to draw for 75 days using only pens, so I sorted out my rather large collection and found I had all sorts from fine liners, through brush pens and markers to biros.  At the end of the challenge I received my 'Artistic License' from Brenda and a nice handwritten card congratulating me on completing.

I found a black sketchbook at a car boot sale locally for 1euro and after covering it with a pretty fabric it became another occasional nature journal.  It's quite a challenge to find the right colours that stand out on black paper but I found it a useful learning experience.  I was using my newly discovered Museum coloured pencils which have a rich pigment that works well on a dark background.

My main love of sketching is to draw when we are on holiday and as we go to so many different places in our camping car I usually fill a sketchbook each time we go away.  I take photographs too but they don't get looked at nearly as much as the sketches which are also a useful way to identify places and dates when we're discussing them later.  In fact this sketch of Chinon chateau is different from the one I drew several years earlier before the extensive renovations were undertaken.

Another challenge I took part in was the 2015 January challenge where a different subject is posted for each day of the month.  It was fascinating to see all the other participants' interpretations of the same subject as we all posted them to a special page on Facebook.

When we go to England to see the family I love to draw my surroundings as well as trying to sketch live portraits. Joanna had moved to a new house in 2014 so I drew the lounge while we all relaxed on a Sunday afternoon.

Just occasionally I copy photos to complement the 'plein air' sketches, especially when there isn't time to draw everything I see!  These sheep at a farmer's festival were such fun to capture as well as the horses and the snail I drew afterwards.  I have a small tin of coloured pencil stubs that I take on our travels so my palette is limited which means I have to be a bit creative with my interpretation, as you can see I've used a lilac for the shadows which I think makes the picture more interesting.

I love to make my own clothes and I'm always on the lookout for interesting fabrics so when I found a stall in the market at Tenerife selling pretty sarongs I couldn't resist. In fact over 4 years I bought several different ones and each year when we returned I went to show the girls on the stall what I had made, needless to say they were delighted.  This is the latest one which I eventually made with 2 sarongs so there was a nice long piece left over to make a scarf.

In January 2012 I took a bookbinding class so I could learn how to make my own sketchbooks and it has changed my life.  Now I'm always looking out for interesting fabric to cover them with and unusual paper to draw on.  When a friend gave me a stash of old maps I made some of them into a couple of sketchbooks with hand-made drawing paper samples stuck to the plain back of the map and a square of gesso on the map side to draw on. The gesso was a bit hard on my drawing pens but I had a lot of fun trying out the different papers with different media.  Another trial and error experience!

I have a friend, Rose Jones, who is a brilliant photographer who has given me permission to use her photos as inspiration,  This one is done in pen only using triplus pens in different colours.  It's quite exciting to try out new products recommended by friends and most of them work very well for me, although there are a few lying untouched that I keep trying but then abandon again!

My family are my greatest love and drawing their portraits gives me a lot of pleasure.  I have a revolving gallery in our hallway where I frame the latest drawings as they are completed.  This one of Sarah with her cat Odin in graphite is a favourite.  I have a folder with all the portraits in and it's fascinating to see my progress over the last 15 or more years.

In the last year or so I've started to move in a different direction with my art thanks to my friend Luba who was the director of the Belarus fashion company. She gave me bagfulls of  samples which have inspired me to start using them as stitched collages using my sewing machine.  Each time she comes back from Minsk she brings another batch of amazing silks and linens, wools and jerseys in fabulous colours and textures that I can't resist playing with and turning into interpretations of my photos taken on our travels, like this one of Roussillon.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed our trip down memory lane, maybe if you have any friends interested in seeing what I do you could pass on my name, I would love to increase my readership.

SUMMER TRIP 2017 PART 4

 

As we were in the French alps it was time to stay on a mountain camp for a change and we chose Allevard les Bains, another thermal cure centre.  We chose a campsite called Clair Matin and we arrived there at 1030 in the morning after our early escape from Aix.  The welcome was so friendly from the whole family who worked on the site that we were pleased to have arrived sooner than expected. This sketch of the view from the top level of the camp is also now an embroidery.

 

The camp is situated in a valley in the Belldonne range and there is a small lake formed by a dam nearby and we walked there one morning as it was too hilly to bother getting the bikes out.  It was also too hot to walk too far so we soon went back to camp for a cool beer at the snack bar where we met some of the regular campers who come every year for their 'cure' at the thermals.

 

I picked a selection of wildflowers on the way back to draw during the afternoon.

 

The campsite had lots of mature trees interspersed with the pitches and this large silver birch was on ours.  It must have been pretty old as the trunk was very thick and twisted and gnarled.  I really enjoyed the challenge of trying to draw it in my parallel pen normally used for calligraphy.

 

The town of Allevard was nestled in between the mountains with some steep streets leading down to the square in the centre where we stopped for a coffee after walking there on the Sunday morning.  It was market day so there were a few colourful stalls selling fruit and fish.

 

The next time we went to town for a coffee was a holiday and very quiet but after waiting 10 minutes to be served we went back to camp to our friend Terry's inn  for a beer instead!  He was a great English guy who has made his life in France running the snack bar on the campsite and cooking delicious food.

 

 

Here's the embroidery of the top sketch, that pretty building in the bottom right is actually the shower block with living accommodation upstairs for one of the family.  I sent them an email to thank them for making our time there so pleasant as well as a copy of this picture and they were delighted.

My next blog is going to be a special one to celebrate 5 years and 300 blogs published, I hope you will join me then!

 

 

 

SUMMER TRIP 2017 PART 3

 

 

Our next stop on this trip was at Lake Annecy where we stayed on 2 different campsites.

This is  hand stitched picture of the view of the lake which I spent about a week working on while we were there.

 

 

 

The first was called Les Rives du Lac which had this jetty and a beach right at the water's edge in the camping ground.  We had to wear the blue band to prove that we were staying there as the  proprietors were concerned that the public could just walk in and use the excellent facilities.

 

As it was a holiday weekend we could only stay for 2 days because the camp was fully booked from the Thursday onwards.  So we got on our bikes and went in search of another camp with more space.  Our first attempt was at the Panoramic which as the name implies was at the top of one of the hills overlooking the lake.  After pushing our bikes most of the way to the top we were rewarded with fabulous views but we knew it would be impossible to stay there!

 

 

Eventually we came back to water level and found a wonderful, friendly site with plenty of space where we chose on of the best pitches on the edge of a field with views up to the mountains.

There is a fantastic cycle way running the length of the lake and beyond which we used every day to explore.  Going south from the camp we came to Duingt which was a tiny village with typical cottages and a fantastic bakery next to the little bar cum paper shop where we refreshed ourselves before cycling back to camp.

This is the view from our pitch which we enjoyed every day sitting with our lunch or a glass or two in the evening.  We did visit the town of Annecy while we were there but as it was the holidays and market day it was very busy and the cycleway resembled a motorway with people going in both directions an all sorts of self propelled wheels some even with trailers for children.

 

There was a stream between us and the field which some of the tent campers used to keep their drinks cool until it dried up in  the heat!

We loved our time by this beautiful lake but all too soon it was time to move on.

 

 

 

We had been recommended a campsite on the side of lake Bourget at Aix les Bains which was difficult to find but eventually we succeeded with the help of the GPS. It was in a lovely location only 100 metres from the water and near plenty of cafes and restaurants, but the pitches were not very flat or clean and the showers did have very hot water.  All this for 23 euros a night, the highest price we paid during the trip.

After being woken at 7am by the builders on the site next door and the noise of marquees being erected for a motorbike festival on the open space by the lake we decided that enough was enough and left after 2 nights. We did manage to cycle the path along the lake which was very pleasant but later when the wind picked up it became quite stormy.  The town of Aix les Bains which is famous for it's thermal treatments will have to wait for another day.

SUMMER 2017 TRIP PART 2

After 5 lovely days at Briare it was time to move on  and we decided to visit St Fargeau on the way to our next destination. We had been recommended by our neighbour as he had grown up in the town and his grandfather had worked in the chateau gardens.

We finally arrived at Decize late in the afternoon and set up camp by the Vielle Loire, a tributary that joins the main river at this point.  We were lucky enough to watch this heron from our chairs as he slowly walked searching for his supper while we sipped a glass of rosé.

The town of Decize is famous for the Promenade des Halles, a 985 metre long alley of Plane and Lime trees, protected by the inventory of historic monuments.  I couldn't resist sketching the trees, sitting in the shade in the afternoon.

I had decided before leaving home to bring some hand sewing materials with me to try my hand at embroidery while we were on holiday .  Here is my first attempt copying my sketch and inventing stitches as I went along.  Bob suggested appliqueing the 2 large trees as I would have had to spend far too long stitching those big trunks.

Here is the finished picture, it measures 14 x 19 cms and the colour is really much greener than it appears here.  What do you think, have I found another new medium to add to all the others?

Here's an aerial view of the alley and the confluence of the rivers so you can see what a beautiful place it is. The campsite was near the top of the island right by the water's edge.

Sadly some of the trees in the alley had become diseased and had to be cut down, leaving several gaps in the line.  When we arrived the workmen were busy cleaning up the large trunks and sweeping away the branches but I managed to pick up a wedge to take back to camp to draw on a rainy afternoon.

We left Decize on the Saturday morning as there was a motorbike festival planned for the weekend and we didn't really fancy being kept awake by the ZZ top tribute band or the sound of hundreds of bikers turning up at all times!



We moved on to another historic town, Paray le Monial, famous for it's basilica and of course on a canal so we could continue our biking experiences. I didn't do much drawing here as we were busy cycling about and exploring the town.

Next time we visit Annecy, a beautiful town with a fabulous turquoise lake.

A bientot!

SUMMER 2017 TRIP PART 1

We have just returned from our summer camping car trip to the Loire valley and the alps.  We started at Briare where there is a renowned canal bridge over the river that we had wanted to see for some time.

Here is a photo I took of the canal bridge with a boat passing over the river.

We took our orchid houseplant away with us as the neighbour who normally cares for it was away on holiday at the same time. It travelled in the shower room and sat on the dining table when we were parked up.

As we drove down the motorway my eye was caught by the tall slim trees overtaken by mistletoe, I love the shapes that show up before the new spring leaves come out and hide the clumps.

This looks like an interesting possibility for a needlepainting.

We cycled into town on Sunday morning and sat in the shade of the parasols outside the café with a coffee before going to look at the canal bridge. The cathedral at the end of the square was an interesting structure but impossible to draw so I decided tp concentrate on a small section.

We had a lovely pitch by the river and a view of the trees and wildlife.

My new sketchbook is made with a combination of 2 different papers, A rough Arches watercolour paper and some very smooth Vivaldi drawing paper.  It was really nice to have the contrasting surfaces to work on

The Loire valley has many cycle paths along the river and the canals which are perfect for exploring the area, being mainly flat.  We took advantage of them while we were at Briare to visit other villages and enjoy the wildlife we saw along the way. This is the otter we stood and watched for several minutes as it swam along the canal.

The campsite had a large shower and toilet block with open rafters where a flock of swallows had taken up residence, building their nests in almost every nook and cranny they could find, even on the light fittings.  I spent some time just watching and listening to them chattering to each other as they worked collecting twigs and mud to make their homes ready for their families.  I would love to have been there when the eggs hatched and the fledglings came out for their first flying lessons!

 Another day we cycled to Gien along the paths through the countryside for a tasty lunch out and a visit to the town where Bob had bought the first pieces of pottery that began my collection 45 years ago. 

A BIT MORE NEEDLEPAINTING.

After a while using my sewing machine for needlepainting, I felt the urge to do some hand stitching relaxing on the sofa instead of bent over the machine buzzing away!  We had spent a lovely evening with our friends and Luba gave me a bag full of scraps from her dress designing days.  Michel and Helene were also there and Michel was telling us about his latest photographic exhibition at Caen.  He showed us the catalogue and a light bulb went off in my head, here in one hand I had the exactly right coloured fabrics and wonderful abstract images in the other.  I couldn't wait to get started the next Morning.

Michel takes beautiful pictures of the light shining through stained glass windows as they reflect on ancient stone church walls.  His website is:  www.michel-follorou.fr if you are interested in having a look, I feel sure you will be as bowled over by what you as I am.

I made a collage of blue silks and linens with some black velvet all stitched to a black needlecord base with a selection of cotton knitting yarns which were all I had to hand at the time.  When it was finished I pressed it and backed it with iron on interfacing and then made a frame of the rest of the blue/green shot silk backed with interfacing.  The last touch was to back the whole picture with some plain black lining up-cycled from an old skirt and make a slot along the top so I can hang it on the wall.

I'm very pleased with my first hand stitched abstract piece of work and the second one is already under way.  What do you think?

I'll share the next piece with you and hopefully lots of sketches too when we come back from our summer camping car trip which starts tomorrow morning.

2017 SPRING TRIP TO ENGLAND

 

W have just returned from a lovely but very full time in England visiting the family.  We rented a log chalet on a site in the Surrey hills between Guildford and Dorking.  This is the view from our front window of the wonderful trees that were growing all over the site.

From the side window we has this lovely view over the roof tops across to the distant hills of the North Downs.

On the first Sunday we had a delicious lunch with Mum and Ivor and Janet, Bob's brother and sister-in-law, in a restaurant at Gomshall Mill.

We were really close to some beautiful countryside and one day Justine came to spend the afternoon with me walking through the bluebell woods.  She knows the area very well as she lives nearby and goes cycling with a friend through the lanes every week.

Our next stop was at Whitstable where we spent the night with Jo and the two Jameses.  Young Jimmy was very pleased to see me and show off his brand new trainers as he put them on ready to go out.

We went to a local wine bar for a drink and a joke!

Lovely to see my girls even though we don't have a lot of time together we do make the most of it!

Next stop was the annual garden party at Justine's house near Guildford where she has worked very hard to prepare for this special occasion.  My brother Christopher and sister Juliet make the effort to come despite the distances they have to travel.

I managed to get Justine and Jo together at the end of  a very busy and successful afternoon.

Even the 3 gorgeous granddaughters posed for a few photos!

Here I am with my stall of goodies for sale, I nearly sold out and was able to donate £100 to the Woking Hospice.

All together we raised over £600 on the day and Kevin, Justine's husband added another £200 as a personal donation.

And finally a sketch from my handbag mini moleskine sketchbook by Jimmy of me on the left and himself on the right although I had to help with the logo on his teeshirt!