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Sunday, June 24, 2012

Great Tap Dancing Scenes

I love these tap dancing scenes from the movies!!
If I'm feeling blue, it's just the thing to cheer me up.
I enjoyed some tap classes not so long ago.




"The Artist" (new movie with Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo) 
Love this movie!!  

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Roussillon, France, land of ochre!

When I was vacationing in France last year, I had the great fortune to visit the small village of Roussillon in the Luberon region of Provence. It is so beautiful, like a fairy tale, and wasn't really so busy with tourists (I know, I too was a tourist!) since it was a less busy time of year. Surrounding the village the earth is streaked with many beautiful shades of oranges and yellows and sometimes purples, especially at sunset. The sea that covered the land here dried up several million years ago and rain slowly transformed the accumulated layers of limestone into ochre-bearing sands. Prehistoric man used these pigments in cave drawings. Later (much later!!), at the time of the French Revolution, man sold this pigment for paints all over the world for over a century. Now most ochre pigment is produced artificially, although I believe there are a couple of places where a little is still mined in France.
 Anyway, I believe that Ochre washes on the homes in Roussillon come from the sands around the village but I'm not entirely sure. It is a colorful place full of my favorite colors!

   
purchased in Roussillon, made in Apt (close by)

Galerie des Ocres




Monday, June 11, 2012

Towhees start

I see these foraging around in the pine and leaf litter under the trees in my yard fairly often. And sometimes I see one hopping about on my car, probably stealing a glance at its reflection in the glass. But never can I get a photo before it flies off. I must learn to spend some time lollygagging (I know, strange word!) in the yard and maybe I can catch more photos of the wildlife around here!
I've started a new painting in gouache because I like these birds!

Here's a litttle photo with some of the work so far. 

OpSail in Norfolk, Virginia


This past weekend the city of Norfolk participated in OpSail, which is an international effort to "promote goodwill and awareness of ships and shipping." Tall ships from around the world are participating in this event by stopping at  the US ports of New York City, Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans and New London. Norfolk was invited to participate this year and found the opportunity to highlight the importance of the Navy in the community as well as the Coast Guard and other sea services by including those vessels as well. Also  this year our country is celebrating  the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the writing of our national anthem, the "Star Spangled Banner". So this is also a part of this event. Phew! Anyway, here are some photos I took of the tall ships arriving on Friday. It was spectacular! And only a short walk from my studio!


I guess someone enjoys the view at the top!