PARLEZ VOUS FRANCAIS?
Since moving to France in October 2008, I have created some new images inspired by the landscape here - including a series called “LENDOU” which were developed from a group of sketches made while walking along the river Lendou in the Tarn et Garonne.
This small river meanders through a valley stuffed with fruit, vines, millet, maize and sunflowers and the hills that frame the landscape are topped by oak woodlands.
More recently I have walked and sketched further afield and have made several new series of prints, including “Bagat” and “Ste Thècle”. Bagat-en-Quercy is in the Lot near Montcuq and is framed on one side by a steep ridge that looks down into two different valleys – a great vantage point for the artist! Ste Thècle is a village near Moissac and is one of the area’s centres for the production of the Chasselas table grape.
Exhibitions
Since my trip to the UK last September for SAW2010, I have been building a collection of new prints for exhibition later this year. These began with L’Automne 1 and L’Automne 2 which were inspired by an explosion of colour in the orchards surrounding Lauzerte in October and November 2010. As the vibrant pinks, golds, oranges and reds of autumn faded into the cooler “ice-cream” colours of winter, the mood of my work changed again.“DURFORT 1” and “DURFORT 2” were developed from sketches made during winter walks taken near Durfort Lacapelette along the GR65
– the pilgrim route that runs through France and into Spain and brings a steady stream of visitors from all over the world to Lauzerte.
I find I am inspired by more than just the colours in the landscape here. Beside many French roads and tracks are rows of tall white poplar trees which, depending on the season and the weather, form a tracery of pale leaves and branches through which can be glimpsed the hills and fields beyond. As I have always been fascinated by layers and textures, I am now using this feature in my work by making prints where lighter colours are printed over darker ones to create, I hope, depth and mystery.
So far I have TWO exhibitions planned this year – both in September, one in the UK and one in France. The UK show is a group exhibition at the Strode Theatre in Street, Somerset, featuring the work of the SOMERSET PRINTMAKERS. It runs from 1st September to 22nd October. For more information check out www.strodetheatre.co.uk
The French exhibition will be at the Médiathèque in Lauzerte once more, but this time my etchings will be hung alongside the black and white photographs of Chris Collister. We are both inspired by the French landscape and often take “creative walks” together so this will be an opportunity to show our work in tandem. The show will be called IMAGES DU COIN and runs from Friday 16th September until Wednesday 28th September. For more information, check out www.mediatheque.sourbie@free.fr
L’Automne 1
L’Automne 2