Blog

Monday started out continuing Sunday’s beautiful weather, but it didn’t last. I walked down the steps to the nearest train station (Gare St Paul) at the edge of the old city and bought my ticket to go to Annemasse, near Geneva, on Friday.

I got there a bit early, however, and walked around while waiting for them to open. Behind the station is a bus turnaround area, and something about the combination of the old St Paul church, the modern cars, and the flat light (for by then it was getting overcast) got me involved. So after I got my ticket I went back and painted the scene.

After lunch, walking along the river, I noticed clouds were gathering. I kept on but didn’t paint anymore, knowing as soon as I set up, it would rain. Getting my daily baguette for dinner/breakfast tomorrow, I caught a bus back up the hill to the apartment,  and sure enough, the minute I got off it started.

Pretty soon it was like a monsoon out there and I decided to paint it from the balcony. It was a difficult painting, from the vagueness of it all, to working in not great conditions (lighting and the occasional spray of rain were both problems). Here it is, after all my work, but it is really more of an experiment than anything else.

Tuesday was worse—rain all morning. I worked on my sketch book, emails, hung around the apartment. It is wonderful when a rainy day happens to have as much space as I have here. And in fact, since I didn’t really get out till later, here are some photos of where I’m staying.

  The Entry Hall

The main dining area (balcony is just to the left), and an upper area with a custom mural

Not a room I'd normally include in a post, but the decoration is great!

Finally, it stoped raining in the afternoon and I headed out to something I had seen the day before—a bridge being built! I can’t resist construction sites, as many of you know, and this one is great. I hope to get back again before I leave.