Sketching A French Summer In Ink And Watercolour
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- In June '22 I travelled to central France to teach a few sketching workshops. The Clermont Dessine drawing festival takes place in Clermont-Ferrand, in the heart of the Auvergne, every year in June, and I was one of the international tutors chosen: you had to have fluent French to teach at the festival, and the generosity of my parents in sending me France on my own when I was a teenager, combined with my years of living and working in Paris and Mauritius, mean I fit the bill.
I am a bit short on video clips, as I was all about Instagram this time last year rather than RUclips, so I have salvaged what I have from Reels and even clips I sent home via Whatsapp, to give you an impression of the few days I spent there.
One of the workshops I taught took place in a giant medieval castle perched on a massive rock, itself on the very tippy-top of a hill...so you can imagine the views from the ramparts. It was like being on top of a mountain - 360º uninterrupted views, fading only with the haze, many kilometres into the distance. The owner is a retired auctioneer, one of France's main ones. Think Picassos, Van Goghs, Gauguins... that kind of thing. He bought it on a whim over the cheese course one Saturday evening. I will write it up on my blog as I think you'll enjoy it. Even if I had remembered to film there, the owner wasn't keen on it - there are light-figered collectors everywhere - so it will be in words alone!
And so I have put together some clips, along with a flick-through - if that's what you call looking through an accordion sketchbook - of the drawings and paintings I made in Clermont-Ferrand. My hosts during the event, Tazab and Sylvie, are two of the nicest people you could meet, and even the Directrice of the event, Pierrette, invited me for a night in her mountain chalet.
I am so happy to have this video of a happy time there. I won't be back in Clermont-Ferrand for a while to come, so it's nice for these clips to make the leap from the swamp of files in my iphone to this wonderful platform.
I hope you enjoy it too.
Merveilleux ! Your sketches are so fabulous. I'm a great fan of your work. 🙂
Thank you Luce, that’s lovely to hear ❤️
What a brilliant video, and so clever of you to compile it from Whatsapp clips and Instagram reels, Roisin! Wonderful sketches, and lovely to see them in your concertina sketchbook! Thank you so much for compiling this and sharing. It must bring back many happy memories for you. Hopefully, you will go there again one day!!! x
I may yet…making the video reminded me that it’s a lovely place. And thank you!
Ahh I enjoyed this thoroughly-especially the stories and the people you met. ❤
I really love the way you draw and paint people. You make this look effortless. I can feel the cool shade of your trees (in the heat). Given that it’s winter here in Sydney, I now feel like I’ve had a little summer holiday in France - thanks to your art!
My pleasure. Thank you for the lovely words. I love drawing people. Enjoy your cool months!
this was wonderful to see, roisin !!! thanks so much!! i just love your thoughts and shared experiences, as I share so many of them here in NY. ( as a daily urban sketcher).. sticking to coffeeshops and diners until the heat passes and I can paint outdoors again lol Thanks again!! Norakag 😊😊
You are so welcome Nora! Aren’t we the lucky ones as sketchers…e we get to pass the time so happily! And thank you 😃
I love ALL your sketches including the one with a "wooden leg" sticking out under the table! It reminded me of a time I was in a painting class at school MANY years ago. We had to draw or paint a painting from a well known artist. My painting included a figure and I had painted an impossibly long arm. The prof told me I needed to step back once in a while to assess the drawing. I have not forgotten his advice. I was a bit horrified at the malformed arm I had drawn. Love your sense of humor. Thanks for sharing your great watercolors. Now I want to try a fountain and getting the depth of trees in a park like you did. Very nice
That was great advice. I don’t do that enough perhaps. It’s often only afterwards that we see these things. And thank you!
wonderful, I am yo looking forward to the August sketching class🤩
Yes! We’ll have a super time!
That trip looked like huge fun and I love the sketches. Those people dancing in the park look really cool
Thanks Elaine. It was fun but extremely hard work - it was my first time teaching for three days in French to a large group, most of whom didn’t have English. Exhausting!
@@roisincure Wow you have my admiration. I only speak schoolgirl French.
Thankyou for some wonderful drawings and videos too. 👏
It’s my pleasure! Thank you
Coincidentally, I was sketching with my students this morning near Chateau de Fayrac, across the Dordogne river from Chateau de Beynac... warm but lovely!
Thanks for sharing your Clermont-Ferrand trip!
Sounds lovely 😊
Wonderful! How come you’re not going back? It sounds wonderful! ❤ terrific sketches! Thank you for sharing. 😊
Thanks so much Kathy! Because it’s a huge effort to get there, and I was rejected for the forthcoming Rendezvous du Carnet de Voyage meeting this coming November. I submitted my sketchbooks of my book on Dublin but I guess they didn’t like it 😭
@@roisincure wow that’s awful. But you know, they just have bad taste then! Because yours are the best, the most fun, the most full of life! Fooy on them! Come to New York City instead! ✒️🗽🖌️📒We all Love you!❤️
Love your sketches -- it looks like a wonderful trip!
Thank you, it really was, mostly because of my wonderful hosts ❤️
this is a beautiful video- love the vibrant colors you use!
Thank you very much!
this sketchbook really tells a story! thank you for sharing it with us ☺
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it!