OLD WORK AUGUST 2011

Hello,

back on the web with this old watercolor of "Cour-sur-Loire", a tiny city along the Loire river.
Guillaume.

31ST WORLD WIDE SKETCHCRAWL

Hi everybody!

For a sketchcrawl, what could be better than a sitted place at a terrasse, especially when a lot of tourist are coming for a refreshment. I spent almost 3 hours here. Even if I missed some good opportunities, especially an old guy with white barbe and sailor hat (I drawed him quickly but he left before more possible sketches), I had a lot of fun to draw the old "cougar lady".I think she noticed that I drawed her. Then I moved away (my arms started to have sun burns!!),
I drawed a view of the Saint Nicolas church seen from the castel panoramic platform. I take this opportunity to explain that I didn't draw the castel of Blois yet because the facade doesn't offer good choices of composition.
The last drawing was done at the Louis XII place where all citizen of Blois go after 19:00 the saturday for a little drink.


Guillaume.

BLOIS SAINT NICOLAS CHURCH

Hi,


Saint-Nicolas de Blois is a magnificent Romanesque church built from 1138 by Benedictine monks. They were coming from a land called "La Perche"  (130 km north of Blois), fleeing a Viking raid. They settled in Blois and built their monastery and the church of St. Laumer (named after the founder of their monastery wich became later the church Saint-Nicolas).
The church has been damaged during the Wars of Religion (1568) and rebuilt during  17th century.
Located at the bottom of the Blois royal castle, surrounded by an old medieval neighborhood, this church is dominating the city by its massive and elegant silhouette. The monument is unfortunately not highlighted by the city and do not enjoy such the  night spotlights wich can receive the Cathedral. For one of the oldest building in Blois, it is such a pity.

On the drawing you can see a part of the royal castel, the aisle "Gaston d'orléans" (1635-38)

Guillaume.

 

TERMINAL

Hi everybody!

I wish you an happy new year 2011 full of drawings, sketches and peace!!

 So, I'll start this new year of blog with an illustration from last year. I know, not really logical! LOL!

some details...

Guillaume.

BLOIS IN AUTUMN LIGHT

Hi!

Sometimes, car offers some advantages. I was coming back from the countryside, disappointed to have not found the perfect spot to draw when I saw this view. I just had to park my car on a parking place and I started to paint and enjoy the view that light, color and composition were offering me. So I thanked the "god of car"by making this sketch  (watercolor on pencil drawing, heightened with white gouache), sitting behind my steering wheel (in fact it was far too cold to stay more than a quarter of an hour outside!).

Guillaume.

29TH SKETCHCRAWL

Hi,

Although the day was sunny, the temperature was really low for a day in october, especially when I did this watercolor sketch.
Fortunately, the street markets in France are welcoming places, led by vendors always very friendly.
Indeed, some have come to visit me when I was drawing.

Because the history's convention in the city, the "rendez vous de l'histoire", I had to share my time between the sketching and the convention.


So I took a break during the afternoon in a pub and made this last drawing.
It takes more to disturbed the regulars in the pub.

Guillaume.

FROM THE LOIRE RIVER SIDE

Hi,

  A few days ago, I went to draw and paint near the Loire river, in Blois.
It's funny  how many people I met during this afternoon. Most of them were fishermans, turning around me, curious to see what I was doing ( But I guess I was occupying a good spot for fishing).
During 30 minutes I also had an history lesson, mainly about the bridge.

Built in 1724, the bridge has been damage a few times during wars (in 1793 to stop progression marche from the "vendéens", in 1870 during the war against Prussians, in 1940 during the WWII)
In 1717, they decided to build a new bridge upstream the previous one (a medieval bridge wich had collapsed in the river).
So, they had to enlarge a little street (called "rue de la poissonnerie", now "rue denis Papin") to connect it with the bridge. The main street (now rue du commerce) wasn't in the axe of the bridge.

After a quick investigation, I discovered the exact location of the medieval bridge. You can still see the pillars in the water when you look at it with "google earth".

Turning west, I made this second sketch about the last built bridge in Blois (in 1994), the bridge "Francois Mitterrand". In the background you see how beautiful is the nature along the Loire river.









Both sketches are done with watercolor on a moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

Guillaume.

MORE FROM THE ATLANTIC COAST

Hi!

More sketches from Pornichet.
This time, I had the opportunity to draw the cost from the sea ,  the tide was low

The last sketch was done in the village called Kervalet. It's an old city built in the 10e century by salt's workers. Located near the pond salt  where they worked, the "paludiers" (salt's workers ) were living in the smallest houses. The others, with one floor are the houses where the "Sauniers" (workers transporting the salt, according Wikipedia) were living.
They are builded with stone granit and slates on the roof.

Guillaume.

A CHURCH AND A COFFE

Hi,
 A sunny afternoon in Blois and I came back home with two sketches...It was about time!
  I made the first one from the castel's garden. I've been fascinated by the presence of this church, the  "Saint Vincent de Paul" church rising in the middle of this group of huge trees.
It's seems that trees and church are fighting to be the more majestic monument in the middle of the city.
  For the story, this church has been built  in 1624 but has been stopped after the foundation level. In 1634 they retook the construction and spent 20 years to elevate it up to the roof's bottom. They've been pretty slow because most of the stones were requisitionned for the extention of the castel.
Finaly, the church has been finished in 1660.

  Later, I came back on earth ground and I just relaxed in the shade and fresh air from a terrasse coffe's of Blois, sketching the street view.
For this sketch, I used a new brush pen and i enjoyed again to play with it.

Guillaume.

A DAY IN MARSEILLE

Hi!
Marseille is one of the biggest city in France, (the second after Paris and just before Lyon), built by Grec sailors 600 BC years ago, on the  mediterranea cost.
Many french people will associated this city to Marcel Pagnol (a really famous writer from the beginning of 20th century). He has contributed to make Marseille very popular with a theater drama taking place in Marseille, followed by movies adaptation.
 But Marseille is also a city with a great history.
Attached to the Roman Empire in the 2nd century BC, the sea port used to trade with many Mediterranean countries and also a part of Asia. .
It was there that Knights left France for Jerusalem cruisades (after the year 1000).
Today, the city is still reflecting this historic past when you walk in the streets.
In 2013 Marseille will be the culture's european capital.

on the first drawing, you can see the Basilique "Notre Dame de la Garde" concidered by marseillais (people living in Marseille) as guardian and protectress of the city.

Guillaume.

WEEK END AT PORNICHET

Hi,
two more drawings done in Pornichet before my vacation in Vannes.
The first one was done during a flea market
Guillaume.