Photo Friday from Château-Chervix, France

.

Nous sommes ici! We are here!

(click for large image)

"Photo Mosaic of Château-Chervix and St. Priest Ligoure, France"

left: Approaching the village of Château-Chervix 

right: In and around the village of St. Priest Ligoure

May 2012 ~ Limousin, France

Photos copyright 2012 Judith Nijholt-Strong. All rights reserverved.

Our cat friends are always here to greet us, Minette and Blanchette. They are the true owners of the rental house we're staying in.

.

"Minette, the Queen (l) and Blanchette, the Princess (r)"

Château-Chervix, France

May 2012 ~ Limousin, France

Photos copyright 2012 Judith Nijholt-Strong. All rights reserved.

That's all for now ... more later, when I can!

:o)

Judy

........................................................................................

Wild Geraniums Drawing and then Off to France!

.
The rains of Spring have given us an abundance of wild geraniums!

drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved

An Abundance of Wild Geraniums

pen & ink, colored pencils, in moleksine sketchbook

May, 2012 ~ Utrecht, Netherlands

Our garden is currently a profusion of pinks and purples scattered amongst so many shades of green. It's lovely to look at on the days that the sun decides to shine. This drawing is also in my Flowers, Plants & Trees, etc., moleskine. For now, though, it's the last that I'll be drawing in my garden here in the Netherlands.

Because ... we're about to leave on our Spring/Summer vacation. I've packed up my art case, so the next entries in this particular moleksine will be flowers, plants and trees from France ! :o)

photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved

My Travelling Art Case

May, 2012 ~ Utrecht, Netherlands

We're going back to Limoges, where I know for certain there will be plenty of beautiful things to draw and paint. I'm now on my Travels in France Moleskine # 5, which I began last autumn - amazing even myself that I've kept sketching/drawing our vacations.

If the internet connection at the rental house is stable enough, I might post a couple of times from France. If the connection is too shaky, then I'll  post when we return - sometime around the middle/end of June. Yes!!! :o)

Au revoir, tot ziens, 'til we meet again,

Judy

.....................................................................................................

Columbines in the Garden ~ colored pencil & ink drawing, in moleskine sketchbook

.

drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved

Columbines

colored pencil with pen & ink, in moleskine sketchbook

May, 2012 ~ Utrecht, Netherlands

This year, we seem to have a bumper crop of pretty Columbines (Aquilegia vulgaris) in our garden. Fine with me, the more the merrier!! Another common name for Columbines is "Granny's Bonnet" (just learned that) , because of the bonnet like shape of the flowers.

Mostly pink, purple and a few reddish-violet colored, all of the plants are "volunteers", self-seeding - we never planted a one. When the wind blows, as it has done the past few days, to me they look like tiny dancers in our garden. :o)

photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

Me drawing a Columbine in my Moleskine

May, 2012 ~ Utrecht, Netherlands

Maybe I went a little overboard with the cross-hatching in the background, but once I start, I find it difficult to stop! I'm pretty sure I'd do it a little different if I were to make this into a full-fledged drawing, not in my moleskine. Although, I do love cross-hatching ...

tot ziens,

Judy

.....................................................................................................

Rembrandt Tulip "Mabel" drawing ~ colored pencil & ink in moleskine sketchbook

.

drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved

Rembrandt Tulip "Mabel"

colored pencil with pen & ink in Moleskine sketchbook

May, 2012 ~ Utrecht, Netherlands

Yes, another tulip from our garden - now documented in my moleskine journal. I simply love the broken patterns of color on the Rembrandt Tulips. The Mabels also have such a lovely shape and color from beginning bloom to end of life. Plus, they are late blooming tulips!

Perhaps, one day, this will become a full drawing or a painting, but for now it's in my Flowers, Plants & Trees moleskine. :o)

tot ziens,

Judy

.....................................................................................................

Remains of a Day in May ~ colored pencil & ink, in moleskine

.
and fading fast ...

drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

colored pencil with pen & ink in Moleskine sketchbook

May, 2012 ~ Utrecht, Netherlands

The first day of May was lovely ... then came the rains. Our Prinses Irene tulips are rain battered, brusied, fading and dropping petals all over the garden. But that's what tulips are supposed to do ... alas! I've been picking the petals up and bringing them inside to draw and/or paint. It's difficult for me to let go of their beauty!!

The above drawing is in my Moleskine sketchbook dedicated to Flowers, Plants & Trees - one page after the drawing of the same tulip in full bloom that I posted on Mon., April 30th . Our garden is changing fast now!  :o)

doei (bye),

Judy

..........................................................................................................