Jackie's in France

Welcome to 2012 - A Painting A Week No 97

2012-01-17T21:51:00.001+02:00

For Sale - 17th January 2012
French Poppies #3

Size: 15 x 21cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

January is already rushing by and despite all my good intentions, I fell into a deep non-creative hole during our time in New Zealand and Australia. When I wrote this we were in France and after some delays in Italy, we're now back in Greece. Hopefully, things will return to 'normal' soon and I'll be able to get the paintbrushes out again!

In the meantime, this week's painting is one I finished just before we left and although not the right season, it seemed appropriate that its a French one. It's a few months yet before the poppies make their appearance, and being mid winter, the Languedoc countryside was totally devoid of anything brightly coloured. Despite this, the rows of vines without their leaves still managed to give off a rather nice coppery effect against the clear blue skies. When we get back here in the spring, everything will be madly flowering again and I'll be able to restock my photo portfolio of poppies to work from.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2012-01-13T17:46:00.007+02:00

As I sit here on the bed in our hotel in Terracina, Italy, listening to the dinging and donging of the church bells from what sounds like 4 different churches, I feel its a shame to post this blog without at least something visual to start 2012 with. So to keep things going, here's a small collage of some of my photos from the recent travels.

Its nearly halfway through January and 2012 is already speeding along. My Australian/New Zealand, USA trip is behind me - well almost, as next stop is Greece, hopefully on tomorrow's overnight ferry, then on to Koroni to some sort of normality for a while. I have so many blogs to write to cover the last few months, and I will do so, gradually.

In the meantime, I'd like to wish everyone all the very best for a happy and healthy 2012, and may we all manage to do some of those things we've been putting off for ever and ever. Don't delay any longer...... just do it NOW....... the time will never be right if you wait.

MERRY XMAS EVERYONE

2011-12-23T20:19:00.001+02:00

It's been a very busy year and 2012 is just around the corner. I look forward to catching up with my rather neglected blogs, and resuming my weekly paintings very soon.

CHANGEABLE ART EXHIBITION 10th December 2011

2011-11-24T09:50:00.006+02:00

Things in Sydney are pretty hectic, but I will get onto this blog very soon. I'm looking forward to taking part in a one day exhibition here on Saturday 10th December. I'll have a lot of my smaller new work available, so come along and say hello and check it out. Details below.....

10am - 3pm 10th December 2011
North Sydney Community Centre
220 Miller Street, North Sydney
Changeable Art is held in conjunction with the North Sydney market

A Painting A Week No 96

2011-10-31T06:40:00.003+02:00

For Sale - 31st October 2011

Lunch in Gythio, Greece

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

Gythio is a town towards the bottom of the Mani Peninsula in the Peloponnese - the landscape we see across the bay from Koroni when its not covered in cloud! The Mani is a very mountainous area, with rugged landscape and high peaks. Various ferries to some of the islands leave from Gythio, and its a good lunch spot!

A Painting A Week No 95

2011-10-05T10:54:00.002+03:00

For Sale - 4th October 2011

Le Bellevue, L'Isle sur la Sorgue

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

Back in the Languedoc region of France again and its lovely to be amongst the never-ending rows of vines and the big blue skies. I did this painting after a visit to the lovely Luberon town of L'Isle sur la Sorgue on a previous trip. This restaurant always caught my eye when we wandered around - I suspect it was all the red with the deep green of one of the many the canals behind. If you've been there, you'll know what I mean.

A Painting A Week No 94

2011-09-26T17:42:00.003+03:00

For Sale - 26th September 2011

Sunflowers under Summer Skies, France

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

The smiling faces of sunflowers all over France are a lovely reminder of summer. With autumn approaching in the northern hemisphere, and spring underway in the southern, I thought it might be a nice theme this week!

As mentioned in my email, we're heading off from Koroni tomorrow - see details in the previous blog underneath.

Greece to Sydney

2011-09-26T09:33:00.002+03:00

Its that time again. We're off on Tuesday on the slow jaunt back to Sydney. It starts with the overnight ferry crossing from Patras to Brindisi, with a a few days en-route in Italy filling our systems with great Italian coffee and pasta. Then to our old stompin' ground in the Languedoc region of France to take care of a few things, enjoy some almond croissants (but not the coffee) before we fly out of Toulouse to Los Angeles. This is the first time Peter and I have flown internationally together - should be fun! I have a few days in LA to sightsee and do some shopping, then head off to New Zealand for 10 days to spend time with my sisters. I rendezvous with Peter in Sydney on 24th October and we'll be residents of Potts Point for the first month, and then Lane Cove for the following 3 weeks. Its been over 18 months since I've been back and I'm really looking forward to seeing family and friends in that part of the world.

I'm really hoping to continue with the Art Weekly whilst I'm gone - it may be a bit haphazard, but I'm determined, and I'd like to attempt some Australian and New Zealand themes along with the usuals. I believe there are all sorts of new cafes that need checking out, so perhaps I can try my hand at some of those!

I do have a one day art exhibition planned with Changeable Art in North Sydney on 10th December. There will be plenty of new work lots of small framed and unframed paintings for sale - perfect Christmas presents!

A Painting A Week No 93

2011-09-14T14:26:00.007+03:00

For Sale - 14th Soptember 2011

The Flamingos of the Languedoc

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

One doesn't really associate flamingos with France, but near Montpellier, on the edge of the Camargue, there are numerous lagoons and canals, and that's where you'll find the flamingos! Depending upon the time of the year (the majority do migrate south in the winter), you can see groups of them standing in the water, heads down whilst feeding on the salt shrimp which gives them their colour, or heads waving about in the air. Apart from the Camargue, south of Arles, the flamgoes mostly frequent the marshes near Palavas les Flots and on any trip through there, I've had the camera at the ready to photograph them - always tricky to find them in the right spot.

A Painting A Week No 92

2011-08-31T11:33:00.008+03:00

For Sale - 31st August 2011

NZ Pohutakawa

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

Its a sure sign of summer and that Christmas is just around the corner in New Zealand, when these beautiful trees burst into bloom. The pohutukawa (also known as the NZ Christmas Tree) grows in coastal areas, and is commonly found with its gnarly distorted trunks spreading over the sand in every direction.

The tree is deeply rooted in Maori history and the word 'pohutakawa' translates to 'red feathered headdress'. It was often planted in memory of a chief or the birth of a chief's son.

The crimson flower, which must surely be an emotional icon to those Kiwi's living overseas, is featured strongly in many NZ artworks. I don't think I ever really appreciated the beauty and the uniqueness of the pohutakawa until I'd been living overseas for years!

I've rediscovered some photos of pohutukawas which I took a few years ago when staying in Tinopai, on the Kaipara Harbour in New Zealand. I spent a week there all alone with just my camera and paints to keep me company, hence lots of photos; pohutukawas plus many of the interesting patterns left by the tides, and also some of the amazing formations and colours of the rocks near the water. I've included them all on my Picasaweb photo site .https://picasaweb.google.com/111353970085495585185/NewZealandPohutukawaAndTextures

A Painting A Week No 91

2011-08-23T22:49:00.003+03:00

For Sale - 24th August 2011

San Gimignano, Tuscany

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

We seem to be surrounded by Italian holidaymakers in our apartments right now, so it feels appropriate to have a painting of Italy this week. In fact, we even had porcini fettucine for dinner tonight!

We were driving through Tuscany in April when we spotted San Gimignano in the distance, towering over the lovely Tuscan hillside, so off we went towards it. San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town near Siena, which began as an early Estruscan settlement. It's well known for its medieval towers – originally 75 of them, which were built as symbols of power and wealth by the residents. Only 15 towers now remain, dating back to the 11th and 13th centuries.

Kefalonia in June

2011-08-11T20:45:00.000+03:00

Time for me to wake up and get blogging I think! June and July seem to have disappeared in a whirlwind of travelling, and now the big trip to the US, NZ and Australia is looming in the not too distant future.

A friend, Jaki G, flew into Athens in June for a visit but due to the demonstrations and strikes there at the time, we stayed in a small hotel on the outskirts, and then made a quick exit and headed north. The first stop was a favourite small town on the northern side of the Gulf of Corinth- heaven after the chaos of Athens!

Antikira just before sunset

Looking at the Delphi Stadium

Antikira is a great overnight stop for visiting Delphi, so we ventured off there in the morning and roamed around before the heat got too intense. Such an amazing place but I do find it a little difficult to get 'the mystical feel' of the place with so many tour groups - all those tour guides hollering in various languages sort of interrupts the flow somehow!

Then it was off to get a ferry over to the other side of the Gulf and on to Kefalonia for a few days.... except the ferry didn't run from there any more.... ho hum..... so instead we sat in the lonesome taverna, had some wonderful souvlaki and discussed the sad state of Greece with the young owner, who was over for the summer from Philadelphia. Well fed and watered, we headed off over the beautiful Norman Foster looking Patras Bridge and got onto the ferry, arriving in Poros, Kefolonia in the early evening - perfect!

Welcome to Kefalonia

Looking out Hotel Window in Poros

We virtually fell into a simple comfy hotel right on the waterfront.

And celebrated our arrival with a mezze plate - to keep us going until dinner, which, as there seemed no reason to move, we also had in the hotel taverna. - one of the things I love about Greece - everything at your fingertips!

Next morning we drove across the bottom of the island, past Agostolli, which was badly damaged in the earthquake in the 1950's and has now practically been rebuilt.

We decided a swim was called for so we continued on to the most stunning beach, Myrtos.

The brilliant turquoise water along with the bright white rounded pebbles that made up the beach was a sight to behold, and these days, I'm seeing plenty of amazing beaches!

The pebbles may be not as soft as sand, but most definitely worth putting up with a few stones under your bum just for vision of it!

The snack bar was a bit disappointing, being early season, but we survived until later in the afternoon, when we dragged ourselves away and arrived in Assos where we forced ourselves into afternoon tea, just to keep us going until dinner of course!

The one on the left was Peter's one of course - supposedly a creme caramel!

We were heading towards Fiscardo for the night, as we'd been told it was the one town on Kefalonia that hadn't been badly affected by the big earthquake in the 1950's and still had some of its Venetian buildings.

A lovely spot - small with brightly coloured buildings around a perfect harbour.

There just happens to be a Roman neocropolis in the foreground here - stop work!

Just what do you call this??

Sadly, it did have a slight feeling of 'rich riveria' with lots of large cruisers, yatchts and restaurants, but whilst dining that night we were nicely entertained by the various crews tootling back and forth in the tenders - money to burn if you can afford a crew 7! I was pleased to note that the only girls who were part of the crew of the two massive cruisers were a Kiwi and Australian - go girls!

Found a lovely family owned hotel in the backstreets, complete with a bouganvilla covered balcony but could only manage the one night as our ferry was taking off at the crack of dawn on the Monday, and we needed to be closer for our last night's stay on the island.

Headed south in the morning, this time down the eastern coast, stopped for lunch in Samos and once again felt in the need for a swim.

So, off to check out Antisamos beach, just over the hill.

Another stunning beach, the bottom of which dropped away dramatically after 2-3 metres into the water, so that you felt you were swimming in a bottomless sea. There was a very sophisticated cafe on the edge of the beach - the food was stunning - more what you'd expect from a Sydney brassiere.

I must mention here too that both of the beaches we swam at were in the movie Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Most of the filming took place in Sami, where a huge and stunningly realistic set was built. It was so impressive in fact, that the locals did their best to retain it after the filming was finished, but it didn't happened. The Italians' campsite was built on the beach at Antisamos where we had out sophisticated lunch and Myrtos is the beach where the bomb explosion took place in the film.

So then it was back down to Poros and our same friendly hotel, and an extra early start in the morning back to mainland Greece and a visit to Ancient Olympia on the way to Koroni. A fantastic few days and a new island explored!

Give an Australian a bottle of beer and a laptop.......

So it was a wonderful trip for the 3 of us, ending up with a stop off in Ancient Olympia and then some time spent in Koroni. So many photos to share, particularly in this blog (and particularly since Blogger seems to have its own idea where they should end up!) Lots more on my Picasaweb site.

https://picasaweb.google.com/111353970085495585185/2011KefaloniaAndOtherPartsTripWithJakiG

A Painting A Week No 90 - Greek Collage #1 (Signs)

2011-08-09T20:41:00.001+03:00

For Sale - 9th August 2011

Greek Collage #1 (Signs)

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

As mentioned in my Art Weekly email, something totally different this week. To give you some background, a friend and I have both been keen to explore collage for some time, and we've set ourselves up to complete a weekly collage painting with varying themes, which we change weekly (depending on how much gets done) - its the silly season here! Along with my usual painting, I try to create at least one (sometimes two) collages each week, and then we get together for a critique session, along with numerous cups of coffee and lots of 'creative' talking. I then feel spurred on to tackle the next week's subject, which also seems to rub off and helps keep up the momentum of my other painting. To follow my Collage Projects and see what I've done so far take a look at my Art Blog http://jackiesherwood.weebly.com/art-blog.html

A Painting A Week No 89

2011-08-03T18:38:00.006+03:00

For Sale - 3rd August 2011

Le Marche, Cahors, France

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

From Skiathos, to France this week. No, I lie, sorry.....! We've just arrived back in Koroni after two weeks way up in Northern Greece, near Kavala. A lovely part of the Greece and surprisingly, much busier than down here in the Peloponnese.

This painting is of the Saturday market in Cahors, the main city of the Lot district of France. Its a lovely city with a bustling tree lined main street. The market is held in a lovely square with its backdrop of the 11th century cathedral, and as with all French markets, its a delight of smells and colours, even on this cold winter's day.

A Painting A Week No 88

2011-07-13T20:38:00.003+03:00

For Sale - 13th July 2011

Skiathos, Greece

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

What a lucky one I am – here in Skiathos, I wake up in the morning and jump into the pool, then after my favourite Greek yoghurt and fruit, I take a wander over to the adjacent beach bar for a coffee, and perhaps another dip, then it’s into the studio for a few hours of creativity, followed by more swims, perhaps a siesta.... well it has been extremely hot, and painting is such hard work! This is a truly beautiful spot – I doubt I’ll ever manage to do it justice in my paintings – you’ll have to come and see it yourself! .........

A Painting A Week No 87

2011-06-29T19:42:00.001+03:00

For Sale - 29th June 2011

Blue Chairs, Koroni

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

As mentioned in my email, these blue chairs are absolutely everywhere in this area, and all over Greece. They sit outside cafes and tavernas in all manner of disarray and are just crying out to be photographed. I took this photo sometime in the spring, but when I walked by recently I was rather flabbergasted to see the peeling white wall had been repainted a resplendid bright orange. Oh well, one can't stop progress, and the blue chairs go rather well with the orange anyway!

A Painting A Week No 86

2011-06-01T20:55:00.007+03:00

For Sale - 1st June 2011

Spring Poppy Fields, France

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

Ahhh, the sight of the fields in France brimming with brilliant red poppies in the springtime. There's nothing quite like it, and as you may have noticed, I am rather addicted to painting them. Greece also has fields of wild poppies, but somehow I've never quite managed to find the 'right' backdrop here! The Greek poppies too, tend to be a much deeper red than the French ones.

A Painting A Week No 85

2011-05-24T18:45:00.003+03:00

For Sale - 24th May 2011

Portovenere, Italy

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$90

(Postage and handling included)

When we were in Italy recently we discovered Portovenere, a lovely village south of Cinque Terre, perched on a promontory in the Gulf of Poets. It has a similar feel to it as the Cinque Terre villages, with narrow colourful buildings squeezed in between the harbour and interesting little alleys leading up to a fort and castle on the hill. There's also a beautiful grey and white striped 12th century church (San Pietro) standing at the gateway to the peaceful harbour.

Portovenere (Portus Veneris) was built by the Romans as a base enroute from Gaul to Spain, and was used in later years the Byzantines, Lombards, the Genovese and Napoleon. It is also reknown as a former haunt of the poet Byron.

A Painting a Week - No 84

2011-05-19T17:35:00.001+03:00

For Sale - 19th May 2011
Daisies and Thistles, Greece
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

During my recent energetic forays into the hills of Greece, I've been stunned by the amazing displays of wildflowers. Just finishing now are the vibrant yellow daisies with the purples of the tall thistles mixed in with them. They look beautiful, but are not so wonderful to walk through! I'll soon be posting a blog about these walks, along with more photos.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting A Week No 83

2011-05-11T19:43:00.003+03:00

For Sale - 11th May 2011
La Baie, Nice
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

We spent a couple of nights in Nice recently and a friend had given me a brochure from the local tourist office which showed paintings of the area by famous artists. How exciting was that - standing in the actual spot (well, close anyway) where Matisse, Raoul Dufy and Picaso had stood to paint, and seeing that same view that they'd turned into masterpieces. This painting is a modest attempt from me to capture 'la baie des anges, Nice' - the Bay of Angels - the large sweeping bay which was a favourite to paint in the early 19th century.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting a Week - No 82

2011-05-04T11:54:00.005+03:00

For Sale - 4th May 2011
Colours,Vernazza, Cinque Terre
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Vernazza must be one of the most colourful little towns I've been to. Not only are the buildings a wild array of yellows, oranges, pinks and greens, but the waterfront is full of umbrellas of every colour of the rainbow, as well as boats, flowers and, of course, people!

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Travels in Italy & France 2011

2011-04-29T23:31:00.023+03:00

The time had come to head back to France again; this time to register my little car (still French plates) and to sort out more of the neverending bureaucracy. But first, some time out in Italy.....

After a good night's sleep and some relaxation on the great new Patras to Ancona ferry, Cruise Olympia, we launched ourselves into Italian life for a week.

We'd decided to make our way to Jesi, an ancient town perched on a hillside that we used to see in the distance when whizzing along the motorway. The history of Jesi goes back to before the Byzantine Empire when it became one of the main centres, and then much later was the birthplace of the Holy Roman Emporer Frederick II, hence various grand buildings amidst the old walled town. However, as often happens to us in Italy, we had a tough time finding a hotel for the night, and even harder to find a restaurant serving simple pasta dishes, but eventually we did ok, with a hotel outside the walls of the old town, and pizza for dinner! It was great to join in on the evening 'la passeggiata', strolling the streets of the old town.

Next day we headed off towards Lake Trasimeno and stopped for coffee (always lots of coffee in Italy) and to explore Assisi. A beautiful hilltop town spilling down towards the plains. Francis of Assis hailed from here so plenty of churches and a rather polished feel to the whole town, but it was lovely. The 12 noon bells all chimed the moment we arrived too!

Once we got to Lake Trasimeno later that day we booked into a hotel in the smallish town of Passignano. It made me realise its been a while since I'd spent time on the side of a lake, and how its very different from the sea - seems more atmospheric somehow as you might see from the photos.

Then it was off to explore Cortona, made famous by the movie Under The Tuscan Sun. A lovely hilltop town but it did seem a little lifeless and dull and we couldn't even find the fountain in the movie! - perhaps we got there too early in the morning so perhaps another visit in the summer might be called for. It was only very early April, and these small towns are just waking up after their cold winters. I might add though, the weather was lovely, so much so, that we could take the top off my little car and beetle around with the Italian wind in our hair - haha.....

Around to the other side of Lake Traismeno next to the lovely Castligone del Lago. The old town was lovely but fairly small and after walking around it twice we booked into the smart hotel that we decided was affordable after all - we had a room with a lovely view over the lake plus a great breakfast!

Then off to get me a new handbag in Siena - so many beautiful bag and shoe shops there and very hard to make a decision. Despite being early season though Siena was packed, but it was worth the stop. After leaving there we had a lovely drive through the Tuscan countryside - all those beautiful rolling hills, lines of cypresses reminded me why Tuscany was so popular - there seems to be a real serenity in the countryside.

San Gimignano popped up over the hills at some stage, so we had a wander around and more coffee there - loved all those big high windowless towers.

So after our Tuscan rambles, we headed towards the coast to stay at our favourite spot in Moneglia which is just north of Cinque Terre and as I've said in previous blogs, a perfect base for exploring that section of coastline. This time we were heading to have a look at Portovenere, south of the Cinque Terre villages.

To get to Portovenere, we first of all caught the train to Vernazza which hadn't quite woken up for the day. It looked rather different without all the tourists, but when we returned later in the day, it was its usual bustling self again. I must admit, I do find it rather amazing that these very special places are becoming familiar to me these days - its a matter of pinching myself again and again!It was a rather disjointed journey to get there, with trains and a rather entertaining bus trip, jammed in amongst masses of local Italians talking at full tilt (but not as loudly as the Greeks!) Portovenere is another wonderful coastal town of tall wonky looking coloured buildings lined up along the water - painting material for sure.

So on to France and back to our old area in the Languedoc. France always seems rather quiet when we go back there now. There just never seems to be as many people out and about as in Greece, and its often harder to find places to eat and drink both in France and Italy (shock horror!) The weather was still amazing - so hot I had to buy some summer clothes (yes, really!) We visited friends and some of our old haunts, ate almond croissants and moules frites, and managed to get most of our beaucratic stuff dealt with. My little car flew through its rego, with the help of two new tyres which I don't begrudge at all, so it was well worth the trip. Pezenas was looking particularly nice I thought!

On our return to Greece, we heard from some Sydney friends who were staying in Nice, so we made an unscheduled stop-off there. We've always seemed to bypass it on previous trips so it was great opportunity to have a look around and only really scratched the surface in 2 days. Sadly we didn't have enough time to get to the art galleries either - next trip for sure. In fact this whole trip wasn't particularly successful in anything creative, except perhaps, for an emormous amount of photos with my new camera!

The markets in Nice were wonderful and my many photos don't do them justice at all. We had a fantastic lunch at an Indian restaurant - in fact, there seemed to be Indian restaurants everywhere.

We stopped off at various other places in Italy on the way back to Greece, and Arrezo, in particular, was an interesting place, but I think this blog is long enough. I've put a lot more photos onto my Picasaweb site - check them out if you're interested. https://picasaweb.google.com/111353970085495585185/ItalyFrance2011#

A Painting A Week No 81

2011-04-11T19:24:00.002+03:00

For Sale - 5th April 2011
Fleuriste de St Germain, Paris
Size: 15 x 21cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

I love the little florist shops all over Paris with the overflowing buckets of brightly coloured flowers.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Please note that there is also a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website at http://www.jackiesherwood.com/

Greece and the Wildflowers

2011-04-08T19:20:00.030+03:00

Before we left Greece a couple of weeks ago, the wildflowers were astounding. I guess most people don't associate Greece with fields of brightly coloured flowers and vibrant green grass, but our area is full of both at this time of the year. I managed to join in with a walk through the hills up behind Koroni, and got a few photos, but I just couldn't capture the swathes of wildflowers in amongst the olive groves, little windy paths and goats. There were clumps of brilliant red anenome-like flowers which were totally new to me in this environment, fields of yellow and white as well and even wild lavender.

Then along the way to get the ferry from Patras to Ancona in Italy, we drove partway along the Old National Highway, and once again came across beautiful fields of pink and yellow flowers amongst the olive groves.

I've run out of words, and hope the pictures tell the story!

A Painting A Week No 80

2011-04-05T23:11:00.003+03:00

For Sale - 5th April 2011
Le Petit Mazet, Pezenas
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

When we were living in France, I'd taken photos of this little building in each of the four seasons, with the idea of some paintings. Now we're back in France for a week, and I recently completed this painting and was amazed to drive past yesterday and see the little building looking almost identical, with the flowering almond and vines in the same stages as last year when I took the photo. The French term mazet roughly translates as a small agricultural workers' outbuilding. They are scattered all around the Languedoc in the midst of the vines.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Please note that there is also a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website at http://www.jackiesherwood.com/

A Painting a Week - No 79

2011-03-22T19:09:00.001+02:00

For Sale - 22nd March 2011
Italian Reflections, Positano
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

This painting is from one of many many photos I took last year in Positano on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. I found it a really difficult place to photograph, mostly due to its layout, and only being able to see one side or the other at a time! Even when we ventured out in a boat, to capture the town sitting nestled at the base of the mountains, was still a challenge. Another thing that made it difficult was the constant haze of smoke from the surrounding hills. It seemed that the local farmers were burning vegetation (possibly vine clippings!) on the stepped terraces up above the town. So I decided to concentrate on 'the small things'and was rewarded with lots of photos of what helps make up beautiful Positano. Thats not to say, though, that I won't be attempting to paint larger parts of Positano at some stage!

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Please note that there is also a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website at http://www.jackiesherwood.com/

A Painting a Week - No 78

2011-03-16T17:30:00.003+02:00

For Sale - 15th March 2011
Monastery Vlacherna, Corfu
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Anyone who has visited Corfu has more than likely found their way to this lovely little monastery. Photos of it seem to depict Corfu, even though the Monastery itself is in an unassuming area near the airport. It sits dutifully in the brilliant blue waters (sometimes turqoise/sometimes ultramarine) and is home to a small number of nuns who maintain the small shop which helps fund the Monastery. Oh, and the little island behind it on the left, is called Mouse Island!

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Please note that there is also a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website at http://www.jackiesherwood.com/

A Painting A Week No 77

2011-03-08T18:37:00.003+02:00

For Sale - 8th March 2011
Poppies and Haybales, Le Lot
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

I remember precisely when I took this photo. I was driving along the roads between Frayssinet le Gelat and Gourdon and saw this magnificent field of poppies. For some reason I was unable to stop to take photos - most unusual for me, but I promised myself to return the following day. I did, and was just in time to get photos of what was left of the field - the tractors had been in and the haybales had appeared. If I'd been a couple of hours later, the poppies would have disappeareared altogether. This became a somewhat frequent occurrence, and a lesson learned!

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Please note that there is also a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website at http://www.jackiesherwood.com/

A Painting a Week - No 76

2011-03-01T14:26:00.003+02:00

For Sale - 1st March 2011 [SOLD]
Silver Fern
Size: 15 x 21cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

This painting is for the New Zealander's out there! I took the photo of this classic looking silver fern in New Zealand a few years ago, and often thought it would be interesting to try and paint.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Please note that there is also a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website at http://www.jackiesherwood.com/

A Painting a Week - No 75

2011-02-22T17:51:00.002+02:00

For Sale - 22nd February 2011
Saint Cirq Lapopie
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Saint Cirq Lapopie in France, is a tiny hillside village overlooking the River Lot, and is a 'must' to see when visiting the Lot region. With its medieval fortress and church sitting proudly above the village, and the little village houses spreading down the hillside towards the winding road, it provides some stunning photos as you head up towards the village. Saint Cirq Lapopie has been a haven for many artists throughout its time, and there are some wonderful galleries tucked into the tiny streets, as well as good restaurants and fascinating shops. It has already been the subject of a few of my paintings, and I know I sound like I'm working for the tourist office, but it is well worth visiting if you're in the region!
If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Please note that there is also a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website at http://www.jackiesherwood.com/

A Painting a Week - No 74

2011-02-15T14:52:00.005+02:00

For Sale - 15th February 2011
Sleeping Gondalas, Venice
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Venice must be one of the world's most beautiful places, with so many photos and paintings around every corner. There are two rather simple things I love about it; one is the rows of shiny black gondolas all lined up with their blue covers - to me this is even more magical than seeing them paddling along the canals, and I also love all the wooden mooring posts sticking haphazardly out of the water! Of course, there are many many beautiful buildings as well with intricate balconies and window frames, plus the bridges and restaurants, but its these two things that speak to me the most!

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Please note that there is also a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website at http://www.jackiesherwood.com/

A Painting a Week - No 73

2011-02-08T16:53:00.010+02:00

For Sale - 8th February 2011
Fenêtres, Arles
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

I've always loved the shutters and blinds on these windows near the Roman Arena in Arles. I've visited Arles a few times over the past few years and they always seem to look bright and new - I wonder what the secret is!

Arles is a lovely Roman town in the Camargue region of France. It's full of tiny narrow streets with a huge array of colourful windows, doors and shutters. I spent a couple of weeks there a while back and only managed to photograph a small percentage of them - and that was a lot!

I now have an accompanying site which allows you to use Paypal or credit cards to purchase my weekly paintings. Please click on the following link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.
Please note that there is also a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website at http://www.jackiesherwood.com/

A Painting a Week - No 72

2011-02-01T16:30:00.005+02:00

For Sale - 1st February 2011

Archway at the Louvre, Paris

Size: 15 x 21cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Anyone who has been to Paris and visited the Louvre, I'm sure, has stood underneath this beautiful archway and had their photo taken. Although I suspect I've probably photographed it on every visit to Paris, I've always found it tricky to capture it without too many 'other' damned tourists in the way, or I've not been there when the light has been right.

The archway is actually officially known as the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel but I doubt anyone actually knows it as that! It was built between 1806 and 1808 as a 'triumphal arch' to commemorate Napoleon's military victories of the previous year.

The painting has the appearance of more of a watercolour than I would usually do (especially since I paint in acrylic!), but the underpainting came together so nicely, that I didn't dare venture any further!

I now have an accompanying site which allows you to use Paypal or credit cards to purchase my weekly paintings. Please click on the following link Art Weekly Online Shop or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Please note that there is also a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com)

A Painting a Week - No 71

2011-01-26T14:28:00.006+02:00

For Sale - 26th January 2011
Gone Swimming, Koroni
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

As mentioned in my email, I think there is something rather appealing about people's abandoned beach umbrellas sitting on the sand whilst they're in the water, or perhaps, trudging up and down the beach. I took this photo of ours while we were swimming down at our local Meme Beach during the summer. This was our second umbrella this year!

I now have an accompanying site which allows you to use Paypal or credit cards to purchase my weekly paintings. Please click on the following link Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Please note that there is also a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com)

A Painting a Week - No 70

2011-01-18T20:10:00.009+02:00

For Sale - 18th January 2011 [SOLD]
Roses at the Chateau
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

When I was doing one of my little French jaunts a few years ago, I was wondering about somewhere to stay in the Charente on my way up to the Loire Valley, and a friend suggested Chateau Mouillipede. I usually stayed in B&B's so this was a real treat, once I found it! It had a wonderful imposing driveway, and the chateau was set in lovely grounds and gardens with the odd crumbling stone building just to add to the ambience. This painting is from one of the many photos I took of the beautiful gardens. My room was massive, with creaking floorboards and big windows overlooking the wheat fields below. Just to add a bit of flavour see the photos below!

I now have an accompanying site which allows you to use Paypal or credit cards to purchase these paintings. Please click on the following link Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com)//

A Painting a Week - No 69

2011-01-11T19:00:00.008+02:00

For Sale - 11th January 2011 [SOLD]

Saignon over the Lavender
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Saignon is a lovely hilltop village in the Luberon area of Provence, and although I've been there at various times, I've never actually been to the village when the lavender has been flowering! However, this painting just wouldn't have been complete without it. Fields of lavender are such a evocative and memorable part of a French summer, and I'm determined to conquer a nice loose way of painting them!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery.

I now have an accompanying site which allows you to use Paypal or credit cards to purchase these paintings. Please click on the following link Art Weekly Online Shop.

Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 68

2011-01-04T19:34:00.007+02:00

For Sale - 4th January 2011 [SOLD]
Siena, Piazza del Campo
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Siena was rather impressive despite the tourists, and I would think the subject of the painting, Piazza del Campo, or Il Campo, as the locals call it, would take a huge amount of people before it felt crowded anyway. Its a massive space! This is the site of the famous Palio di Siena - the horse race which takes place twice annually, with bare back jockeys on horses hurtling around the Piazza as they did in medieval times,though I believe they then raced buffalo and donkeys.

Another wonderful discovery in Siena was the mindboggling array of beautiful handbag and shoe shops. So many of them side by side and all seemed excellent quality and well priced. I will have to get back there soon to have a good look around for sure.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery.

I now have an accompanying site which allows you to use Paypal or credit cards to purchase these paintings. Please click on the following link Art Weekly Online Shop.

Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 67

2010-12-28T18:52:00.005+02:00

For Sale - 28th December 2010
A Glimpse of Paris #2
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

As I mentioned in the email, I painted this one at the same time as 'A Glimpse of Paris #3', following our stay there in October. I particularly love being in Paris in autumn, but for some reason this year, a lot of the leaves on the trees looked as though it was spring, with fresh lime green foliage - perhaps there'd been more rain than usual.

I tried to get in some Paris sketching, but it was a little cold to spend much time outside with my pen and sketchbook. What little I did seems ok and I stayed fairly loose, probably because I couldn't take much time fiddling with them. I've posted some of these Paris sketches on my new Art Blog http://jackiesherwood.weebly.com/art-blog.html

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery.

I now have an accompanying site which allows you to use Paypal or credit cards to purchase these paintings. Please click on the following link Art Weekly Online Shop

Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 66

2010-12-21T20:47:00.006+02:00

For Sale - 21st December 2010
Les Paniers du Marche #2
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

More of the beautiful coloured baskets (or paniers) from the French markets. I've taken lots of photos of baskets of all shapes and sizes, but these fat bulbous ones are my favourites, though, I have yet to own one! These were at the Uzes market this autumn.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery.

I now have an accompanying site which allows you to use Paypal or credit cards to purchase these paintings. Please click on the following link Art Weekly Online Shop.

Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

Barcelona then France yet again

2010-12-18T21:05:00.001+02:00

Here we are back in France again - how many times have I started a blog with that I wonder! We had an unscheduled trip solely to collect my French visa, now that its been renewed for another year. The easiest route was to fly Athens/Barcelona which worked out well as I'd always wanted to check out Barcelona! I was very impressed too - its a beautiful city with lovely wide avenues lined with wonderful decorated buildings with wrought balconies. The Gothic centre though, where we stayed, is totally different and full of fascinating narrow alleys and laneways.

France is freezing cold! It is rather nice to be back but I'm pleased its only briefly, as I suspect the cold weather will get to us before to long! The landscape is looking particularly beautiful considering its winter. I think the most prominent colour is bronze, with the bare vines glowing under the winter light. The rolling hills are framed by the distant mountains, which have a good dusting of snow and generally the whole of the Languedoc looks much drier and browner than where we live in Greece, which was green and lush when we left!

We spent my birthday wandering around Narbonne on a beautiful sunny but cold day, all wrapped up against the weather. There's always something spectacular about these clear winter days in the Languedoc.

A Painting a Week - No 65

2010-12-12T15:08:00.009+02:00

For Sale - 12th December 2010 [SOLD]
Van Gogh's Sanctuary, Arles
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

I discovered this spot a few years ago when I spent a couple of weeks in Arles and did little apart from wander around the town and take photos. This was the hospital where Van Gogh spent some time - not sure whether it was after he chopped off his ear or during one of his rather frequent bouts of depression! It is relatively difficult to find unless you know where to look for it, or just stumble across it like I did as its almost amongst the old shopping streets. Van Gogh actually did do a beautiful painting here called Courtyard in the Hospital in Arles.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery.

I now have an accompanying site which allows you to use Paypal or credit cards to purchase these paintings. Please click on the following link Art Weekly Online Shop.

Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 64

2010-12-08T20:26:00.004+02:00

For Sale - 8th December 2010
St Tropez
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

St Tropez was chaotic when we visited recently. We'd arrived in the middle one of their biggest annual Sailing Regattas, Les Voiles de St Tropez. The harbour was crammed with giant yatchts and cruisers and you could barely see the other side of the harbour, the rows of coloured houses being towered over by masts. The bay itself was a picture of movement under sail - a lovely time to visit albeit rather frantic. We took a break from the harbour and spent time wandering around the lovely quiet laneways eating ice-creams!
If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery.

I now have an accompanying site which allows you to use Paypal or credit cards to purchase these paintings. Please click on the following link Art Weekly Online Shop
Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 63

2010-11-29T21:24:00.013+02:00

For Sale - 29th November 2010 [SOLD]
Uzes Marche

Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

We recently spent a week in Uzes, in the Gard, which is part of the Languedoc region of France and not so far from our old stomping ground! The weekly market, which happened in the square right underneath our bedroom windows, was amazing. On coming downstairs and opening the doors, all we could see was colour. From all the stalls with fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, nuts and everything edible imaginable, to the rows of beautiful scarves, pots, platters, and of course, my favourite - the assorted baskets (paniers) - everywhere..... colour! Perhaps it was the contrast between the stalls and umbrellas, and the fairly plain stone buildings of the Place aux Herbes, but it was probably the most colourful market I've come across in France so far. This will be the first of many paintings inspired from there.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 62

2010-11-23T19:28:00.010+02:00

For Sale - 23rd November 2010 [SOLD]
French Reds & Yellows
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

I took this photo along the side of the road in France. I found that often when I was driving around in the countryside of the Lot, I would come across little patches of brightly coloured flowers - often in the middle of nowhere and for no apparent reason. The combined colours of the red poppies and the yellow of the masses of nasturium-like flowers had me screeching to a halt!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 61

2010-11-15T19:21:00.006+02:00

For Sale - 15th November 2010
Rooftops of Corfu Town
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

We spent a few days in Corfu last month on our way through to Italy. Corfu Town totally impressed me as it really is a beautiful place. Admittedly it is fairly touristy in parts but it has a great buzz about it and you can still feel the 'presence' of the place, despite all the cafes and restaurants. The old town, where we stayed, is made up of masses of interesting narrow streets which are intertwined by wide pedestrianised areas lined with grand colonnaded buildings, built mostly by the Venetians. The rich yellows and ochres of many of the buildings give the town a more Italian than Greek feel and then just to confuse you even more, there are wide green ovals which on which you see white clad men playng cricket.

I took this photo from the top of the New Fort (built around the 1670's) It had the most amazing views over the rooftops of the town and I was in seventh heaven visulizing more paintings (what is it with me and rooftops I wonder - perhaps I was a bird in a previous life!)

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 60

2010-11-08T21:32:00.010+02:00

For Sale - 8th November 2010
A Glimpse of Paris # 3
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Having spent a week in Paris recently, I've endeavoured to paint some of the beautiful rows of buildings lined up along the Seine. I find its always interesting painting Paris, because where there're buildings involved without any of the brightly coloured cafes, you're confined to working mostly in a blue and gold colour palette. Perhaps some cafes may just crop up soon though. I have so many lovely photos of both the buildings and the cafes they will be cropping up fairly regularly for a while.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

The Languedoc and Paris

2010-10-27T16:46:00.016+03:00

Link to Photo Album http://picasaweb.google.com/jackiesinfrance

So before too long, off we went again, this time towards our old stomping ground of the Languedoc where Peter and I did battle with various bits of French bureacracy - not sure whether we've had a win yet, and my visa renewal is sure to be a long ongoing saga. It was nice to be in the familiar serenity of the valleys of vineyards until the weather packed up and we had two days of torrential rain. We did manage to visit Rouquefort and do a tour through the caves where they make the famous smelly cheese. Another damp day we went to Carcassonne, and we also introduced Rita to some of our favourite towns such as Sete (where we also managed to see a Raoul Dufy exhibition - one of my very favourite artists), and Pezenas.

Then it was Paris where we spent a week with Rita in a lovely apartment next to the Seine on the very smart Ile St Louis. This small island is like an oasis from the rush of the hectic city. It's almost as if someone dropped a small French village into the center of Paris, with its markets, bakeries, fromageries, cafés and us! Winter struck when we were there - a real wake up after the warmth of Greece, but at least we knew we could leave it behind when we left!

Our days in Paris were spent walking, and eating and shopping (well, Rita and I anyway!), and walking more. It was once again lovely to be there and have enough time to explore those parts I never seemed to get to on previous visits. There was a very big new Monet Exhibition on at the Grande Palais but sadly it was prebooked until November unless one was prepared to queue for 3 hours, which we weren't. We did visit Musee Marmotten though, after a lovely bus ride through to the 16th arrondissment. A lovely gallery of mostly Monet, and well worth the extra effort to get there.

After 6 weeks of wonderful travelling we headed back to the Languedoc in the TGV again - a wonderful way to travel but pity they had to stop the train a few stops earlier than expected - French strikes yet again. We spent a few more days in the Languedoc before another drive back to Greece to settle back into Koroni for our first Greek winter........ whatever that may bring.

A Painting a Week - No 59

2010-10-25T18:01:00.017+03:00

For Sale - 25th October 2010
Koroni from Above
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Back in lovely quiet Koroni now after our 6 weeks of travelling. The town seems subdued now that most of the tourists have left, but unlike a lot of Greek seaside or island towns which virtually close down in winter, Koroni still has a buzz about it.

Right now the streets and shops are adorned with masses of brightly coloured blue and white flags hanging in readiness for Oxi Day ('No' Day) on 28th October. At the start of the Second World War, Mussolini delivered an ultimatum to the Greek Prime Minister, demanding that Greece allow Italian troops to occupy the country, or Italy would declare war and invade. He replied with a simple Greek word: Oxi! - (NO!). Something definitely worth commemorating and I'm sure the country will do it justice on Thursday.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 58

2010-10-18T10:22:00.026+03:00

For Sale - 18th October 2010 [SOLD]
Paris Café
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

As mentioned in my email, we're currently in Paris so this is an appropriate painting for this week. Almost every corner seems to have a cafe with brightly coloured chairs all lined up under the awnings, and in this cold weather, plenty of outdoor gas heaters. The predominent colour of the awnings and/or chairs seems to be red. Needless to say, I've many many photos of cafes in various colours, so they will be appearing frequently in the weekly paintings I'm sure, along with market scenes, coloured baskets nd all the other goodies I've snapped whilst travelling.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

Belle France again

2010-10-15T21:21:00.004+03:00

Its wonderful to be back in the French countryside. We arrived in France nearly two weeks ago, but our internet access has been almost non-existent – divided between MacDonalds or sitting outside the Uzes Tourism office using their free wifi! Strange that in Greece there are internet cafes everywhere you turn, but a little few and far between here in France. We have just arrived in Paris – had to push our plans forward a day to beat the train strike. The French are particularly grumpy right now about Sarkozi’s pension reforms!We have a week in an apartment here with Rita, and then it will back to the Languedoc to tie up more loose ends, and then time to start heading back to Greece. Its been an amazing trip and we’ve certainly covered a lot of ground, with my hundreds of photos to prove it.

So back to early days in France.

We spent 3 days in Menton, just inside the French/Italian border, and the subject of a few of my earlier paintings. In my mind its a more laid back town than the other large places on the Cote D'Azure and a perfect base for visiting Nice or Cannes. Unfortunately though after spending a very busy day in Monte Carlo I was struck down by a 24 hour bug and didn’t get to do much visiting of anything!

Monte Carlo was great though and I was, as usual, totally awestruck by the size and number of opulent boats in the harbour there. A very large Boat Show was just finishing up, so that probably attracted even more boats than usual, and just to really rub it in, when we left the Menton area and headed into St Tropez for lunch a couple of days later, lo and behold there was a regatta underway and with even more boats. I must say, I am beginning to wonder just how many more of the damned things can fit into these small harbours around the Med – as you can see in the St Tropez pic here, you can barely see the buildings.

Next stop was a week in an apartment in Uzes which worked well as a base for visiting the westernmost parts of Provence. One little highlight of that stay was the visit to the Haribo lolly factory (makers of jelly bears etc) where Rita and I left armed with various bags of goodies – at least I don’t have to take mine in a suitcase to Australia! We also spent time in Arles, Nimes, L’Isle sur la Sorgue, St Remy de Provence, Aigues Morte and visited Pont du Gard.

Our apartment in Uzes was in the Place aux Herbes – 3 floors up overlooking the square where there was a huge market on the Saturday. Our evening entertainment was the masses of starling-like birds which congregated each evening on the roof of the church outside the kitchen window – they arrived in small groups and assembled all along the roof as the numbers grew, and then when everyone had arrived ..... whoosh they'd all start squawking and take off en masse to the plain trees just outside our bedroom windows in the square where they faffed about and squawked until they’d settled in for the night (unless of course One was a little noisy when One was closing One's shutters..... and then boom.... the sky would darken as they flapped around and squawked before settling in again!

Needless to say I have masses of photos of these all wonderful places, so check out my online photo site http://picasaweb.google.com.au/jackiesinfrance
More soon about the Languedoc and Paris

A Painting a Week - No 57

2010-10-12T20:36:00.014+03:00

For Sale - 12th October 2010 [SOLD]
Languedoc Poppies No 6
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

This week, another little one from my Languedoc Poppies series – not quite the right season at this end of the world but probably appropriate to those of you who are waiting for spring to kick in in Australia and New Zealand.

A French painting is appropriate this week as we're now in France and its lovely to be see the French countryside again, even though autumn is settling in. In a couple of weeks when we return to the Languedoc from Paris we should have lots of vibrant coloured grape vines to feast our eyes on. The light here is certainly much gentler on the eyes than Greece but I do miss being surrounded in those vibrant blues and turquoises.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

ITALY and all that ......

2010-10-05T19:45:00.008+03:00

Gosh, didn’t that time go quickly, and I’m now writing this blog from belle France. More about France a little later though.......

Once the ferry landed in Italy (not a ferry we would recommend to anyone – I think they may have brought it into service for the relatively short overnight trip from Corfu and then perhaps put it out to rest!) It didn’t have any of the ‘refinements’ that we’ve become used to which is typical when you’re trying to show Australians that travelling on Greek ferries can be rather pleasant!

After a breakfast visit to Alberobello to see the trulli houses, we headed across Italy to the Amalfi Coast – my first time back there since the 80’s. It seemed busy then but now 30 years on, its a wonder its still functioning due to its bombardment of tourists – and this is the shoulder season. The drive there from Salerno was amazing but frightening due mostly to the oncoming traffic (and we are used to that from living in Greece!) but at least in the narrower sections there were people with walkie talkies monitoring when the buses needed to get through.

Positano is as beautiful as ever though – probably more so now with seemingly every building preened to its best earning capacity, beit a restaurant, bar, art gallery or shop (clothes, handbags, shoes, souvenirs, every shaped bottles of lemoncello – you want it, you can get it there). The place was heaving, but still briskly managed to get everyone fed and watered, with rather high cover charges every time you put your bottom down somewhere.

We took a ferry ride to Amalfi for a day and that was more of the same but still lovely. It was a real treat being able to view both Positano and Amalfi from the water for a change and see how much is tucked into the hills.

Next off to the next most popular holiday spot in Italy (of course excluding Venice) and that was Cinque Terre. Just how the Italians manage to squeeze so much into such a small area is a mystery to me, then I guess that defines Italy (and the Italians!) We stayed in one of our favourite quieter towns, Moneglia, away from the madding crowds, and only a short train ride from any of the Cinque Terre Villages. We did manage to get to all five villages, my favourites still being Riomaggiore and Vernazza from our last visit, and did the walk between Vernazza and Corneglia and although it wasn’t listed as the more difficult one, it was certainly ummmmm taxing – over half of the one and a half hour being mostly rugged steps uphill, and plenty of narrow pathways perched on the side of the cliffs with big drops down to the sea below – not really my idea of fun, though it was good to share comments with the others that we passed, particularly the Australians! It seemed almost mutual that ‘ladies’ over 50 would prefer to be sitting in a cafe somewhere! But it’s great to have done it. Corneglia was a pretty town right up on the top of the hill – there was a harbour down the bottom somewhere, but absolutely no energy left to head anywhere but the train station to get to Riomaggiore for an ice cream, which I might mention we did seem to do every day whilst in Italy.

So the next adventure was to head off in the other direction and we got a ferry from Rapallo to Portofino – once again a tiny place jammed packed with thousands of people. My last visit to Portfino was in November and although as I mentioned before being late September, we were out of the main tourist season, I just couldn’t believe how many boats were squeezed into the tiny harbour – which made it look even more gorgeous than ever really – I would say one could have easily just hopped from boat to boat to cross the middle harbour most of the time. Once again though, the Italians were working their miraculous stuff and managing to effortlessly feed and water everyone with the minimum of fuss. Strangely, we found Positano beat both Cinque Terre and Portofino hands down for overpricing.

So after a week between these coastal places we headed inland briefly for a visit to Sienna and that was well worth it – such a beautiful place again, particularly the Piaza del Campo, then got back to nature by having a picnic along the side of the road with the rolling hills of Tuscany to look at – ahhhh – that was more like it.

I have been managing some sketches some of which may appear in this blog at some stage – most places we’ve stayed in just recently haven’t had wifi, so its been tricky loading up too much to go online, though I have managed to add some more photos to my Picasaweb albums.... My battery is almost out now - vive MacDonalds eh.....more later
A bientot

Corfu then Italy ......

2010-09-22T20:36:00.004+03:00

We’re currently in Positano on the Amalfi Coast of Italy – I’m taking far too many photos as per usual – it seems that everywhere I look I visualise another possible painting, so there’s no stopping me! I have managed to make some time for sketches amidst the touring and talking and hope to load some onto my Picasa photosite soon. Tomorrow we head up to Cinque Terre for 3nights, so it will be more of the same....... walking, eating, drinking, clicking........

My last blog was from Athens and then we spent a few days back in Koroni, showing Rita and Suzanne the local sights – not too much there really except for the beautiful blue waters and the monastery! We then headed north and spent the night in Antikira, a little fishing village on the edge of the Gulf of Corinth so we were close to Delphi for a visit next morning. I sat under a tree and sketched whilst Peter gave the girls the ‘guided tour’! So after a pleasant few hours staring at details of ancient Greek columns (for me at least!) and trying out my new pens, we headed off north to Meteora. This is the place where the monastaries are perched on top of the huge rocks – as seen in one of the James Bond movies!

The next day after visiting yet more monastaries we headed towards Igoumenitsa, just south of the Albania border to catch the ferry to Corfu, but we had a lovely lunchtime stop at Ioaninna – famous for silver making, which of course, could translate to jewellery...... sighhh – far too much to take in, but we did manage a few purchases.

Corfu was our next stop and although I’d been there a couple of time before, I was incredibly impressed – very beautiful, lots of shops, and oh so many bars and cafes – each and every one bursting with people – both tourists and locals – what recession?! My highlight was a climb up the ‘New Fort’ (1670’s!) and gazing down at the rooftops – blue sea, blue skies and terracotta rooftops – heaven to me – paintings on the way soon no doubt!

Now, here we are in Positano, after a rather breaktaking and heart stopping (partly scenery, and partly the oncoming traffic) drive along the Amalfi Coast from Salerno. Positano is as beautiful as ever but amazingly crowded even now at the end of September. Total chaos on the little road down into the town which is at least, one way but still has to manage local traffic, and the smaller shuttle buses. I swear we were 1cm from swiping some very expensive looking platters off the wall outside a shop when in the little shuttle bus ‘Positano Interno’ today! Lots of tooting of horns is mandatory, of course and we’re serenaded daily with the almost musical horns as buses creep around the winding road above the town. Fortunately this is mixed in with the bells from the numerous churches, so its quite bearable.

So, tomorrow, we move on to Cinque Terre and I’m sure a lot more photos and hopefully sketches. I will be adding some photos to this blog soon, but if you feel the need for more visuals, check ou my Picasa Web Album
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/jackiesinfrance.

A Painting a Week - No 56

2010-09-22T08:38:00.002+03:00

For Sale - 21st September 2010
Fraises a la Grec
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Greek strawberries - until I had my first one I'd forgotten just what strawberries should taste like. The French ones were sometimes pretty impressive, but the constant sunshine in Greece brings out the sweetness and flavour that just hits you! Like most locally grown foods available in Greece, they are seasonal - at the end of the season, that's it until same time next year.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

We're Off Again...

2010-09-12T20:30:00.005+03:00

If you've been wondering why my weekly paintings have become a little erratic, its because the time has come for us to take off on some more travels. I will still be emailing and posting paintings on this blog, but perhaps not quite so frequently until we return to Greece in November.

We've spent a few days last week in Athens with Rita and Suzanne, for those of you who know them, and having spent some time showing them Koroni, we're about to head off to Northern Greece, stopping off to see Delphi and then Meteora, and then onto the ferry for two nights in Corfu.

Next comes a week or so in Italy, the highlights being the Amalfi Coast and then Cinque Terre, with overnight stops in between. Suzanne flies out of Rome, so unfortunately doesn't join us on the Cinque Terre leg, but after years of Rita and I talking about going there together, it will finally be a reality. Then the next stop will be France.......... Ho Hum...... lots of inspiration for new paintings will be coming my way (and yours hopefully!)

I hope to be updating this blog as we move around and posting photos etc so stay tuned........

A Painting a Week - No 55

2010-08-31T22:53:00.009+03:00

For Sale - 1st September 2010
Roman Rooftops
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

When wandering around Rome there are always wonderful views of rooftops with a dome or two to add that bit of true Italian flavour. I'm an absolute sucker for the ochres and reds of the buildings too - the more layers of peeling paint the better, although this scene did look rather more freshly painted than usual!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 54

2010-08-23T19:14:00.013+03:00

For Sale - 23rd August 2010 [SOLD]
Le Marché, Sarlat, Dordogne
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

A market scene from Sarlat in the Dordogne department of France. Sarlat is a beautiful and well restored medievale town in the Dordogne Valley, just north of the Lot. It has a large and well known market which gets incredibly busy in summer - fortunately I was there in winter!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

Painting in Skiathos... and other things

2010-08-12T17:18:00.003+03:00

I am a little slow getting this blog written, and we're now settled back in Koroni after a 2 week stint up in northern Greece. On the way there I spent a wonderful and hectic week on the island of Skiathos attending a painting workshop. Yvonne has written an excellent blog on her site, with lots of photos, which does a brilliant job of describing my week there with her, far better than I could put together, so if you haven't already seen it, take a look http://paintingskiathos.wordpress.com/

I usually illustrate my blogs with the relevant photos, but there are just far too many, so I've put a selection of them them on my Picasaweb site - so click on this link for some visuals to go with these words http://picasaweb.google.com.au/jackiesinfrance

If anyone wants a week away painting and exploring a beautiful Greek island I can thoroughly recommend it. Villa Nicara is a beautiful and stylish spot with soothing rooms and a wonderful studio to work in (giving even more fuel to my dream of having my own studio one day!)

We spent our days (apart from studio painting time) exploring the island; we had a day wandering around Skiathos town sketching (and eating and drinking). For what must be the very first time in my life I forgot to take my camera that day - must have been the heat!

I joined in on a day’s Greek icon painting which was amazing, but sadly I couldn’t make the time to finish off my angel. Sorry Despina – I did love being one of 'your ladies' and if I don’t manage to finish it myself, I’ll bring it back next year! Its a very different way of painting using egg tempra with tiny wispy brushes and tiny wispy hand movements (unlike my usual strokes!) and comes together beautifully, especially once the gold leaf is added.

One memorable and very hot day we took a boat trip to the two neighbouring islands of Skopelos and Alonnissos, being invited by the captain (yet another a friend of Yvonne's!) to travel on the fly-bridge, frappes included too! The islands were lovely, particularly Skopelos with its masses of churches tumbling down the hillside. My camera worked overtime..... On the way back we passed the tiny church on the top of the large rock that featured in the Mama Mia wedding... and over the speaker system of the boat came Abba singing 'The Winner Takes it All' - absolutely perfect! We also passed pods of dolphins (pods?..... well at least I know its not flocks!) who were leaping out of the water and giving a real show - almost impossible to click the button at the right time though.

We spent many evenings in the buzzing Skiathos town where everything came alive at night – shops all open until around midnight – needless to say we had many late nights and many wonderful dinners and many hours chatting and laughing!

We also had the most wonderful day on Kastro Beach in the north of the island, after stopping off to visit the Evangelistria monastary and another two tiny churches, one where we drank water from the natural fountain to ensure we’d return to the island time and time again (yay). The trek to the beach with our painting gear was a challenging one down a goat track but well worth it to get to the stunning little cove below (trying not to think about the return trip). We set up camp for the day amidst long pieces of driftwood and rocks, having constructed the most ingenious 'chick shelter' with brightly coloured sarongs, all held together multicoloured and jewelled hair ties – boy scouts eat your hearts out! (tho I do have to give credit where its due to Yvonne for starting the building process!) Just above the beach was the taverna – the only other shade apart from our stunning sarong hung structure!! We stayed at the beach until around 8pm – almost the last ones to leave. A big day of painting en plein air - nothing beats having one’s easel perched up above the beach in the taverna, run by friendly hosts, and great food and drinks on tap – now that IS the way to paint!

So it was one very big memorable week for me after our quiet life in Koroni. Yvonne was a generous and entertaining host and the other guest Meli, from California, joined in on all the fun. Sarah from the UK arrived the day before I left and was getting all ready to teach creative writing, jewellery and silk scarf dying, and seeing her samples I was almost ready to stay another week!

I doubt I've covered everything, but don't forget to check out the photos - they say it all really. I must apologise though for my over-abundant use of adjectives. /http://picasaweb.google.com.au/jackiesinfrance

A Painting a Week - No 53

2010-08-09T12:58:00.008+03:00

For Sale - 9th August 2010
Luberon Lavender
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Summer in France and its lavender time. I stumbled across this field with its slightly crumbling, but still functioning buildings, somewhere around the back of the hilltop town of Gordes.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 52

2010-07-26T19:09:00.006+03:00

For Sale - 26th July 2010
Skiathos Rooftops
Size: 15 x 21cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Considering its officially holiday season here in Europe, I don’t feel so bad at having missed a few paintings, but with more travelling coming up in September, I had better get working! The roads are busy and the beaches packed full of relaxing people and brightly coloured umbrellas, and the water's full of stationary ‘talking heads’ in hats and sunglasses!

The photo for this painting (a loose impression!) was taken looking down upon the main town on Skiathos, one of the Sporades Islands in the Agean. Skiathos is a beautiful lush Greek island with sandy beaches and rocky coves, and the town is a maze of brilliant white buildings with terracotta rooftops, all this set amidst brilliant turquoise sea and blue skies. I’ll be writing a separate blog with photos about my wonderful week painting on the island, once we return to Koroni in a week or so, so stayed tuned.

I’ve spent many an hour studying the colours of the sea since coming to Greece and can only come to the conclusion that the colours change constantly. Depending upon where you are, time of the day, and the weather conditions, the sea can be anything from very deep blue to very light turquoise and these colours change by the hour. Perhaps I need to take a leaf out of Monet’s book and set myself up with a row of canvasses as the colours change!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 51

2010-06-28T19:49:00.009+03:00

For Sale - 28th June 2010 [SOLD]
Cafe de France, L'Isle sur-la-Sourge
Size: 15 x 21cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Yet another cafe scene, this time from L’Isle sur-la-Sorgue in the Luberon department of Provence. The colours are rather different from my usual palette and I must admit rather a challenge! I remember walking past this cafe each time I’ve visited the town, and have always been attracted to the greens and yellows, so thought it was high time to see what I could do with my interpretation of it!

L'Isle sur-la-Sorge is known as the 'Venice of Provence' and is a maze of small streets amongst canals and waterwheels. Although we lived a couple of hours drive away when we were living in the Languedoc, L'Isle sur-la-Sourge seemed to be a place we always found ourselves in, either visiting friends staying there or in nearby villages or stopping off for meals when exploring the nearby countryside.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 50

2010-06-22T15:31:00.015+03:00

For Sale - 22nd June 2010 [SOLD]
Portfino, Italy 2
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Portofino again. When I took this photo I was looking back from the pier towards the main square of the village. I may have mentioned previously when I posted the earlier Portfino painting, but I was amazed how tiny Portofino was considering how well known it is. It really only consists of the waterfront with a few tiny streets behind. It's nestled in between the sea and rocky hills at the end of a peninsula and accessed via a narrow winding coastal road which must be bedlam in the summer months with all the campervans!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 49

2010-06-15T15:08:00.014+03:00

For Sale - 15th June 2010 [SOLD]
Greek Bougainvillea
Size: 15 x 21cm
Price A $ 90
(Postage and handling included)

Everywhere I look at the moment, is cascading bougainvillea, so I've plucked up courage to try and capture some! Below, in a separate blog, I've also attempted to give you some idea of all the wonderful flowers that seem to be surrounding us.

The Flowers of Greece

2010-06-08T21:06:00.019+03:00

Its been springtime here in Greece since we arrived towards the end of April, and although one doesn't really associate Greece with flowers, I must say that the displays of them have been absolutely stunning. In my usual fashion I've snapped a lot that I've come across and thought I'd share them with you...

The bougainvillea was just starting to flower when we arrived, and since then has been getting bigger and brighter every day - it has to stop soon surely, or perhaps just taper off and take a breather, then burst into more flowers because I remember they were still flowering when we were here last November. The colours have been unbelievable, from the usual crimson and scarlet reds, to brilliant oranges, apricots and whites. They spill off the sides of fences all along the roadsides - it seems that every white house here should have some bouganvillia draped against it. They also launch themselves off balconies in the cities and the side of dilapidated buildings and peek over the walls of smart houses! My usual walks down through the cobbled streets of Koroni are slowed down oohing and aahing as they're always somehow more impressive than the last time I passed them.

So as well as the bougainvillea, which must surely get first prize, there have been the fields of yellow daisies - masses of them just filling up vacant lots (fortunately!) and lined up along the roadsides and through the olive groves. These are often mingled with huge purple thistles - waist high and just like the ones you associate with Scotland. There're also big fields of these, giving a vibrant purple haze against the blue water.

Of course, I mustn't forget my favourite flowers, the poppies. Not quite up to French standards as far as volume, but still pretty good, especially when they're mixed in with the yellow daisies. These were also scattered amongst the olive groves, along the edges of the roads, and for some reason often in the middle of the ancient Greek temples and ruins. They are a darker red than those in France.

Now the roses are something that really surprised me the first few weeks we were here. Its just not a flower that I expected to see flowering so happily here. They seem to be everywhere and are still going strong even though the heat has arrived in full force - every colour under the sun. The ones I have in the vase above were those given to me by our neighbour, Vassilly - Chinese roses I'm told!

Everywhere we go in Europe there seems to be rows of oleander bushes. The Cote d'Azure in France is teeming with them along the roadsides near the beachfronts. In Italy they line the freeways, and here in Greece they're also planted along the centre of the freeways and the side of main roads. They seem to grow wild almost anywhere else - continually flowering throughout spring and summer in their pinks, white and reds, and occasionally apricot.

I should really have mentioned geraniums well before now. Nearly every single house has pots overflowing with some type of geranium lined up along the steps or terraces, including ours I might add! The brilliant red ones seem to be the favourites - such a lot of colour for so little effort, and of course, they brilliantly offset the white walls and blue shutters.

Just started in the fields and replacing the yellow daisies, is what I think is Queen Anne's Lace - though I doubt its called that here. Before they turn white, they have the most intricate green and mauve flower head. Of course, in true Greek style, these are huge and once again waist high or more. They also line the roads and fill up empty fields.

The orange trumpet vine (am nor sure whether that's the correct name!) has also just started flowering as well, and seems to be taking up residence next to the bougainvillea. Early days yet, so not many photos!

Oops nearly forgot the capers! I always did wonder how capers grew - I thought they grew on a little shrub of some sort. We've been wondering about these pretty flowers we kept seeing along the laneways and up the side of walls. It seems these are caper plants, and the caper is the small pod that appears before it turns into the flower itself. Its all a matter of timing to pick them before they get too big, then soak them in vinegar, et voila capers for your salad or smoked salmon!

Along with all these visually beautiful flowers, there are the night scented ones - the daytura and jasmines - not that they aren't beautiful - I just don't have any photos of them as yet!

On reading back over this, one would wonder how we can manage to get along the roads with all these flowers leaping out at us, but they are just one more distraction that comes with driving on the country roads in Greece - along with obstacles like goats, fruit sellers, rubbish bins, haphazardly parked vehicles, and of course, Greek drivers!

A Painting a Week - No 48

2010-06-03T12:02:00.008+03:00

For Sale - 3rd June 2010 [SOLD]
Café, L'Isle St Louis, Paris
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A $ 90
(Postage and handling included)

Back to France for this week’s painting although a little late because I've been in the hot hustle and bustle of Athens taking in some ancient Greek columns!

I took this photo of the cafe (Brasserie de l'Isle Saint Louis) when walking across the bridge from L’Ile de Cité to L’Ile Saint Louis, the two islands in the middle of the Seine in Paris. As always the colours and the rows of tables and chairs caught my eye. It was a bitterly cold day, hence the lack of people sitting outside.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting A Week - No 47

2010-05-20T13:21:00.007+03:00

For Sale - 20th May 2010
Across Sydney Harbour
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A $ 90
(Postage and handling included)

At last, a painting of Sydney - something I've been wanting to do for ages. I took this photo from Cremorne Point looking back towards the city and Harbour Bridge (just in case it's not recognisable!) The blues are very different than Europe, but strangely enough this photo did pick up a lot of turquiose, something I don't really associate with Sydney. I do hope to add some snippets of beautiful Sydney to my weekly paintings - whenever I'm back there, I'm still on the look-out for painting material.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 46

2010-05-13T13:38:00.011+03:00

For Sale - 13th May 2010 [SOLD]
Under spring skies, Koroni, Greece
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A $ 90
(Postage and handling included)

My first weekly painting of Korini, where we now live. As those of you who've seen the photos will know, its a lovely little town sprawling down the side of a hill into the harbour - plenty of painting material for me (particularly with my rooftop fetish!)

The water always seems to be a different colour, and I'm constantly taking photos in the hope that I can create a series of canvasses based on the colours and textures I see. This, of course, in addition to the weekly paintings from France, Italy and Greece (and hopefully Sydney).

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

Here we are in Greece

2010-05-10T13:07:00.013+03:00

Finally, an update to my blog as promised.

After our great but exhausting time in Sydney, we returned to France for two or three weeks, had our fill of almond croissants and moules frites, and packed up the car for our drive through to Greece. We usually allow about about three days, but with a carload of possessions, we made it in record time and caught the ferry from Ancona in Italy to Igoumentsa in northern Greece, up near the Albanian border . We spent one night in Italy and as usual had as many good coffees as we could fit in - the cappuccinos are cheap and wonderful - something that can't be said for either France or Greece.

We'd promised ourselves a nice comfy cabin on the ferry (not being confined to deck class anymore due to the sad demise of our little dog, Miura). However, no cabins were available due to the masses of ‘ash affected’ passengers. With most of the northern European airports closed with the ash from the Icelandic volcano, people were heading south on whatever transport they could find, and Athens airport was still open (unlike when they had a general strike just recently!)

So now, after nearly 3 weeks, we're all settled nicely into our apartment here in Koroni. For those who are interested, and want to get the map out, Koroni is on the western-most tip of the Peloponnese, which is at the bottom west of the Greek mainland (about 4 hours from Athens). The Peloponnese looks like a very large island and is in fact joined to the mainland by a 6km wide strip of land, which is bisected by the Corinth Canal.

Our closest major city is Kalamata, famous for the olives. Its a lively city with some nice wide pedestrian areas and lots of cafes and good shops, and a huge fruit and vege market on Saturdays. More exploring has yet to be done, but we've found the bookshop, art supplies and electronics stores! Kalamata suffered a severe earthquake in 1986 and there’s a mixture of beautifully renovated buildings and other very neglected ones with large cracks!

Koroni itself is a 45min drive from Kalamata, along a fairly narrow winding road through some typical Greek villages, olive groves and the usual 'messy' Greek landscape. The town of Koroni spills down one side at the tip of the Messenia peninsula - loads of white houses with turned up tiled roofs (rooves!), and little whitewashed lanes and steps- now all freshly done for the summer. Terraces are filled with tubs (often recycled feta containers) of red geraniums or overflowing with cascading crimson bougainvillea. Its all so lovely it makes the trudge back up the hill worthwhile, and there’s always a good excuse for a photo whilst catching one’s breath! Mind you, just to be honest too, amongst all these picturesque bits, there are some rather ‘messy’(that’s my new catch-cry!) bits as well – we’re not yet up to Mykonos standards thank god!

There's an old Venetian fort overlooking the port where the little fishing boats bob around when they’re not out on the job – these joined by tourists yatchts in summer. Across the bay is the bulky shadow of the mountainous Mani Peninsula with the peak of Mount Taygetos. The back side of Koroni (where we are) overlooks a long stretch of sand and the two beaches, Zaga and Memi and the blue blue Mediterranean - next stop Crete, or North Africa.

So far everything is going very well, despite the state of the Greek economy. Generally, the Greek people are very friendly and welcoming. Peter(who can fortunately speak fairly good Greek) has made friends with a neighbour who owns a chunk of land next to us – he lives in the town but spends a lot of his day pottering around with his chickens and vegetables. He has a very cute Black and white lamb called Dolly and a very large fig tree! I’ve received a lovely bunch of Chinese Roses – open deep red flowers with yellow centres, and some freshly laid eggs..... the Greeks are a very generous lot – it will take all our time trying to work out what type of gift we can repay them with!

The sun has been shining brightly, though there is a cool wind often coming up from the water – I imagine something one must expect when perched on the side of a hill looking towards Africa! I’m sure it will be well and truly welcome in the heat of summer though. I’ve already had my first swim of the season, which is not bad for early May.

I’ve also had my first visit to a Greek dentist. I’d secretly worried he was of the rip-them-out or drill-culture, but couldn’t have been more wrong. If there’s such a thing as a homeopathic dentist, this surely must be one. He suggests I need to get used to the Greek food, water etc before he does anything drastic. Like most professionals in Greece (along with most restaurant and shop owners), he speaks very good English.

If you can bear now to see some photos, and haven't already had enough....... I’ve put some photos on my photosite. http://picasaweb.google.com.au/jackiesinfrance (Koroni 2010)

My weekly paintings will continue to be along the same lines as before, France, Italy and Greece, and even Sydney if I ever get this week’s one finished.

Hope you enjoy sharing our little bit of Greece with us.

A Painting a Week - No 45

2010-04-30T20:23:00.012+03:00

For Sale - 30th April 2010 [SOLD]
Les Paniers du Marché
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(postage and handling included)

This week another little bit of French life. Whenever I go to any of the outdoor markets in France, I keep a look out for the stalls selling baskets – they’re always a mass of colour with various types of baskets (panniers) haphazardly strung around the stall, or just heaped on the pavement in piles. They’ve been fascinating me for years now, and finally, I’ve managed a painting (albeit a rather loose one!) of some I came across at the Cahors market.

As I mentioned previously, I will be adding more news to this blogspot about our move to Greece within the next few days, so if you want to know where we're at and what we're doing, stay tuned.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 44

2010-04-22T11:02:00.008+03:00

For Sale - 22nd April 2010 [SOLD]
Languedoc Poppies #7
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(postage and handling included)

Another little painting of poppies from photos I've taken in our Languedoc region of France. I will be working on some more of this series, and larger, over the next couple of months, so if you're interested, please let me know.

There are poppies flowering here in Greece as well - quite a different red than the French ones, deeper and even more vibrant (as most things in Greece tend to be)! I've previously seen fields of them up in Northern Greece, but down here in the south, there're far too many olive trees to allow for open fields!

I'll be adding more news to this blogspot about our move to Greece, over the next week or so, so stay tuned.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 43

2010-04-12T14:39:00.012+03:00

For Sale - 12th April 2010 [SOLD]
Montmartre, Paris
Size: 15 x 21cm
Price A$90
(postage and handling included)

As I said in the email, this week’s painting is another wintery scene, this time from Montmartre, one of my favourite parts of Paris. As well as the ‘artistic flavour’ around the area, with the artists painting outdoors in the famous square at Place du Tertre, I love the steep steps which cut down through the typical Parisian apartment buildings, and the stately rows of trees and lamp posts. Sacre Coeur stands out proudly overlooking the area, and you’re rewarded with glimpses of this magnificent white domed basilica peeking between the buildings.

The area is a mass of narrow streets with shops selling all manner of interesting ‘stuff’ – to the south-east is Boulevard de Magenta with its tiny shops crammed with a strange mixture of mobile phones, various coloured wigs and garish wedding regalia. To the west is Pigalle with the Moulin Rouge and the red light district, which I do admit I didn't venture very far into!

I always enjoy painting snippets of Paris – there’s something about it that calls for me to use a more muted palette than usual, though I guess this shouldn't necessarily be the case in such a colourful city.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 42

2010-04-06T16:46:00.019+03:00

For Sale - 6th April 2010 [SOLD]
Avignon Winter Rooftops
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(postage and handling included)

Finally, a French winter scene as promised! Its now officially spring here, but as yet very little evidence has appeared in the fields.

I took this photo in Avignon just before we left for Sydney at the end of January. It was a lovely surprise to discover as we arrived there that it had just finished snowing. Needless to say, my camera was busy!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

Back in belle france again

2010-04-04T13:03:00.002+03:00

Here we are – April 2010 already and we’re back here after a great couple of months in Sydney, with a brief trip to NZ. I can’t believe all that time has gone so quickly. There were so many more people we wanted to see and so much more we wanted to do – but next time for sure.

It is lovely to be back in France again, despite the change in temperature! The day spent in Paris was a stark reminder of how chilly the northern France spring is, and here in the south, after the incredibly cold winter, nothing has quite woken up yet. We’d expected to see plenty of green growth on the grape vines but they are all still lying dormant, though some of the trees are beginning to green up. The almond trees are starting to burst with their pink blossoms - so I’ll be off in search of some for photos and painting.

Its remarkable how difference the light is over here, especially coupled with the flat landscape of rows of vines or rolling hills with the huge skies hovering above. Even whilst the vines are bare, they're a beautiful sight.

My Painting a Week will be back on track very soon – probably a winter scene or two!
The exhibition day in Sydney went really well and it was wonderful to meet those of you who I’d been in touch with via the website – many thanks for coming along.

We only have a couple of weeks here before our drive through to Greece, where we will be setting up base for the foreseeable future. A stint in France is scheduled for September/October, so there will still be plenty of French paintings.

We really enjoyed seeing everyone again and look foward to the next visit and hopefully another exhibition in 2011.

EXHIBITION TIME AGAIN

2010-03-08T10:02:00.006+02:00

Once again the hectic pace of Sydney life has ensnared me, and so far no weekly paintings ..... but there is still hope!

Whilst in Sydney, I'm having a one day exhibition on

SATURDAY 13 MARCH

10am and 3pm

North Sydney Community Centre

220 Miller Street, North Sydney

CHANGEABLE ART is a monthly exhibition held in conjunction with the North Sydney markets(directly behind the markets, and between the Stanton Library and the North Sydney Council Chambers).

I'll be there between 10am and 3pm, so come along and say hello. There will be a variety of paintings for sale, as well as a large selection of small mounted works.

A Painting a Week - No 41

2010-01-28T18:38:00.011+02:00

For Sale - 28th January 2010
Portofino, Italy
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

I know I said the next painting would be a French winter scene, but somehow I haven’t quite finished, nor I suspect, has the French winter! As I write this its cold with a howling wind and more snow is expected in many parts of France. We fly out of Paris next Tuesday so suddenly the prospect of snow is a little less exciting! Yesterday though, we spent exploring the centre of Avignon, trudging through the crisp freshly fallen snow – it certainly lends a little atmosphere to my usual photos!

On Sunday we fly up to Paris for two nights and then on to Sydney until the end of March (with a week in NZ in early Feb). I'm very much looking forward to seeing all those friendly faces again!

So, in the meantime, here’s a little painting ‘I prepared earlier’. We called into Portfino on our drive back from Greece in November. Being off season it was very quiet and I was able to photograph it without the tourists. I hope to continue the weekly paintings whilst on the move again - let's see how I manage?!

A Painting a Week - No 40

2010-01-12T18:53:00.008+02:00

For Sale - 12th January 2010
Languedoc Autumn
Size: 15 x 21cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Its certainly not autumn here any more, but I do have great memories of the brightly coloured vines in the fields all around us. I will try and tackle something 'wintery' for my next painting - something to portray the freezing cold, wind and snow that France has been having!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 39

2010-01-05T18:11:00.009+02:00

For Sale - 5th January 2010 [SOLD]
At the Beach, Stoupa, Greece
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

I’ve started the year with another beach painting – the photo was taken in the summer in a little Greek town called Stoupa, in the Peloponnese. Painting something like this helps me get through the cold weather we’re having in France right now, though we're on the Mediterranean coast, so are not getting the snow like most of France, which is, as far as I’m concerned is a bit of a pity really!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 38

2009-12-18T12:45:00.011+02:00

For Sale - 18th December 2009 [SOLD]
Le Marché, Carcassonne
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Right now Carcassonne may well be covered in snow, but this was the market when I was last there!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

Update to our Whereabouts......

2009-12-15T10:39:00.006+02:00

This is an update for all you confused people over the other side of the world as to where we are, and what we're doing!

We are still in France and winter has hit with a vengence. We are here in the Montagnac house until 31 December, and are then moving to a friend's apartment at La Tamissiere, near the town of Agde, for January. Its a small studio apartment, which overlooks the mouth of the Herault River and we do have the Med about a 5 minute walk, or bike ride away. Internet will be a little restricted, but we're hoping to get a dongle with mobile access, and the one cafe open in La Tam seems to have internet. We won't have a landline there. On 31 January we head up to Paris and I arrive in Sydney on 4th February and will spend a few days there before going to NZ until 15th Feb. Peter stops off in LA to visit his Mum and arrives in Sydney on 16th February. I will have my usual Oz mobile (0414 263 085) up and running, but no landline for the first 4 weeks there.

Our move to Greece takes place in mid April, after spending a couple of weeks back in France gathering up our belongings. The plan is to still spend time in France each year, and we hope to come back here, probably to cool off, sometime around October. Of course, visits to Oz and NZ will be factored in as long as the funds allow.

Wishing you all a very Merry Xmas and everything you wish for in 2010.

A Painting a Week - No 37

2009-12-07T18:04:00.009+02:00

For Sale - 7th December 2009 [SOLD]
Greek Blue, Koroni
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Here we have a little snippet of Greece - this is one of many photos I've taken of 'Greek Blues' whilst wandering the streets of Koroni, our little haven in the south of the Pelopennese. Its actually rather a challenge painting what appears to be a relatively simple blue and white picture. I was determined to get the feeling of the 'grittiness' on the painted walls - something most of the whitewashed buildings have in abundance!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 36

2009-12-01T21:00:00.011+02:00

For Sale - 2nd December 2009
Village de Lacoste, Provence
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Lacoste is another lovely village perché in the Luberon region, which we stumbled on after leaving Bonnieux (Painting No. 34). The ruined castle of the Marquis de Sade at the top of the village, is now owned by Pierre Cardin!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 35

2009-11-22T14:02:00.009+02:00

For Sale - 24th November 2009
A Glimpse of Paris #2
Size: 15 x 21cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Another painting of Paris - though I must admit that clouds seem to dominate most of my photos taken there over various seasons. I took this photo along the side of the Seine in the vicinity of the Louvre.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 34

2009-11-16T14:28:00.008+02:00

For Sale - 16th November 2009
Bonnieux, Provence
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Bonnieux is a lovely hillside village perched on the side of the Luberon mountains in Provence - Peter Mayle country!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

Southern Greece – Green Grass and Gum Trees??

2009-11-13T13:05:00.011+02:00

Here we are again in Greece after another zip through Italy and onto the Ferry from Brindisi, this time to Patras, halfway down the western side of Greece, which made our drive to Koroni a much more pleasant 4 hours.

Its GREEN! This is the first time either of us have been here at this time of the year, and the normal roadside scenery has changed colour. Instead of the brown and gold crispy looking hillsides, we’re seeing emerald green everywhere, particularly in between the masses of olive trees (we're near Kalamata!). We’re told its been a very wet year and this is not quite the norm. Another thing which has astonished me is the amount of large lush gum trees along the roadsides – sometime I feel as though I could almost be in Australia as we drive through.

All is going well here in Koroni, and the town is looking as lovely as we remembered despite the fact thats its almost winter, so some of the tavernas are shut down, and the main street is all dug up!

Some photos just so you get the picture .......

A Painting a Week - No 33

2009-11-08T19:39:00.010+02:00

For Sale - 9th November 2009 [SOLD]
Les Tournesols
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Aaah sunflowers, the French name tournesol translating as 'turning to the sun', which of course they do. I usually find if I see a big field of sunflowers, they're turning in the opposite direction to me, and I have to pick my time of the day to return and photograph them!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 32

2009-11-02T20:25:00.009+02:00

For Sale - 2nd November 2009
Arles Rooftops
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Arles is fascinating enough from the ground with all its tiny narrow streets and colourful facades, but when looking down on the miriade of rooftops, its enough to make one dizzy! I've painted various versions of this wonderful Roman city's rooftops and I'm sure there'll be more to come!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 31

2009-10-25T18:29:00.011+02:00

For Sale - 26th October 2009 [SOLD]
Fontaine de Vaucluse, Provence
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

As soon as I stepped out of the car here, I was stunned by the colour of the water. I believe it changes throughout the seasons, but I clearly recall the vivid emerald greens and deep blues of the river running through and alongside the village. The village of Fontaine de Vaucluse, in the Luberon, is tiny and squeezed in against towering cliffs. It takes its name from the beautiful and mysterious spring feeding the river Sorgue. This spring, at the far end of the village, comes from deep underground and nobody knows how deep...!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 30

2009-10-19T18:45:00.015+03:00

For Sale - 19th October 2009 [SOLD]

Autumn in Les Tuileries, Paris
Acrylic & Ink Painting

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$80

(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Le jardin des Tuileries is Paris's most central garden. From the 12th century, this area was occupied by roof-tile factories (tuileries meaning tiles) that were surrounded by pumpkin fields and in the 1500s a palace was built on the site and surrounded with extensive Florentine-inspired gardens. Its a truly beautiful park in all seasons - vivid with flowers and new growth in spring; leafy and cool in summer; brilliant with golden and rust colours (and crunching leaves) in autum; stark and elegant with rows of bare trees in the winter, especially stunning with a layer of snow! It offers a haven from the hectic Paris traffic in the surround streets.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 29

2009-10-04T19:23:00.014+03:00

For Sale - 4th October 2009 [SOLD]

Le Café la Nuit, Arles

Acrylic & Ink Painting

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$80 (Plus A$10 postage and handling)

This cafe is in the beautiful Roman city of Arles, and was made famous by Vincent van Gogh in his painting Le Cafe de Nuit (The Night Cafe). What better place to have a grande creme and ponder the important things in life!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery. Please note that there is now a Currency Converter in both this blog site (scroll down), and my website (http://www.jackiesherwood.com/)

A Painting a Week - No 28

2009-09-28T17:26:00.014+03:00

For Sale - 28th September 2009 [SOLD]
Tourettes sur Loup, Provence
Acrylic & Ink Painting
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Back to French villages again this week. Tourettes is a lovely medieval village, about 15 kms inland between Cannes and Nice. It's perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Loup Valley, and like St Paul de Vence, a haven for artists. Its also known as The Violet Village, and this shy little flower is honored each year in March with a flower festival, decorated floats and a flower battle!

A Painting a Week - No 27

2009-09-21T18:43:00.008+03:00

For Sale - 21st September 2009

Languedoc Poppies 5

Acrylic & Ink Painting

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$80

(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Another one in my Languedoc Poppies series. Not exactly the right time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, but for those of you experiencing spring in the Southern, the timing should be perfect!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery.

A Painting a Week - No 26

2009-09-14T19:02:00.009+03:00

For Sale - 14th September 2009 [SOLD]

A Glimpse of Paris
Acrylic & Ink Painting
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

If you've visited Paris, I'm sure it's left some lasting images in your memory. One of these images for me has always been the beautiful and unique buildings alongside the Seine; hence this painting.

I'm looking forward to spending a little time more there in February on our way back to Sydney.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery.

The Vendage is upon us again

2009-09-12T22:17:00.003+03:00

Its easy to take for granted the continuous hum of the harvesters amongst the vines, the little tractors towing their trailer load of grapes along the long tree-lined roads, followed by a gaggle of slow vehicles all waiting their turn to pass. Its not so easy though to ignore the loud crashing and banging of the neighbours' tractors and their empty trailers passing the window at 6am! But these are the sounds of the vendage - the annual grape picking season in the Languedoc. This year the weather has been beautiful; brilliant sunny days with no threat of rain to interfere with the picking. When I woke this morning the first scent that passed my nostrils was the aroma of wine - fermenting grapes wafting around in the breeze, no doubt from the nearby Cooperative.

When driving behind a tractor and trailer last Sunday, we watching it squeeze along a narrow street, and saw the gutter flowing with red grape juice as the trailer tilted. There are clumps of dark red grapes dropped at intersections and roundabouts where the roads are sticky with grape juice. The whole process is impossible to ignore ..... such is the bliss of living in the Languedoc, and we haven't even started to sample the finished product yet!

A Painting a Week - No 25

2009-09-07T12:37:00.013+03:00

For Sale - 7th September 2009 [SOLD]

Collioure Archway

Acrylic & Ink Painting

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$80

(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Back to Collioure again. As I've mentioned before, Collioure is a small port on the Mediterrean, not far from the Spanish border, and is associated with the Fauves painters. Its a really picturesque place with tiny narrow streets and brightly coloured buildings, and of course, the cafes and boats. To offset this though, the French military have a base nearby and are often seen jogging through the laneways, scaling the cliffs, or madly rowing about in rubber inflatables!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery.

A Painting a Week - No 24

2009-08-31T18:08:00.010+03:00

For Sale - 1st September 2009 [SOLD]
At the Beach, Astros, Greece
Acrylic & Ink Painting
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Something a little different this week - no buildings or flowers. Just the simple combination of blue water, an umbrella and distant mountains spells out summer in Greece to me!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery.

A Painting a Week - No 23

2009-08-24T21:14:00.014+03:00

For Sale - 24th August 2009 [SOLD]

Vernazza, Cinque Terre

Acrylic & Ink Painting

Size: 21 x 15cm

Price A$80

(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Another little snippet of Cinque Terre from our recent trip through Italy. The 3 of the 5 Cinque Terre villages we visited were really very special, although a little crowded. Although it was only the end of May, we managed to bump into an Italian public holiday which of course didn't help matters!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com to arrange payment and delivery.