Pascal's

The little cottage in the village with the view of the lake.

This is mixed media Gouache, watercolour and acrylic ink. It's just 4 1/4 X 5 3/4 inches.

More sketching on Khadi paper. It's paper that comes from The Khadi Mill in Southern India made from recycled cotton rag. I bought a pack of 100 sheets some years ago from Jackson's Art Suppliers. I don't have access to an art shop here so I rely on going through things I bought in the moment many years ago or when I visit the UK or just once by mail order. I love uneven, rough paper and with a mapping dip style pen it's surprising how refreshing it is to tackle something a bit different. I have just ordered some more things including brush pens that you can fill with water or water soluble paint or ink. It means you can sketch without the need of a pot of water. More free hands and less obvious when sketching out on the move.

Happy New Year everyone!! I have been thinking a little bit about the New Year and how I might make best use of my time. I think we all go through a period of reflection through winter. It can feel tough. Here we are normally quite cold and having to keep fires going. We have to plan meals and make sure we have supplies. Then it's also hard to be so isolated and without neighbours who are usually invisible or even move away to a their Parisian or Dutch homes.This has been the 5th year I have been in France. Although relatively near Britain it is quite different. It is a tiny community that I now belong to. The climate is generally more extreme and the winters really do feel very different. I no longer have the big build up to Christmas and all that shopping. I couldn't afford to shop much before as I rented a flat and had all the expense that comes with that as a single person. Now we just have different demands here. I need to save money and put it into property and my gardening and animals. I may try and expand what I do a bit. There is a small craft market that happens in the warmer months just Friday mornings and then I want to look at producing paintings from drawings rather than use photography so much. I intended to do this last year but we had strange weather for the first part of summer, uncharacteristically rainy.Then I just took on so much gardening it became silly. It could easily all go awry this year. I went to the shops yesterday and was excited to see the sky clearing in patches and the rays of sun pushing through in strong striped beams.

It's a bit cut off here, cold too. I have a daily ritual at the moment to try and capture the evening light. I don't really do it justice but it's one of the perks of being here.

 We have a new thing to get us out and enjoy our surroundings. Also you can easily seize up at this time of year so we need to find exercise. We drove to nearby Panneçot and set off towards the Loire. It's, I think around 30 kms from Panneçot maybe a bit more. After 3 hours cycling we reached Chaumigny near Cercy La Tour and got back to Panneçot. It's just along smooth flat tracks along the canal but it's a start. I used to cycle lots but since living up in the mountains without a bicycle it's been impossible. We are still trying to get our van fixed. After taking it to a local garage to get a new starter motor it's been quite a saga. Now we are looking at the spring to get it going again. It's a big, tight heavy diesel engine that needs warmth after being stood for so long. It will mean we can take bicycles on outings namely down South again.

Most buildings went up around here around 1830's this one unfortunately fell down around 50 years ago. I'm sure it's still savable. The arch has survived well.

I find dresses appropriate attire. Hats gloves and scarf too.

Lots of this long outstretched paths. We did see a couple of dog walkers, one other cyclist a dead fox frozen in the canal.

He must have tried to cross the frozen water. Unfortunately I couldn't get the image out of my mind.

Ragodin. We also saw 2 water voles and Comorants an Egret and a flock of birds I couldn't identify. Need binoculars.

Icy.

Isenay.

Panneçot pronounced Pan-sew.

Tonights flash of orange.

I've had all these small square canvasses for awhile. Needed to reinvigorate what I'm doing. I also took outside for a short while today before the sun went in and it looked like it might rain.

Crazy clashing painting clothes.

 Sun was shining today so we took advantage and cycled from Chatillon en Bazois towards Corbigny. I used my new bicycle. I never buy new things. I did try looking for an old one but I cracked this time. It's such pleasant and gentle exercise. Not a warm day but when winter comes crashing in here it's a great way of being out and about. 

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The écluse is a french lock.

Comorants and I saw a kingfisher and Coypu the large rat like creature that swims below.

Iced over water.

Fancy being a river rat? This boat called Manouche means Gypsy Jazz. 

Looking a bit messy. It's strangely addictive
 scraping off the layers. I'm hoping it'll be worth the effort but I'm not sure at this stage. It feels a bit like I'm de-constructing a house. But for me I love to see what's underneath and to reveal the parts of the buildings that seem to me to be the most precious. It still feels that I'm treading a fine line between mess and beauty.

Sinks.

The original sink in the background was at some point painted in red gloss paint.I have been trying to remove the paint but it's strangely pretty.   Under low light it's more attractive almost churchy 

Imagine doing all your washing up here.