I have just spent a couple of days with my friends Kath and Martin, who came all the way from Swansea in Wales to visit me. It was a very leisurely visit, but very enjoyable. And as is so often the case, in showing them around I discovered parts of Aix I had not previously seen. In fact the cultural quarter has some wonderful modern buildings, and some impressive and expensive redevelopment has been done to the south of the Centre Ville.
After I dropped them at Marseille Airport I took my daily walk, and found myself in the very well-equipped stationery and arts supply shop at the beginning of Cours Mirabeau. I LOVE shops like this. As a would be writer there has never been anything more attractive to me than a brand new blank notebook and a smooth-writing pen. Even though my principal equipment has moved to a key board, but I am still walking around with a tiny notebook in my bag to take down random thoughts, and remind me of names and places. But I am also fascinate by art supplies, which are so appealing, even though I have no idea what to do with them.
Well as it happens, I had taken a photo earlier that day that struck me as great inspiration for a simple water colour.
Anyway, I am not an artist. I cannot draw and my technical skills are zero. When art was compulsory at school I do not recall that any of the art teachers even knew my name, and certainly they never spoke directly to me in class. Safe to say I was an also ran in art class. But as I have gotten older I have gotten more comfortable with my own powers of observation, with colour, and with arranging texture and form. More than that, I have acquired a small collection of original art that owes absolutely nothing to figurative painting or drawing.
So I thought … I have the time and the inclination … maybe I could experiment a bit. Have you ever reflected on how hard it is to overcome a negative mindset? Even though I was proposing to invest less than 20 Euros, it took me about 30 minutes and several comings and goings to persuade myself it was ok to buy a sketch book and a palette of water colours. I had to force myself to do it, and all I can think is how hard it must be for kids who get no encouragement in any sphere as they grow up. I was so lucky. Although a failure at art, I had other talents recognised and nourished.
Even so, the mad women, having escaped the attic, seems to think she might have hidden talents. Not really, but I don’t see why I should not give something new a go as a leisure activity. So here it is, my interpretation of the market scarves display.
So I am quite pleased with myself tonight. It might be a first and a last, but who knows. I now have 10 days till my next visitor arrives, so I should have time to do more writing and work on my French. Wish me luck with my own company.