Daily Painting

Bahia Place

An impression of my experience in the Bahia Palace in Marrakech.  Arches, bright courtyards, painted wood....  9"x12", watercolor, pencil and pen on multi media paper.

Poppies

The Wicked Witch of the West got me off on a bad foot with poppies but I am over it now.  This is inspired by a neighboors beautiful garden.  9"x12", watercolor pencil and pen on multi media paper.  

More is More

Sketches

Rooftops in Essaouria near sunset and, for your french lesson, a tree sparrow, "Il est donc plus petit que le Moineau domestique notamment au niveau de la tête. Il est également plus mince".

Moineau et Hibou at the McIntosh Wildlife Refuge

Thank you to the Audubon society of rhode island for another lovely day.  This time at the Bristol McIntosh Wildlife Refuge (always a good time).  During story time I snuck off to sketch for a few minutes.  Today's "animal interview" was with a barred owl. In french class this evening I learned that the word for owl is hibou and for sparrow-moineau .

The Honey Tree

Two watercolors from my moroccan sketchbook.  Done from my bed in the orange blossom scented Hotel Du Tresor in Marrakech.  (I cannot wait to go back.)  Last week I bought American Primative by wonderful poet Mary Oliver.  Intoxicating.  Today the Honey Tree, is on my mind.

Marhaban

This is a watercolor and pen sketch inspired by the main entrance to Peacock Pavilions.  Marhaban is an Arabic word for welcome.  

  

Moroccan Sketchbook 2012

Wonderful Lynn, painter and caligrapher extrodinaire, drew in this lovely introduction.

The ancient fortified town of Essaouria.  The boats really are that blue.  There were only one or two seagulls in the painting before the waiter at Cafe de France told me I had to add more.

Doors to the little Mosque la Kasbah on the Place Moulay Hassan in Essaouria.  I sat accross the street in Cafe de france hours.

Window to my left.

Cafe cats.

The view from inside the cafe.  The friendly wait staff patiently indulged my desire for french conversation and invited me inside the cafe to draw their portraits!  -again, who's beautiful life is this?  (I left the portraits with them.)

Another spot in Essaouria across from our perch on the ramparts (I don't actually know what we were sitting on but ramparts sounds so good).  As we sat here painting I spoke with a variety of facinating tourists: a journalist from NYC trying to shake off work life and headed for a Moroccan pastry cooking class,  a german artist looking for a pencil sharpener, folks from South Carolina driving from one North African town to another and another...

Treasure from the souks.  Wild variety of color and texture.

Karen took a photo of a basket of dye powder bottles.

Cyprus trees on the perimeter of the Peacock Pavilions grounds.

...those fabulous beads again.

At the 16th century Koranic school Medersa Ben Youssef, I scrambled down, in, up and through the rabbitt warren of monks' cells (climbing through two others to get into this one!) to make this little picture.

 

A few participants brought these types of vases back to the studio at Peacock Pavilions- they are ink wells/pen holders for students I think?

A fancy inspired by the courtyard at the Medersa Ben Youssef.

Breathless from the Plunge

"Everyone knows the feeling with which one stands shivering on a spring-board, the shock when a friendly foe steals up behind and huls you into the flood, and the ardent glow which thrills you as you emerge breathless from the plunge."  

-from Winston Churchhill's Painting as a Pastime.  One of our partcipiants handed it to me before we parted in marrakech; it was like a surprise chocolate bar on my journey home (after a whole week of glorious surprises).

Now here I am, Michael and Benji (Captain Spectacular) are more lovable than ever.  I had to pinch myself on my adventures and then again on my return home. And this morning the studio?  Who's marvelous life have I stumbled into?

A group of us stayed at the peaceful oasis Hotel Tresore for a few days before the retreat.  The watercolor above is the view into the courtyard from my beautiful second floor room, where I sat on my bed for hours, drunk from jet lag, happily absorbing the aroma of oranges while listening to the birsdsong and distant sounds of the city just outside the thick walls of the riad.

Meet You in Marrakech

Elizabeth left for Marrakech Tuesday, I am off this afternoon!  On our return we will have a night in London to catch up with our dear friend, and phenomenal painter, Cynthia Westwood. The last time we all got together was at Newark airport!  

It sure feels like a full moon.  I did this moon the night before last.  Too excited to finish anything.  In order to get something done I recruited the help of my Captain Spectacular.  He agreed to come into the studio with me before bathtime. He worked on some drawing and crafts while I painted; in exchange for my help wielding the glue gun.

I got called a wonderkind over at casapinka! (Did you know her knitting designs are upmon etsy?)  How do you like them apples.  Wonderkind.  

Compulsive Behavior: Did I mention my pre-travel sewing binge?

The planning and discussing of this trip has been such a great pleasure that the actual visit feels like icing on the cake.  

Okay, dear Colette is here to take me to the airport!