After a few weeks at home we are off again, this time to the south of France. The weather was wet for a few days then it got quite hot. My new studio and paints got a bit of a work out.

Jimmy Buffett died on the first of September, quite a shock to me as he was/is one of the most influential musicians in my life. His is always my go-to music. So it just made sense to do a Buffett themed painting.

Our neighbor had a birthday so I did a painting for her on the mini-canvas she gave me for my birthday a year ago.

Just a mile or so from where we live is gare Torchamp. The station is gone and the tracks have been replaced with a walking and biking path that runs from Ceaucé to Domfront. I did this painting of two of the buildings at the gare, not sure if they were part of the original station or not, but they are certainly old enough that they could have been a part.

The weather turned hot, yet outside, in the shade of the umbrella, it was perfect to sketch a postcard for our daughter while the laundry quickly dried in the heat.

Here is a sketch in Ceaucé that I did from the cafe, there is only one in town.

Tricia and I relaxed at La Bistrot Saint Julian’s one afternoon, I finished up a sketch.

Sometimes, just looking out the front window makes for a perfect subject. Our landlord was discussing something with a contractor.

I am writing this in the garden of our BnB in Montmorillon. We are at the beginning of a road trip that will take us to Carcassonne, Arles, St. Remy, and L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. We will be seeing friends all along the way.

Last evening I dug out the bamboo pen and the brown ink that I got while we were in Basel a few weeks ago.

Here is a sketch looking across the bridge while I had my morning coffee.

This morning we drove 20 minutes to Saint Savin, which is famous for its cathedral and abbey. Le Cérafus restaurant is actually in the abbey building. It was one of the best meals ever, watch for a blog in my other site soon.

This was an eclectic time for me with art. I started doing acrylics again, played with a bamboo pen and brown ink, and then of course Travel-sketched.

Tricia takes photos and blogs, I paint, we both love to travel and eat – so far it is a making for a good retirement.