One of my first big projects after coming to live here in the early 90s was the interior of a restaurant, which was to be called Les Fresques. It was attached to a Château in the throes of being gutted and restored as a hotel complex. On a previous château commission I had divised a…
During the confinement we, like many others took the opportunity to get on with some house repairs and decorating, getting ready for the season if it were ever to happen. Well I’m happy to say that after all our bookings being cancelled this year, once restrictions were eased people quickly started booking their holidays again.…
Happy New Year again, I hope it’s started well for you. Christmas is packed away now, here are some of our precious hand-made tree decorations carefully packed in their golden box. Trompe l’œil The most recent trompe l’œil I painted not long ago was a commission for a friend’s big birthday. His children wanted something…
I had a couple of jobs towards the end of last year, one was to paint the interior of a WC like a stormy sky, almost black with clouds looming menacing and dark. This is the before photo, I’ve just sanded it down to key the first coat of primer, incidentally I painted this WC…
The ceiling is finished! One or two minor things to add later, some more leaves to soften the edges, (you have to live with something a little while to see what you might like to add or take away, luckily so far there is nothing to take away!) Here is a reminder of what the…
Glad that the awful treacly paint finish is completed we moved on to the first coat of colour; having quickly and very loosely marked out where the opening to the sky will be, we painted the cream surround first. In age-old fashion, I drew out my designs onto sheets of paper taped together, some are 4mx3m. I…
Last week on Feb 12th the cranes started flying North, their rasping cries lift the spirits for I know now that Spring must be coming, especially as I hear swarms of tiny bees buzzing in the sun collecting pollen from the flowering remnants of an old box-hedge and from the catkin lanterns high up catching the sun’s…
As a seasonal theme, that of Hallowe’en and the Day of the Dead, the BBC broadcast a programme called Ghost Stories from Theatreland, narrated by the actor Jack Shepherd. He started by telling us about a ghost in the Palace Theatre Westcliff (Southend), my ears pricked up, for this was the first theatre I worked…
I have just packed up the remaining unsold works, with the help of stalwart friend Marilyn, (thanks once again, dear friend,) and dismantled my stand at the 7th Salon Metiers et Arts at Château Monbazillac. At the end of the last day, from the castle hilltop I gazed at the panoramic vista of the Dordogne…
I heard the first cuckoo of spring yesterday; all the years we have been here the local cuckoo has his/her own particular voice, she cries “cuck-cuck-cuckoo”. Assuming we are now listening to her descendants, it’s interesting that we still hear that same triple-cuck cry. A testimony to the parents passing on their characteristics. Or maybe…
Last week has flown by, and it’s time to post a few more of my oid Christmas cards. I have received a few emails from people who have kept my cards in a box over the years, which is touching. Knowing that they have been safely hoarded elsewhere I hope I will be able to…
I have finally found a moment to photograph the finished barn wall! 1. The whole wall. 2. Detail of the barn/garage door. 3. View from the right. Life is rather manic right now, as the silly season of exhibitions starts on Thursday (gulp!) with the art fair at Château de Monbazillac. I belong to 2…
Last week I was at Château des Vigiers, in the hotel area, painting 2 doors both sides plus their surrounds. They were fire doors which replaced beautiful old carved wooden doors, which, incidentally, I painted 25 years ago. This probably sounds rather boring to read about, and you can be forgiven for giving up on…
1.The painting on barn wall progresses now that the weather is better; it is tiring though, I feel as though I am hurdling as I continually flit back and forth across those terraced walls, and up and down the ladders, standing back to check how colours and tones balance; oh, I am not complaining too…
Last week, I started a trompe l’œil on the side of a barn. The wall is 15.4m long x 3.5m high ( to those of you who prefer old currency, that’s approx 50 ‘ x 11’) Here is the wall in it’s naked state, a blank canvas. I made 9 final designs to show the…
Putting my thoughts about classical music into words.
Lily S. May--Life with Art
sharing the creative process of artist, illustrator, and book lover, Judy Watson
Sharing my work and thoughts....
painting...drawing...making small worlds
Essays on Mathematics and Culture
postcards from the hedge - a blog by Phil Cooper
views from the artist's studio.
ARTIST: oils, watercolours, trompe l'œil and design
lizkingsangster 