La Bergere

"La Bergere", (the shepperdess), is the nickname used for Jacqueline in the French Pyrenees. She's always helping others, connecting people together, communicating with everybody. She owns a small gallery/bookstore/gift shop in Saint Savin, next to the church, where she holds conferences, art shows, book and poetry readings, inviting new and old alike. She greets everybody with a hug and a smile. I met her in 2007, when I barely spoke French, but we managed to communicate. She saw a few of my paintings and offered me to have a solo show in her gallery. That was my first exhibition in France.

I did this pastel portrait of her, from the back, with her typical "chignon", looking toward the ancient church of Saint Savin, as a present for her in 2007. Jacqueline will be 80 years old in a few days; they are doing a book about the Pyrenees celebrating her birthday, and this painting has been selected to be on the cover. La Bergere, pastel, 20x16" (50x40 cm.) She's bringing people together again.