Sandcastle Blair Pessemier Pencil on Paper 8 x 10 inches
Sketch in the Park April 2013 Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic on wood 7 x 20
People on the Trouville Beach Blair Pessemier Acrylic on panel 11 x 16 inches
Cherry Tree April 2013 Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic on wood 8.5 x 14.5 inches
Sketch on the Trouville Beach Laurie Fox Pessemier 3.5 x 14 inches
Hoards on the Beach Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic on linen 11 x 16 inches
ARTNOTES: SAND
I felt like Paul Bunyan in the desert this morning – we were
walking on the beach in Trouville with Harika, observing sandcastles from the day
before in various states of ruin. Is
that the Ishtar Gate?
On Sunday the sand was packed with families of all ages and
mixes, having fun on the beach. I enjoy
the increasing cultural diversity in France.
It used to be I was the odd ball in Normandy, with brown eyes. Sunday we sat beside a Russian/Chinese couple
with two French children. The daughter staged a coup on someone’s
abandoned sandcastle, built by two English girls. A woman passed by in an Arabic dress, black
with bright pink sport stripes down the sides.
People ask me, isn’t it too crowded? I LOVE all the people, at ease, in various
stages of dress. I also like the beach
without people, when we can see forever.
This morning was clear and blue, the sky reflected in huge puddles the
tide had left as it receded nearly a quarter mile. We picked up shells and rocks. I found a piece of corroded iron that looked
like the nativity, but not quite enough.
Harika barrels along like Babe, the blue ox, knocking over
castles and hiding in the moats. Some
are large enough that she can disappear in the hole entirely. Her friend, Milou, the restaurant dog, pees
on the tower.
Razor clams make great crenulations. One fort incorporates a human sized chair
lined with razor clams – it is impossible to capture in drawing, especially
after being routed by Harika. There are
entire villages laid out, in square, round and kidney shapes.
And, it’s finally warm enough to sit ON the beach. Harika sunbathed as we painted and the rest
of the world real and imaginary, played.
