My grandmother who did not speak excellent Engrise, one winter evening, trying to be chatty with my Father who had just returned from school said to him, “it’s foggncold outside“…

Unfortuneately I missed the vernissage of the new exhibition, “Images, Imprimees, Expo”,  by the artist Claire Soissons because it was foggncold. 

Fortunately the exhibition continues until the 3rd of February, details below. (more…)

Friends some times ask me why am I living so far from the sea when I am a marine art specialist and  a “man of the sea?
The full answer is complex. Part of the reason is the light is excellent for marine paintings.

Another part is it is fun here. I never know what events will happen next.

On my list right now is giving a dinner tonight for an advertising agency director and other friends, an evening dinner on Saturday with French friends and the fete des venedanges 23 to 30 October. 

I have little idea what it entales but the publicity picture from Gaillac sure looks fun, musiques, tapas et vins naturels.

What on earth is that girl doing in that barrel?

The week end just passed is a big event in France, 90 % of shops shut. I was not allowed to buy one single drink… 

You might think this an odd place 3 hours drive inland to find a marine artist, to create marine art?   

Read of and have a taste of some reasons why (more…)

Part 1. The French economy is stronger.
Part 2. The Euro will slump.
Part 3. The sex life. (more…)

As mentioned in “further reading” about Trun,“Liberty ship, North Atlantic Winter”, I met Claude and Silvie Picault while painting in the south of France.   
By chance I’d taken the liberty… (more…)

Je douche ce matin, sans lentille de contact,  et quelle horreur est avec moi, un animal…

No,  un amie Francais… un grenouille, a genuine French frog!

The South of France was hit heavily by snow yesterday , over 3″ in places. 

Some French are saying drivers in the South of France  are upset by 2 days of rain, this snow is causing panic, catostrophy!

The snow arrived at Castelnau de Montmiral and Itzac during the night so what are the roads like?

(more…)

This may effect marine painters, they are putting up new signs at the White House, please don’t walk on the lake.

Meantime I am working on (more…)

Gold turns brown, an oblique reference to the credit crisis, dolpins or to wine?

An amusing French expression much used at Castelnau de Montmiral at present. Tous les jours ce n’est pas du temps de saison – all and every day it is not the weather for the season.

(more…)