Recommended for All Studio ArtistsCategory Archives: Overseas Painting Trip & Preparations
The Monet Magnet & a Great Party! – My Last Day in Giverny, France
Previous to my trip to Givery, I questioned all of the notoriety bestowed upon Claude Monet. Now I understand and agree that it is warranted. He was before his time in so many ways, and driven to pursue his dreams, despite several tragedies and hardships. Is this a door to one of Monet’s studios? At one [...]
Illegal Behavior While Painting in Monet Gardens! – Day 8 in France
Every morning at our Inn we were greeted with fresh croissants, coffee, homemade jams, etc. If the weather cooperated, we ate outside. You are correct, we never went hungry during our entire 9 days. Following breakfast, Elizabeth Mowry, an internationally known pastel artist and our instructor/hostess, started a demonstration for us to watch. These demos [...]
Travel to Étretat & Honfleur, France – Day 7 of Art Trip to Giverny
Did Monet and his fellow artist buddies make Étretat famous through their impressionist paintings? I do not know, but I am sure there are many of us who would not have seen or heard of this rock outcropping into the sea, if we had not seen one or more of Monet’s paintings. Ten of us [...]
To the French Countryside, then Back to Monet’s Gardens – Day 6
Do you know what crop this is? I didn’t. It is flax. The dainty blue flowers are wondrous and just wave in the breeze. Monday morning, 4 of us decided to leave the intimate village of Giverny and explore the town of Les Andelys about 40 minutes away. Our first stop was to be the [...]
Monet’s Gardens in the Mist & the Impressionists Museum – Giverny, Day 5
The weather goddess decided that we had had too much lovely summer weather, so we woke up to rain and thunderstorms. Frankly, my psyche needed the break from all of the activity the last 4 days, and I welcomed the change. However, the heavy rains stopped right after breakfast, and someone suggested it would be [...]
To the Market & Other Gardens of Giverny – Day 4
Before leaving for France, I dutifully did some research about the area surrounding Giverny. I discovered there was a Sat. morning market in Vernon, a city just 4km up the road. So our schedule was changed and most of us went to the market. I had great fun buying clothes, as well as some soaps,hats, [...]
How do You Use Rice Flour Glue to Prep Pastel Boards?
In preparation for my painting trip to Giverny, France with Elizabeth Mowry, I am having to think simply, efficiently and as light as possible in packing my art materials. My favorite method of prepping my pastel boards, is to glue Wallis pastel paper to rag mat boards. Why rice flour versus other flours? It is [...]
Prepping Pastel Boards for Travel to France with Elizabeth Mowry
Packing for international travel can be head scratcher (what have I forgotten, what clothes for what weather, etc?) even if it just yourself, but throwing in art materials for plein air painting is an even greater challenge. The tight security of air travel today adds another cherry to the pile. On June 1st, I am off [...]