WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 20

Saturday was the first day of our exhibition. A few of us arrived before the opening at 11 to dress the table, put the drinks in the fridge and adjust the last paintings.

Then it started we congratulated ourselves, the only stranger was Mr. G. who had suddenly showed up to check what we had done.



And then slowly the visitors arrived mostly in the afternoon. On Saturdays the shops are open so most of our visitors did their shopping first.



Here I am with my "master pieces ! I also had changed pebbles into cats by painting them.



A general overview



and the little helpers. We had quite a few visitors

The next day we were sitting there and waited for people to come



Except during lunch time we couldn't complain. I even sold 3 little cat pebbles, others sold paintings. We were all satisfied. Many people complimented us because the exhibition looked so nice.

Too soon it was over



Now we had to dismantle everything and put it away.

I have to say that after these two days I am a "little" tired ! Fortunately tomorrow I have nothing special planned and can rest and recover !!

WEEKEND REVIEW October 3

This weekend I was very busy with the exhibition of our painting class. Our group was part of the "parcours des artistes" (path of Artists).

We were all invited to the vernissage on Friday evening. It took place in the Cultural Center of Waterloo.



After the usual speech we were offered sandwiches and Champagne and then walked around to see what other Waterloo artists had created !



Saturday morning at 11 am, our exhibition opened its doors. We all had worked hard to make it presentable and I think it was a success.



The very first visitors were the President of the Social Services and Mr. G ! We posed together with them.

I stayed there the whole day until 6 pm together with our teacher and of course others who watched over our master pieces. There were quite a lot of people in the afternoon, and one sold a painting and was very happy, she had never sold anything so far !

I met some women I hadn't seen for ages with whom I had been at Art School. They recognized me immediately and called me "Madame Chat" which means Mrs. Cat, as I mostly painted cats !



Of course we didn't forget ourselves and sat in a corner, chatting and drinking coffee and late afternoon Nicole appeared with wine ! 

On Sunday there were quite a lot of visitors.



We had installed  a little corner for ourselves, where we chatted or gave information to the visitors. Charlie of course was also allowed to join us in the afternoon. He was a real diplomat and didn't show any preferences for a painting. Of course we had a lot of fun and the whole exhibition was very cheerful



Discussing and looking at the paintings ...



and then suddenly it was 6 pm and we had to dismantle the whole exhibition. Surprisingly it was done in no time, we worked together as a well organized team.

Happy and tired I returned home. The exhibition had been a full success !

MY FIRST EXHIBITION

Letter E

At the end of 1900, I was sitting in a deep black hole, our son was at boarding school, I only worked half time and I was bored, so bored that I sank into a deep depression. With medical help I emerged and should do something what I like. Difficult to decide when I suddenly remembered that besides writing, I also loved drawing and painting. So I started a painting class in 1989, 25 years ago. It was great, a real rebirth !



Sometimes we went on a training course for a week, spent the week in boarding schools which were empty during the holidays and which usually were located near nature or near a castle. I can't remember in which castle's park we painted in 1990.

I progressed well and my very first exhibition I had in 2003 together with 3 other artists. Our speciality .... cats ! (in French "chats") That's why the exhibition was called "C'est chat" which means "It's cats" !



This was the invitation with one of my cat paintings.



I was quite proud to appear in the local Newspaper together with another artist.



The mayor was there together with some other important personalities.



A photo of my cats was hanging at the entrance representing my models.



I also had transformed pebbles into cats which had a huge success and were nearly all sold. For the vernissage Mr. G. was present too and I had to pose in front of my pictures.

Many other exhibitions followed but the very first one was the most important for me !

more participants at Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday

MY WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 19

A quiet busy weekend ! The day before our yearly painting exhibition, Annie a classmate and I prepared the tables with flower baskets and arrangements. I had bought little figurines which would match the paintings and make the tables more cheerful.



Ready to be put on the tables, we posed with our decoration stuff.



We were quiet satisfied with the result. This took us the whole afternoon.

The next day we had our vernissage.



When you entered the room, this was the view.



People started to arrive. Mr. G. had a drink, Ilona showed her mother some paintings. We sat all together to chat until somebody asked one of us for explanations.



I took pictures of the artist with their paintings. Here is the vintage group aged from 70 to 79 nearly 80.

I didn't stay until the end, I left at 3 pm, because I had to prepare my suitcase for my trip to France. I also was quiet tired from all the explanations I had given and watching over the crowd walking around, that nobody touched the paintings or ran the easels over.

Finally my suitcase was ready and had the right weight, it's funny for me to pack summer clothes while here we have the heating on.

On Sunday morning at 6.30 am Mr. G drove me to the airport and I left a rainy Waterloo to arrive 1 1/2 h later in Marseille where Claudie and her husband picked me up.



After lunch we went to the seafront and now I am sitting under Palm trees. What a change ! It was a little windy but  nice walk along the sea and have a beer in a café at the beach.

A WONDERFUL PAINTING EXPOSITION

more participants at Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday

I am actually at the French Rivera staying with Claudie who had been with us in Waterloo last week.



In the morning we had our coffee outside and rested a bit before we went to the Bar/Restaurant where Mélissa her 21 year old daughter had her first exhibition.



What a work ! Fortunately I was able to help her as I am used to prepare expositions, but still we worked for two hours choosing the colors preparing and her Dad hang them on the wall !



and here was the final result Mélissa and I were quite satisfied



The visitors arrived at 6 pm and there were quiet a lot !



Drinks and little sandwiches were served, and the owner of the restaurant posed with Mélissa..

The exposition was a full success and really wonderful !