French children's library

Since I am a librarian as well as an artist and francophile, I often find a library that appeals to me and I fall in love. This particular one is outside of Paris in Clamart. It was started in 1965 by Anne Gruner Schlumberger. She not only oversaw all phases of the construction of this "Guggenheimesque" building, but also attended to details such as including the Alvar Aalto furniture. This is a public library and geared to an international clientele. The goal was to create a homey feeling in this public library which included both a fireplace and a kitchen for the children's use.

Morning spot

I took this photo early one morning in late winter. Yes, the light outside the window did, indeed, look this beautiful shade of blue, no effects or tweeking, . This is where I like to begin my mornings--in a comfortable Victorian tufted chair--with a hot cup of coffee or tea. This is also where I am often inspired to write--in the quiet--facing east--as the world wakes up.

Jonquils on red

This bouquet was a present to my mother from a sweet friend in Augusta. I painted it in the true impressionistic style as it turned out--quick, loose strokes--letting the water and the pigments swirl around and create the flowers. A spontaneous remembrance from a dear friend to my dear mother. Although each variety of the jonquils is hard to distinguish in the watercolor, my friend explained that the several old fashioned varieties were dug up from abandoned gardens-horticultural salvage, should we say.

Savannah wisteria

This past week, the first week in April, I painted this wisteria at some friends' house. In person, it is actually a white wisteria that somehow has been depicted in a classic purple. I wish that I could also include its heavenly fragrance of jasmine instead of the more traditional wisteria fragrance of my youth. Both are wonderful and only too brief.