View on the lake

This is a view from our balcony on the lake.
I am irritated with blogger for not allowing a bigger size. No plein air scene done in bigger format looks decent, because it is published into this limited size, so everything disappears into a little colored spot.
Nonetheless, this was done in pen and watercolor on Fabriano HP.

Streetscenes

Some scenes from Highlands, NC.
"The Speckled Hen". selling all kinds of garden things. Beautifully decorated on the outside with a wild garden and birdhouses.
Done in pen watercolor on Fabriano CP, 25 x 30,5cm (9 x 12")

Ristorante Paoletti, with it's cute black awnings.

Done in pen and watercolor on Fabriano HP, 25 x 30,5cm (9 x 12")

Lastly, The Old Edwards Inn, which opened in 1935 as the Hotel Edwards, has recently been restored after 40 million dollars and two years of work.

Done in pen and watercolor in moleskine.

A boat or two

Two boat sketches, in moleskine with ink and watercolor

Enthrallments!

I have to share with you all these fascinations I found here in SC.

First thing I saw was these magnificent, frightening spiderwebs in the trees. They cover whole branches, sometimes even whole small trees. I tried to do a search on the internet for the type of spider, but couldn't stand looking at all these spider photos coming up on my screen. So I still don't know....they captivate me completely, scare me and fascinate me at the same time.

I am also fascinated by the hundreds of car dealers on every which road out there, with their hundreds of cars in every color, parked in neat rows, almost measured distances next to each other, the angles perfect and decorated with colorful flags and balloons...how can you not stop and buy a car? They have turned car sales into an art! I get a kick from these scenes every time I'm on the road and find those without this flair very boring!

I also have to mention the kudzu, which took my breath away. I have had nightmares where I stand still for just a moment too long and I'm being taken over by these vigorous growers! Once again, an exhilirating sight where they form thick carpets in the valleys, growing up trees and wires and poles, everything and anything that can be a host...magnificent and scary...

There are many more of these enthrallments I find on my daily outings, but I'll leave them for next time.

All done in moleskine with pen and watercolor.

People in South Carolina

Well, at last a post from me...
It was a struggle from the moment we set foot on US soil! and I'm still struggling! But that might be a story for another day. We've settled into a condo, overlooking the beautiful Keowee lakes here in Oconee county, SC. We've stepped into an incredible heat wave and I have a suspicion I am being punished for my constant complaining about the weather back home in France!

I'll start off my experiences here in Oconee, SC, with some sketches of people. Because I had no internet or a computer up to to now, and it was too difficult for me to be outside, even for sketching, I kept mostly to coffee shops, watching and sketching the people of SC.

I do enjoy watching people, making up stories about them, wondering what keeps them going, what inspires them, what depresses them, what makes them laugh, what are their sadnesses...

One day, I hope I'll have the ability to convey that hrough my paintings, not the realism of thier appearance, but the story behind their living, the emotion in their gestures.
So, meet the strangers I swiftly met in my wanderings to Paneros, Joe muggs, Barnes and Nobles, Bi-Lo, on a bench in the mall; some were empty nest-moms, serious writers, some just enjoyed reading and some did interviews, others were almost asleep and some were watching the wordl go by...

These sketches were all done in pen in moleskine, given a few washes afterwards....

and now I'm leaving you to go throw another tantrum!!...I'm completely fatigued - I've been interrupted and I've restarted this post so many times since this morning, I've lost count and now I'm completely fatigued from driving around to 5 different places to find a connection! And this is my birtday...sob, sob!!!

PS: Please forgive the many mistakes and bad writing, I have not done any editing on this entry...

All my bags'r packed, I'm ready t'go....

My bags are packed...no not yet, but almost.
I'm packing all my sommer clothes and three tubes of toothpaste, because I use a particular kind. My tennis gear and all my art gear, my computer and some back up. And many shoes. Just because I love shoes.
I'm also packing Hartman, but truth be told, it's the other way around. He's tagging me along...joyfully of course!
Our daughter will babysit Tokala and Aiyani, she will water the garden, she will clean the house, cook her own food, pay the bills. She will not touch our car and she will never have parties. For the next three months.
We're exchanging our Peugeot for ..I don't know, maybe a Ford or maybe a Mustang...convertible would be nice?

I'm also packing my strong will and self discipline. I'll need it where we're going. The food is too easy available everywhere and anywhere and at all hours.

We're leaving in two days and in 10 days, I'll be up and running and computing, posting and commenting from my laptop for the next three months from "You know where". I'm VERY excited!!

See y'all in 10 days!

Both sketches done in pen and colored pencils in moleskine.

Happy birthday Casey!

Today is Casey's birthday, Monday 23 July. She turned a wonderful 21 today...again..!
Happy birthday! May your year be filled with ecstatic moments!