LOVE OF LAND AND COUNTRY
In 1993 – after living and working in the USA for twenty eight years, I returned to the UK/Europe. I moved to Crickhowell, Wales to be with my cousin and family.
I was so happy to be home. So happy to smell the traditional English/Welsh pastries in Annwyn the bakers along with the smell of Welsh soil and lambs playing in the fields.
I had experienced some happy years in the States with my dear husband Bill Reed and of course the two children – however when my marriage fell apart and the children were old enough, it was time to return home.
During the first six years of living in the States, prior to meeting and marrying Bill, I felt deep pangs of home sickness. I learned that to be homesick is a very painful condition. I almost returned to the UK in 1971 just before Bill and I met and married in 1972. However………..
Life is full of ‘Sliding Doors……..‘
Crickhowell – Wales
The people of Ukraine are going through a living hell. As we think about their pain and longing for everything that has been familiar to them including their land and soil, it must give us pause to look at our own lives on many levels…and most importantly to not take anything for granted.
If and when they are able to return home….what will home look like after their land has been defiled by Putin!!
As fellow humans we must love and nurture them as we would our own families. We must try to counteract the horrors that they are now living through. The only way I know to do this is to come together with love and kindness
My little garden in Crickhowell which I Loved and nurtured….and of course Christeve the Cat – my constant companion at that time:)
When I look at this picture today I think of all the gardens and animals that the Ukrainian people and all other refugees have had to leave behind…along with all their shattered hopes and dreams.
Today there are nearly thirty million refugees globally and as climate change tightens its grip and war rages on…those numbers are rising by the day.
We cannot and must not bury our heads any more…to do so means that anyone of us could be next….Monsters like Putin want to conquer the world.
It is the simple things in life that give the greatest pleasure….
In this image I am sharing food with my very dear friends Sally and Gareth in Wales overlooking the magnificent Usk Valley and Brecon Beacons.
I took the EuroStar train (one of my favourite forms of travel) from London to Paris which takes two hours and twenty minutes. From Paris Nord the metro to Paris Montparnasse where I caught the TGV to Lorient. My dear friend Elisabeth was waiting to take me to the cottage at Lamor-Plage . Everything on time, and very comfortable and if you book way ahead of time, inexpensive.
I first met Elisabeth when I was living in Crickhowell (AKA The Magical Town of Crickadoon) Wales almost thirty years ago and subsequently really got to know her when I had an exhibition in Brittany in 1995. She is an amazing woman involved in many different areas always helping other people. She is a good friend.
I can’t feature Elisabeth without showing her dog dear little Nouchka. Nouchka is very special…..I love her:)
And to add icing to the cake – I arrived at the cottage to find all sorts of goodies, courtesy Elisabeth and Nicole…..a lovely welcome 
During my first week, French actress Patricia Pekmezian joined me and was kind enough to sit for several portrait studies. We had a really lovely time together and talked at great length about the arts and life in general……
Patricia in the cottage garden
Towards the end of the month Alice Johnson arrived from the States….Another good friend and artist. We go back many years. We enjoyed painting together and everything else on offer….
Meanwhile, it was so lovely to spend time by the beach and to experience the wonderful fresh air. Patricia and I spent a day on L’ile de Groix – an island I would love to spend more time on. There are miles and miles of amazing coastal walks to be enjoyed and of course so perfect for sketching and painting.
The beach at Lamor- Plage
And then there were the wonderful musical concerts. Brittany much like Wales is known for its love of music and we were not disappointed on this trip. One of the concerts featured a Welsh and Breton choir….bringing home our deep connections and similarities.
During Alice’s visit we were fortunate enough to attend a big concert in the Lorient Theatre with its one thousand seats….all filled. The concert was uplifting and moving, and again cemented the positive ties that we in the UK have with so many of our European brothers and sisters.
And the glorious patisseries that can be found in every village, town and city in France….
There is so much interesting history surrounding the area…especially involving WW2…which I will write about in my second half.
I first visited Barnes, SW London in August of 2005.
The moral to this story, is to never leave home without a sketchbook…..You never know what interesting person you might meet……
Dancing egrets
Egrets
Brecon Beacons Wales – watercolour
watercolour
I will be back here in about ten days. Janet
For the second part of my trip I stayed in Ploeumeur – very close to Lorient in the Brittany Region.
During this visit I stayed with my dear friend Elisabeth (Babeth), her lovely partner Erve and their beautiful little dog Nouchka:) I first met Elisabeth when she visited Crickhowell, Wales in 1993 – the year I arrived there….and we have been good friends since. Today she lives a minute’s walk from beautiful beaches…..and is very happy.
And with Helene (Elisabeth’s sister-in-law) who I have also known for many years….such special friends 
It was through the 1995 exhibition that I realised how much I enjoyed painting people in a rapid watercolour style. I recognised that I captured through the portraits a moment in time…..and most importantly, I was able to connect with the people I met in a very special way. 
And beautiful Maelle – Elisabeth’s daughter – seventeen years old when I painted this and now a mother of two children and living in Vancouver. 
And dear Nicholas – who I saw on this visit (now in his mid thirties) and today resembling one of Cezanne’s self portraits. As I spoke with Nicholas I could still see the little boy in him.
I have so many lovely stories about the people I have painted in many different countries. Often we don’t speak a common language, but painting like music becomes a Universal language – crossing all barriers.
Another of her partner Erve – musician and all round good man. 2018
Erve who is part of a Breton male choir ‘Les Gabiers d’Artimon’ – playing the Binjou – a bagpipe type instrument
Erve leading a group on an exercise programme in the sea very close to where he and Elisabeth live. They do this no matter what the weather…
One of the many beautiful beaches that go on for miles and miles….
The Little Port of Doelan in Finistaire- where the French version of Doc Martin is filmed…..What a surprise that was ! Along with Nicole, a lovely friend of Elisabeth, we enjoyed a superb lunch and afterwards a walk along the cliffs. 
In visiting this region I am reminded that England and France were once geographically joined.…which is why parts of SW England (Cornwall and Devon) resemble so much of Brittany. Other than the fact that Brittany has better summers, the weather is also also similar.
During my forty five year career I have experienced moments when I wondered how could I continue….how could I go on? This trip has reminded me of how fortunate I am to have lived the life I have – to have met so many wonderful people. To live the life of an artist.
And of course a magical hummingbird – or Colibri Magique.….they were with me all the way. 
Wishing one and all a beautiful day and weekend ahead.
Here is the lonely little cat wishing she could live in a nice warm cottage like the one across from her tree. 
“Sitting between mountains and watched by the moon, with magical hummingbirds weaving their love” this story takes place in The Magical Town of Crickadoon. 
During the long dark cold nights, every noise would give the little cat a fright, and sometimes she would cry.
One night when the winds began to roar and howl, the little cat had a visit from a wise old owl. The wise owl told the little cat to be patient and trust. To close her eyes and dream of magical hummingbirds.
The little cat began to make friends with the birds and animals that lived beneath her tree. After days of fun and play with her new friends the little cat would fall into a deep sleep and dream about finding a home of her own.
One of her new friends, a red robin, told the little cat that she would never be alone because hummingbirds were always near, helping her to find a new home of her own. 
One morning red robin and little cat woke to see that the Magical Town of Crickadoon was completely covered in snow. everywhere the little cat looked, there was a special glow.
Later that night when little cat was dreaming in her tree, a beautiful white hummingbird appeared. White hummingbird told little cat that there was nothing to fear, and that after a terrible storm, all would be clear. 
The next morning when the snow swirled and whirled and the winds roared and howled, the little cat felt so cold and alone was beginning to think that she would never find a home of her own. 
In her dreams the little cat heard White Hummingbird say – “Don’t give into your fear, soon all will be clear. – Follow the light through the storm and there you will find your home, so cosy and warm”. 
Janet the Artist scooped up little cat with tenderness and love, and from high above the Magical Town of Crickadoon, hummingbirds of every colour were flying under the moon. 
Janet the Artist named the little cat, Christeve the Cat because she had arrived on a very special Christmas Eve.
Christeve the Cat settled into her new home and sitting on her favourite chair. 
Christeve the Cat (on the left) with one of her friends sitting in her favourite place in the garden of her new home. 
Mist over the Usk Valley – Wales – watercolour
Crug Howell – Usk Valley Wales – watercolour
A view from Curlews – overlooking the Usk Valley Wales – watercolour
Brecon Beacons Wales – watercolour/gouache
I will of course travel with the Magical Hummingbirds….
Given that I hadn’t been on the Isle of Wight since 1965, I decided to take a taxi from the Ryde ferry terminal to Bembridge where I was staying. The taxi driver was lovely…a man who had moved to the Island from London thirty years ago. As he pointed out, the Island works best for young families, people over sixty, and of course those who love to sail – Cowes being a world class sailing arena. His grown children have returned to London, a story I heard several times. As he pointed out that despite a good internet connection, until the day a bridge or tunnel is built, connecting the Island with the mainland, life as it is will probably continue. (let’s hope they never build a tunnel or bridge…..)
My overall first impressions were of a much slower pace of life, of almost going back to how the UK was when I was growing up. Everyone I encountered was extremely helpful, including the bus drivers. People still queue.…and of course being a Brit I do like queues :). There was no litter or graffiti….a sense of order prevailed. In short it all felt very manageable.
This visit was about getting a feel of the place. Would I want to spend time there painting? These are always my prime questions. The answer is yes. I would choose a village location with a bus route. This would allow me to walk to shops/pubs etc, and with my London bus pass – free bus travel. So it will definitely go on my list of places to explore and paint.
I returned to the mainland via the Cowes ferry to Southampton where I had the sudden realisation that the last time I was on Southampton dock was January 28th 1966 when I took the United States Liner to New York! Talk about deja vu. My friend Suzy, whose office sits right on the dock then drove me to Dorset.
I began this post with Thomas Merton’s quote about balance, order rhythm and harmony.…elements I believe we all need in our lives.
A Bientôt
watercolour/gouache sketch – The Usk Valley where the Black Mountains meet the Brecon Beacons. 
This visit was the first time since I left Crickhowell, twelve years ago, that I was able to completely relax and allow myself the joy of visiting old haunts and connecting with dear friends.
The market Town of Crickhowell has a population of approx 3,000. It still has the butcher, baker and candlestick maker and much much more. A manageable and vibrant community.
When I lived there in my little cottage on Mill Street I was able to walk everywhere, including to twelve (or was it thirteen) pubs? – all of which served good food – from pub grub to fine dining and everything in between. That is still the case.
So why you might ask did I leave. In 1999 I began working on a project for children which used the power of art and colour to teach about environment, homelessness and many other social issues. Had it been successful, it would have solved long term financial issues. After what looked like a very promising beginning, in 2003 it was clear that the project was not going to work. A very sad moment for me.
All of which brings me to ten years of blogging and social media…………
As I mentioned in my last post – ‘Following Life’s Clues’ – good friends from Wales have been renting a house in Saorge for the past year and suggested that I visit. They felt that Saorge encompassed many elements of Marmite Heaven..……my place in the sun:)
After being met at Nice airport by my friend Gareth, we drove up into the mountains along the Italian/French border into what is the magnificent landscape of the Roya Valley. Being mindful that this was a very short trip, I had to gulp in the dramatic scenery.
We arrived around 4 p.m. and immediately took a walk through the Village where no cars are allowed. Parking is available at both ends of the Village.
In the Marmite Heaven of my dreams, I will be removed from the madness of our 21st century world. I will write every day and paint a series of portraits recording the people living within the community. Saorge certainly has a lot of wonderful characters to draw upon.
My Life as an Artist (2) 