A Painting A Week No 128 - A Little Lavender, Provence

For Sale - 7th August 2013 
A Little Lavender, Provence
Size: 21 x 15cm
(Postage and handling included)

Summer in France is always brimming with beautiful flowers, one of the most exceptional being the lavender. Huge swathes of it turn the countryside into patches of purple and its always interesting to see what's grown alongside, or sometimes, what pops up wildly in the middle of it. I took this photo near Gordes one summer. It was just a small field, but I liked the combination with the pink shrub, which I believe is the Ile de France Butterfly Bush, or Buddleia.

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

A Painting A Week No 113 - Poppy Fields, Italy 2

For Sale - 23rd October 2012
Poppy Fields, Italy 2
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

We’ve just spent the past week or so, back in Italy again, slowly travelling through towards France with my eldest son, James.  It seems relevant therefore, to have my second recently finished poppy painting this week, although the Italian fields are now all ploughed and bare.  We had a great time exploring the Puglia region and have seen some amazing sights, which will feature in my blog once we get a good internet connection.  From there we spent some time in Positano (where James was testing his memory of his last stay there at the age of 6), and Cinque Terre.... yes, again!  We've now just arrived in Menton, France.

I took the photo for this painting near San Miniato in Tuscany back in May - as you can see from the photo below, its a very serious business photographing poppies!

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this 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 108 - Poppy Fields, Tuscany

For Sale - 8th August 2012
Poppy Fields, Tuscany
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Yes, I suspect I may be a little obsessed with poppies.  There's nothing like driving around a corner and there in front of you, is a field covered in a whole mass of red. It is sometimes tricky to find a field with a good backdrop though, cos supermarkets and motorways in the background, just don't quite work.  This field was along one of the small roads between Pisa and Siena - I've included a photo below, with Rita, which I think highlights just how crazy I/we must look when taking these photos! All for a good cause though.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this 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 104

For Sale - 13th May 2012
French Poppies 4
Size: 21 x 15cm
Price A$90
(Postage and handling included)

Back in France again for a few days and its poppy time of the year. This trip though we've not really been in the right areas to capture the fields overflowing with them. Travelling through Italy last week was stunning though, with beautiful fields of brilliant red poppies, often interspersed with yellow daisies, but as luck would have it, none quite within camera range. This is a painting I finished just before we left Greece, painted from a photo which I took this time last year in the Languedoc region of France. Hopefully when we head back into Italy soon, the Italian ones will be ready and waiting for me in some more accessible spots.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this 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.

Welcome to 2012 - A Painting A Week No 97

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.

A Painting A Week No 94

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.

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 92

For Sale - 31st August 2011  [SOLD]

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

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 86

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.

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 84

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 81

For Sale - 5th April 2011  [SOLD]
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

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 77

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 70

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

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 65

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 62

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 57

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/)

A Painting a Week - No 49

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.

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 Flowers of Greece

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 44

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/)