ARCACHON LETTER 9, watercolor

ARCACHON LETTER 9, watercolor on a letter, sent.
I was a few days in Arcachon, a beautiful and elegant beach city near Bordeaux, in France. One day I was looking for postcards, and found a series of 10 envelopes each with a scene of Arcachon. Since I had white writing paper, I painted in watercolor, in the corner, one scene on each paper sheet. Then I wrote letters to friends. Each one received a letter with an original watercolor, matching the photograph on the envelope. They were happy. One of my friends even framed the letter!

Bordeaux, Port de la Lune, ink-wash

BORDEAUX, PORT DE LA LUNE, 15 minute inkwash,  plein air, sitting right here!!

What a beautiful city! Bordeaux, on the river La Garonne, an elegant city with beautiful water fountains, the river, incredible bridges, excellent wines, and good friends. What more can one wish? I even had good weather! I had a fabulous weekend in Bordeaux, and now it's back to work, continuing  my watercolor workshops in France. My friend Daniele Hoursiangou, journalist and poet in Bordeaux, has recently published another book of poems: Territoires Caches. (Hidden Lands). From there, I'm copying this poem, in its original French:

"Tout Passera
Violence d'avril
Rage du vainqueur
Tout est cru comme cuirasses au soleil
Mon propre sang m'attaque
Douleur de mes yeux
Tenailles sur mes vaisseaux trop tendres
Les broussailles glaces
Le vent aigu et les bois gris
Tout passera. "

Notre Dame de le Petit Pont, Paris, watercolor sketch

Notre Dame de le Petit Pont, Paris, watercolor sketch, 21x15cm. Available.
Walking around Paris and stopping to sketch is one of my favorite activities. There is always something going on. Groups of turists taking pictures everywhere, while locals go about their business, announcements of concerts, plays, art exhibitions distract you. Meanwhile the clouds play their hide and seek game with the sun...ahh..a day out in Paris....just walking around and stopping for a cup of coffee, or a glass of Bordeaux, and my sketchbook...