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Chateau Orquevaux
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Believe me, I know I am a fortunate soul. I paint, I travel, I paint. And last Fall, I was crazy lucky to spend 2 weeks of this vicious cycle at Chateau d'Orquevaux , a magnificent estate in the heart of the French countryside of Champagne-Ardenne. The Chateaux offers artists from all over the globe, and of every medium,a place with limited distraction and an abundance of natural inspiration.
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| And the best feature of the residency: my new friends! |
 
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The Salon. Site of Music, poetry, laughter and conversation.
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While days were spent painting outdoors in crisp, clear weather (interrupted only by glorious chef-prepared meals),
in the evenings I gathered with other artists and writers in The Salon.
On "Literature Night', we read quotes or poems that inspired us. I sat across from my new Israeli friend, Yael, a writer, and was inspired to paint her in her wine-colored chair and orange fan.
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| Yael in a Sargeant Pose (Collection of model) |
The Chateau's stables housed artist studios including a stained glass artist, musical composer and an installation artist. I left this small sketch as a contribution to the Chateaux's art collection.
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The Stables. Oil on Paper. Collection Orquevaux
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The Gatehouse was my home for 2 weeks. By myself. (an introvert's paradise). It sat on the edge of the Chateau property,
within a short golf buggy ride of all the inspiration I could ever want.I created several versions of the
Gatehouse. Each an experiment with abstraction, brushwork and color.
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| (Same view/different day)Gardens 8 x 10" |
Same view. Different day. My favorite subject is always the one found in the spaces between, much like the silence between musical notes. I often find nobility in the arrangement of shapes that gather in a backyard or below a ledge.This one that included a glimpse of a tourquoise tarp across the roof of the Chateau's stables.
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| (Same view/different day)The Overlook 9 x 12" |
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| The Gatehouse: Edge of a village8 x 10" |
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| Castle Garden View 8 x 10" |
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| The Gatehouse: Castle Views 8 x 10" |
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| GateHouse views. 8 x 10" |
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The Stables. Oil on Paper. Collection Orquevaux
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The House Behind The Chicken Coup 8
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Here are some more glimpses of life around the Chateaux and village.
Brigette's House. Hmmm--"house" doesn't quite describe it! Most in the village refer
to her home as "The Castle." I, along with fellow plein-air painter, Ginette Wang, was lucky to paint on her property and enjoy her hospitality along with a wonderful day of road-tripping through the region.
Brigette allowed us to paint in her stunning gardens. The next day, she gave us a tour of the countryside and nearby villages.
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| Me, Ginette Wang and Brigitte Hossard |
Brigitte sometimes offers her castle as a bed and breakfast. This is her amazing prune tart!
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| Location for "The Road behind the Church" |
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| The fruits of my (a-hem) labor. |
You can catch a glimpse of fellow resident and all round great guy, Tom Smith in the reflection of this window.
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The Chateau Boathouse.
No painting of mine could do this photo by fellow resident Nina Liemola.
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| My chariot |
to her home as "The Castle." I, along with fellow plein-air painter, Ginette Wang, was lucky to paint on her property and enjoy her hospitality along with a wonderful day of road-tripping through the region.
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