Artnotes: Walking Slow

 Recess  Laurie Fox Pessemier   Acrylic/wood  9.5 x 7"  24 x 17 cm

 Falling leaves   Blair Pessemier   Acrylic/linen  14 x 11"  x  27 x 35 cm

 On the Bench   Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/linen  12 x 16"  31 x 41 cm 

 Turning Fall   Blair Pessemier   Acrylic/linen panel  9.5 x 13"  24 x 33 cm

 Girls on the Playground   Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/panel  14 x 9.5"  35 x 24 cm

 Fall in the Garden   Laurie Fox Pessemier   Acrylic/linen  13 x 18 "  33 x 46 cm

Basketball   Laurie Fox Pessemier   Acrylic/wood  13 x 4.5"  33 x 11.5 cm

Artnotes:  Walking Slow

“How old is that dog?”  Harika hobbles around like she’s 110.  Were she to see another dog or a fox, she’d spring into action just like her 7 years dictate.   The gypsy who sits next to the mailbox in front of the cigar store asked me about her.  Harika loves the Rom people, and they love her – their language, which is nearly impossible for me to understand (at first, I thought he was speaking Spanish), is loud and clear to my dog.

He asked if we were from England.  No.  America.  Surprise.  You must have family here.   No, I said no family.  His world was turned upside-down.  THEY are one big family – it is rare to see any one of them alone.  They are one of the most stable element sof the neighborhood – stores, restaurants, hairdressers change names and ownership, or just go out of business .  The gypsies endure.

I am surprised myself that I have so few friends and family (chosen or otherwise)  here in Paris .  In the USA, we have lots of friends, which is kind of what makes up for it.  In Paris, we have more visitors than anyone else I know.  It is the greatest:  people come to see us, and we do absolutely terrific things like go to museum shows, or out to the French countryside.  Our very good friends from the DC area who sometimes take care of Harika,  came for three days this week (they were mainly visiting UK).  We ate fois gras and veal chops, went out for soufflés, and walked in the gentle, balmy evening.  We caught up.

We’ve been painting commissions this week, so although it might appear we have slackened production, we have not.  Monet’s painting boat is also advancing.  I am soliciting a bid via Ali Baba, from  a Lithuanian wood boat builder.  I have contacted eleven marine insurers for sponsorship.  If you have any ideas, or just want to contribute, I’ll send you a painting of water in thanks.

Blair and I painted on our own this week, and with one workshop painter.  Our Luxembourg show at the Petit Lux (29 rue Vaugirard) has sold two paintings.   Blair is packing up for his trip to America and the PIEDMONT PAINT OUT .  Harika and I will make like the merry widows and go see our friends in St . Malo.  I actually got a round trip first class train ticket for 68 euros; Harika’s fare is 7 each way.  She has to be in her carry sack, but I’ll manage.

I walk slow, too, but only so I can look in all the store windows.