Trio of young journal makers, Kate, Zoe and Emiline
A group of intrepid women and one man assembled at the GalleriMSF in Roujan to try their hand at making a travel journal. The term for ‘workshop’ in French is ‘atelier animé‘. It was indeed an animated day, with laughter, concentration, and not a single needle injury!
We worked with beautiful leather acquired en route to France. Goat hides came from a dusty Moroccan leather shop in Barcelona, while a buttery piece of calf leather was donated by a handbag studio in Rome. Canson watercolour paper, hand torn and bound into signatures, offered a versatile surface for those who draw, paint, collage or write.
It is one thing to hand-make a beautiful leather bound travel journal. It is quite another to fill it. To ease the fear of a blank page, I shared strategies for getting started, and offered examples of various painting and drawing styles, including painting with wine…and espresso. Composition tips rounded out the afternoon seminar.
I always credit Mark Glavina of Phoenix Art Workshop in Steveston, BC for inspiring me to take up the art of plein air painting. If I wasn’t in the south of France, I would be travelling in Bali, Indonesia with Mark and his painting group right now. Columbia in January 2014 is the next proposed destination. Anyone care to join me?
The gallery’s favourite local chef Debbi presented a beautiful lunch to workshop participants, served in the garden. In the Languedoc region a glass of rosé is required with meals. The
orange almond cake was sublime. Recipe available for those who send me an email.
Enjoy this gallery of pics from the workshop. Thank you to everyone who participated, and especially Jessie Jones, for her help and coordination.
margot paris 
Sounds like an amazing day
Well done Margot Paris … I am so proud to know you and flattered that I have inspired such a great artist to paint with coffee and wine and must say you have inspired me equally with your amazing drawings on our adventures abroad.