Epilogue: Completed Vineyard Painting and Inquiry

Dear Friends,
I have done some studio work on the vineyard painting and it is complete enough to sit in a corner waiting for inspiration to touch it up. By the way, they have a website under construction http://www.chateaubourguet.fr/index.php.

Everyone is welcome to stop by the Yellow Boat Studio, Salt Marsh Pottery Building, 1167 Russells Mills Rd., South Dartmouth, MA 02748, Tel 508.636.4813 and see the result and, please, critique. Several have already.

 The question is where do we take this blog now? We have been delighted with how much delight our friends and family have derived from it. We would like to hear from you. jp@saltmarsh.com The general consensus so far seems to be "get out there and have more adventures and tell us about them." Of course, we will try to get back to Southwestern France, maybe rent a gite (summer cottage). I want to paint Michele's cows (black and white) and Anya's (rust and white). We already miss it and the warm friends we made. Russia has been suggested. Or Norway. Or Istambul. Or Venice. In September we go to Oregon and there may be an RV adventure to some wild area or a tour of the many vineyards and wineries. Let's see if they will fill up our jerry cans with new wine as they will in France. Somehow wine, especially ROUGE, keeps comming up with me.  I will keep making occasional posts to this blog but will not, pending your sugggestions, email out a general notice of posts until another adventure is afoot.

Ca va? Ca va bien. Au revior. Bon journee.

JP & Betsy 

   

JP Post for Wednesday June 29, 2011 Homecoming

Painting of Vineyard Mostly Done – Homecoming

I have completed what I could, the final tweaking, a bit more cobalt in the upper atmosphere, less definition in the clouds, dark and shady areas in the vines, the elusive reds in the rocky soil, all burned in memory now, will have to wait for my studio. We have made the customary entry in the Chateau artists log, my entry for June 2011. Betsy has solicitously tended to my every domestic comfort as the intense and obsessed artist required, minding that my ears stayed attached. She even hung the sheets out in the bright sun and clear air. As I finished my final bottle of oak barrel aged red with a hint of black currant followed by Roquefort on a crusty baguette, she said, “Don’t expect this when we get home.”

  Ahh, home, the adoring dog, the gift of flowers, chocolate and wine from friends who housed wedding guests there while we were away, the view of the marsh. Not too bad. Time to dream of the next adventure. And I get to sleep with the boss.

JP   

PS The 2011 Tour de France will pass right by our village of Vindrac-Alayrac, right through the middle of my painting in that tine of trees which hides route D91. Please click this link.

 

Betsy's Post for Wednesday, June 29 - Postscript

Postscript June 29, 2011

We called Jinnet as soon as the plane touched down.  “ Our plane just arrived in Boston and we’re  headed toward the gate. Eric is back in Kabul by now and Elsa must be in the air on her way to Dubai.” “ Welcome Home,” says Jinnet, “ I’m in the car and on my way to Lowes.” 

       
Elsa reported from Dubai that she and Eric are both fine and will be vigilant.  We will all be glad to have them back here. She arrives the first week of August, Eric’s contract is over in late October.

So we notice the rotten traffic around Boston, the wooden houses, the tendency to listen to news, ( We didn’t read a paper or listen to a broadcast the entire time), and the much wetter climate. There are many many, many  more cars on the road.  Here any inch of exposed earth has two or three things growing out of it. The woods are dense with undergrowth. The whole place is dense by comparison, and there are so many more trees.  The bittersweet I had cut to the ground in May has new shoots 5’ long, and when I walked into the grass, 7 mosquitos popped onto my ankle.   The marsh house looked great with new siding; various people had left us Red Wine! And chocolates and a little bouquet and  three amazing photographs of the marsh !  AWWW . 

I thought I had lost weight, mais non. On the other hand, I am tan. Bozy was glad to see us; we were glad to see him. The garden looks great and the pottery looks totally shipshape and in top form.  WHAT A CREW! Thank you, Heather, Audrey, Becky, Donna, Lisa, and Jenny.  

From now on, JP’s JOB IS TO PAINT!  

We are glad to be home. It is time to be in the day and fully launched. Au Revoir, nous amis. See you soon in person.

Betsy