I am still working on this painting. At this stage the underpainting is done, and I have worked on about 1/3 of the right side. I realized that for some reason, I tend to work from the top right, sort of diagonally down the painting. With oils, this means I usually get paint on my sleeve! I try and work on the top, or the  left, but end up going to the right side. I wonder what that means. Maybe that book about drawing on the left side of your brain might answer? Will have to check it out some day.

Anyway, progress has been somewhat slow, given our short days, and our really cold week (into the -20 and -30C). The sun is out today though, so will get back underway. I am actually about 80% or so done. I just need to do some more work on the lower foreground and finish the figure. I want to send it to the student show at the Federation of Canadian Artists gallery in January to have to get my skates on. I’ll be done this week for sure, so it will be okay. I have ordered a frame too, so that will be done.

When I work on paintings from France, I have such great, warm memories. When I have trouble sleeping at night, I go on walks through the villages in my mind, or on the balloon ride again, and see the hills and narrow streets and old buildings and the people.  Or Paris, or Monet’s lovely place. I am so glad to have had those experiences as they have given me so much, in so many ways.