Sitting by the Seine Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic on canvas panel 12 x 12 inches SOLD
Fountain with Boat Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic on canvas panel 12 x 12 inches
Pond at Luxembourg Gardens September Blair Pessemier Acrylic on canvas 11 x 14 inches
Black-eyed Susans in Paris Blair Pessemier Acrylic on canvas 12 x 12 inchesSOLD
Pont Neuf Blair Pessemier Acrylic on linen 11 x 16 inches SOLD
ARTNOTES: BLIND DATE
"Maybe that’s them – no, they seem too old"
"I know it’s a
couple, but I don’t know the name of the other one – could they be two
boys?"
" I hope that’s not them in the white clothes. Phew!"
" I hope that’s not them in the white clothes. Phew!"
" Hi! are you looking for us?"
Each time we meet painters for our workshop, it’s a little
like a blind date. We have no idea who they are, what they look
like – at least they can see a picture of us on our website, and we set up an
easel at the designated rendezvous point as a “tip-off”.
It can be a very
anxious moment for me. I am always
worried they won’t show up, or won’t like us.
Really, we have had the most wonderful people – I am always pleasantly surprised
and honored to make their acquaintance.
This week we had a couple from Australia – two new painters
who wanted to give it a try. We set up on the banks of the Seine and painted
bridges: a formidable subject,
especially for me, who has zero sense of
perspective and/or drawing. In fact both
of them excelled! Maybe brains are set
up differently from “down under”.
We found a great spot, without too much activity. It wasn’t totally without activity, however,
as a fashion photo shoot set up nearby:
a girl in a swirly skirt twirled around, showing off the cut of the
cloth. Then they borrowed the bicycle of one of our
painters. Still, all four of us painted two paintings
each.
We juggled lessons on Tuesday and Friday with moving into
our studio at 14, rue Servandoni, near the Luxembourg Gardens. Blair and I painted the large wall and door,
and Blair touched up the outside of the building. It looks terrific and people have been
trickling in.
This morning we walked with Harika to the banks of the
Seine. At 8 o’clock the water is smooth as glass and
the underside of the bride is perfectly reflected in the water. The first barge passed by at 8:30, at an
extremely low speed, barely upsetting the mirror like surface: a small ripple, but no splash, like an
Olympic diver. We wished we had our
paints with us.
By nine, the sun is brutally bright overhead and joggers
(the bain of our painting peace) are hauling their smelly selves before us (I have been run into three times). We walk
back on the little streets, admiring shoes and fall clothes in the windows. I have new ideas for painting.
