From top to bottom:
Great ocean road - The twelve apostles
The Grampians – on the left: me, on the right: Sheila… We met on the plane and traveled together for a while.
Melbourne
Somewhere near Alice Springs (left and right)
Barossa Valley
It was 21 years ago that I came back from Australia. I worked in Sidney for a few months and then went on to explore half of the continent (it’s a big one!).
I had seen pictures of Ayer’s Rock and other rock formations when I was a kid and had been dreaming about visiting Australia. The dream came through in 1990. I must have been a bit crazy; going to the other end of the planet for a year with 500$ in my pockets, a temporary work permit and a very mini backpack. I barely spoke English at that time! Fortunately, this shortcoming landed me a job: the interviewer found my French accent very charming…
So, after a brief panic attack on the plane — not related to the fear of flying —, I met some nice people that were also heading for Sidney. We became friends and eventually traveled together for a few months, parting here and meeting again there.
It was a nourishing year, even if it was hard at times being far away from everything and everyone you know. But I also met so many great people, seen incredible landscapes and most of all; I surpassed myself by going forward and by learning to go towards others. I came back filled with images and experiences.
From top to bottom:
Coober Pedy
On top of Ayer’s Rock with my trusty Doc Martens!
On the left: Katherine Gorge, on the right: Nourlangie Rock in Kakadu Park
Mataranka‘s natural thermal pool
Somewhere between Mataranka and Three Ways
Ink, ecoline and paper on paper, 2008
We spent the past three days in Montreal, in part to celebrate our birthdays (Nicolas’, his twin sister’s and mine), but also because we have to start packing. We have kept our apartment in the city as long as possible while living in the countryside but now it is time to make the move. We will be staying full time in the Eastern Townships!
I feel a bit sad to leave this place even if I love the countryside. We have lived in this apartment for a long time. So many memories are associated with this place, including a LOT of dinners with friends and family. I hope the new tenants will appreciate this space as much as we did.
We still have a few weeks before vacating the apartment, until then it will be sorting, sorting, sorting, getting rid of (how much stuff can someone accumulate in twelve years?) and packing.
Here are a few picks of the garden in Montreal, when it gets out of control!
It’s my birthday today so I decided to treat myself with a good dose of colourful inspiration!
Lauren Redniss: illustrations from the book Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout
The story of Marie Curie through the two invisible but immensely powerful forces that guided her life: Radioactivity and love, via Brain Pickings Weekly
Jenny Brown, via Buy Some Damn Art
Ching Ching Cheng via Brown Paper Bag
Hairy Fools, also taken from Brown Paper Bag
Happy Easter!
<a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6Xy1xsGUd0ZbNOKXTor8lgBdQcHcyxDJwXrxrDYz53U?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0qLncIUyWl4/T3yv-tS2-jI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/1kCV-MvWsBU/s800/reiniss01.jpg” height=”404″ width=”600″ /></a>
Nature is slowly awakening; you can see spots of green here and there. Snow has almost all melted away so Roupie the Mittens decided to join us for our walks in the forest.
And Belu still spends most of his days sleeping. We shall rename him Snow White.
graphite on paper
These are sketches for an upcoming drawing… A special request from Nicolas!
Take a look at Claire Desjardins’ vibrant colours on MocoLoco…
See you on Friday!
Is it appropriate to use a fish so close to April Fools’ Day??
This is a detail from one of the postcards created for the iHanna’s swap 2011.
You can download the wallpaper here. Hoax free, I promise!
1024 x 768px, 1440 x 900px, 1600 x 1200px
Time flew by this month. It’s almost April and spring is here even if it does not feel like it. Snow and hail have been falling for the past two days so imagination is required to envision the leaves and flowers that should soon be here. Our monochromatic world is about to change!
On my to-do list for the next weeks: start the seeds for this year’s vegetable garden, prepare the fiesta for our birthday party in two weeks (my boyfriend and I were born five days apart) and try to regain my focus! I haven’t had much lately so I kept it all for work.
On my creative list: I would like to combine inkblots with fine lines and/or with delicate and colourful shapes. I don’t have a particular image in mind but it would be nice to break the bold presence of an inkblot with something contrasting.
Happy Friday!
Gouache, ecoline and acrylic on paper
Our two white rabbits
I remember decorating eggs with my mother for Easter. She showed us how to blow out the egg and how to dye the shell. We then filled the empty egg with Jello! We ended up with a basket full of coloured and edible gelatin eggs.
I might just do that this year (except the Jello) and here are some inspiration and tips:
Jeana Sohn’s beautiful painted egg
Crazy EggManLand
Drilled egg shells (How is that even possible!?!)
20 Easter egg tutorials
Ink on paper
Recent albums from Quebecer artists:
Ariane Moffat – MA
Patrick Watson – Close to paradise
Richard Desjardins – L’existoire
David Jalbert – Les Variations Goldberg (I am designing his new website, should be ready in a few weeks!)
What are you listening to?
Watercolour, graphite and marker on paper
Light as in the sun and light as in floating…
Three weeks ago… Today
The light and the colour in the work of Anne Lindberg (via The Jealous Curator).
The light in dark times (via Mocoloco).
