What a difference a year makes! I had the fortune of being included on a painting trip in Brittany, France last summer. I knew at the time it was a trip of a lifetime, but now especially, with travel restrictions, am I ever glad I grabbed that opportunity (thank you Richard Lindenburg!) We stayed in a wonderful large family home in a seaside village called Keremma. Several generations ago a woman named Emma bought up a large chunk of land by the sea and stipulated that only descendants could own large parcels of land there. A village of beautiful summer homes- French style- was developed over centuries and all of the owners are related somewhere along their lineage- I think everyone just is a cousin now. We had the fortune to be invited guests and stay in a large home that came with a chef! We were out most days painting, and home for a delicious dinner.

Trip of a Lifetime- Painting in Bretagne, France with (back row: Ellen Howard, Jan Norsetter, me, Paul and Tia Kratter, Richard Lindenburg, Krystal Brown, Steve and Peggy Immel (front) Cynthia Rosen, Vered Pasternek, Lori McNee

The young chef offered us to come paint on his uncle’s estate where he was living for the week (above). Oh my goodness it was breathtaking! The home was so huge I was overwhelmed by it (couldn’t even fit it into my photograph!). But instead, I spied the gardener’s shed nearby and it looked much more inviting. So, while my friends did paintings of the mansion, I stood alone and painted this shed and it was probably one of the most charming pieces I did that trip. Some of my strongest work is when I parcel a scene way down and focus in on what might be a better story.