In Amboise with Casey

Well, what with the arrival of Thanksgiving and readjusting to home territory, I'm late in posting French sketches. But better now than even later, right?
I had the great fortune to spend extra time in Amboise with Casey and Ronell. (See previous two posts for explanations.) My time with Ronell was WAY too short--her schedule and intermittent cell phone problems very sadly tripped us both up. We vow to make up for lost time the next time I'm in Amboise. Casey and I set out early on a frosty day and walked to the chateau, where we mostly sketched bits of the interior, but managed a spell outdoors sketching before our fingers grew numb. Here they are, in roughly chronological order. Check Casey's blog for her versions of many of these.

I love the prickly trees in France. The French method of pruning produces wildly calligraphic shapes that fill the landscape with phrases from some half-remembered, stark, elegant proto- language. These trees are on the grounds of the chateau.
After a cold day of sketching, we went to a café across from the chateau, where I sketched tea things arranged on a hutch behind the banquette where Casey sat.
Next day, even colder, we managed a quick trip to the Musée des Beaux Arts in Tours, where we eked out one sketch each of polychrome fireplace figures.
I have some sketches and stories from the exhibit in Clermont-Ferrand and my scant stay in Paris. Stay tuned!

Comments

[judy bec]

your drawings are just exquisite! I do love those the tree...the colors are so exciting. I get such enjoyment in seeing your sketches!!

[Maggie]

I am ever enchanted with the view through your "lens". I'm thinking that the faces you've captured at the chateau are carrying on lively conversations about what they must think are odd people gathered round drawing and painting them. Especially the one at the top with the arm wrapped around...the expression is one of, "oh please, must you stand and stare at me so?" :) Your drawings are so lively and I love the fact that I can take a trip and travel with you through your paintings and sketches. I hope you are enjoying the holidays!

[Laura]

Many thanks for all the cheers and welcome homes! I miss Amboise and Casey and Ronell, though! Can't wait to get back.

[Anthony Z]

Beautiful as always -- I especially like the trees and the guy with the big ears! I can't wait to see what else you painted on your trip.

[Cathy (Kate) Johnson]

Lovely sketches as always, and welcome home!

I think they do trees like that in Belgium/Holland or some such, too...I've seen them in art. They do something similar here in the midwest, called topping, but I think it must depend on the tree species, how it works. Often here the exposed stump of the limb simply becomes diseased and dies. They look amputated, in most cases, anyway...rather grim! (In a few cases they've just cut off ALL the limbs and left a 20-foot-tall post...makes me want to cry.)

I LOVE your delightful big-eared gargoyle, sweet.

[Terry Banderas]

Enjoyed your sketches. Nice momentos of your trip.