Jackie's in France

A Painting a Week - No 39

2010-01-05T17:11:00.004+01:00

For Sale - 5th January 2010
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

2009-12-18T11:45:00.005+01:00

For Sale - 18th December 2009
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......

2009-12-15T09:39:00.006+01:00

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

2009-12-07T17:04:00.004+01:00

For Sale - 7th December 2009
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

2009-12-01T20:00:00.007+01:00

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

2009-11-22T13:02:00.005+01:00

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

2009-11-16T13:28:00.004+01:00

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??

2009-11-13T12:05:00.011+01:00

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

2009-11-08T18:39:00.004+01:00

For Sale - 9th November 2009
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

2009-11-02T19:25:00.004+01:00

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 30

2009-10-19T17:45:00.012+02:00

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 31

2009-10-25T17:29:00.007+01:00

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 29

2009-10-04T18:23:00.011+02:00

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

2009-09-28T16:26:00.012+02:00

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!

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 27

2009-09-21T17:43:00.006+02:00

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

2009-09-14T18:02:00.007+02:00

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.

A Painting a Week - No 25

2009-09-07T11:37:00.008+02:00

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.

The Vendage is upon us again

2009-09-12T21:17:00.003+02:00

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 22

2009-08-17T18:00:00.008+02:00

For Sale - 17th August 2009 [SOLD]
Abbaye de Sénanque amidst the Lavender, Provence
Acrylic & Ink Painting
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus A$10 postage and handling)

Summer in France is a special event, especially when in lavender country. This beautiful medieval abbey, located in a wild valley just north of Gordes, is one of the special places to see Provence's famed lavender fields. One step out of the car and the perfume will be with you for days! The abbey was founded in 1148 and went through centuries of ups and downs, but once again today, is populated by Cistercian monks.

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

2009-08-24T20:14:00.009+02:00

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.

A Painting a Week - No 24

2009-08-31T17:08:00.007+02:00

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.17

2009-06-04T12:45:00.022+02:00

For Sale - 4th June 2009 [SOLD]
St Paul de Vence, Provence
Acrylic & Ink Painting
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$80
(Plus $A10 postage and handling)

Here we are back in Greece once again. Creatively though, I’ve put the brakes on and stayed in France as I wanted paint some of the small hilltop villages in Provence. St Paul de Vence is a medieval fortified village in the Gorges de Loup, up in the hills north of Cannes. The area is a mecca for artists with lots of interesting galleries tucked away in the narrow streets.

We had a great drive through Provence and spent two nights there to recover from packing up the house yet again. We then drove into Italy for two nights in Moneglia, where we finally managed to hop on a local train and spend some time in Cinque Terra – visited 3 of the 5 villages – totally amazing – paintings will follow! After the drive across Italy, we had a very long delayed ferry trip having stopped in the middle of the night to offload a seriously ill truck driver (we suspect probably deceased!), and then a diversion to Brindisi in southern Italy (we sailed from Ancona further up north) where we had to await Italian police clearance before we could leave.... In fact, we were still in Italy 5 hours after we were supposed to be in Greece...... aaah the joys of travel!

If you are 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.18

2009-06-09T11:21:00.004+02:00

12th June 2009 [SOLD]
Poppies Galore
Acrylic & Ink Painting
Size: 15 x 21cm
Price A$80
(Plus $10 postage and handling)

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

More paintings to come soon

2009-08-07T12:43:00.002+02:00

Well, after a wonderful 2 months in Greece, we're now back in France and getting ourselves unpacked and organised in our Montagnac house. We're having fun comparing the differences between France and Greece. Everything in France seems much more 'subtle' - the neat countryside, the light, the people, the language, whereas Greece is bright, messy and loud!

Once we started moving about in Greece, it was a bit tricky to continue the paintings each week (a lousy excuse I know - where's the commitment!) and our internet access was a bit sporadic to say the least! So after a few more days to get my painting gear unpacked and to decide which photos and which country to paint, I'll have another Painting A Week off to you all.....

Hope everyone on this side of the world is enjoying their summer, and you all down-under are looking forward to spring after your rather chilly winter this year.

A Painting a Week - No.6

2008-12-21T12:34:00.009+01:00

22nd December 2008 [SOLD]
French Irises
Acrylic & Ink Painting
Size: 12 x 18cm | Mounted Size: 24 x 30cm
Price mounted: A$60 (Plus $A10 postage and handling)

I felt like painting a spring scene from an earlier photo - nothing like a bit of colour to brighten up the cold gray weather! These irises pop up everywhere in spring, particularly along the ditches lining the country roads. They vary from every shade of blue, through to mauves, purples and yellows.