Musings on My Art Life

Our visit to Cahors included a brief watercolor demo by Jessica at the Valentré Bridge built during the years 1308-1378 crossing the Lot River. A few of us painted while others preferred to observe and marvel at the structure before us which is also known as the Devil's Bridge!  According to  legend, the architect of the bridge who, due to impatience, wanted to see the completion of the bridge after more than half a century of seemingly endless construction, made a pact with the Devil. The architect would have absolute control over the Devil until the completion of the bridge. At the end of the contract he would give his soul to the Devil in exchange. However, the architect decided to trick the Devil and asked him to do an impossible task (bring water to the workers using a sieve) so that the Devil would breach the contract. The Devil then sends an imp to dismantle the bridge. In retaliation, the architect creates a carved imp trying to remove a stone to trick the devil into thinking the imp is still doing his job. Such drama! 

After Cahors, we ventured on to the  Bergers des Lavandes in Soulomès to paint an iconic French landscape: a field of lavender! The intoxicating fragrance hit us as soon as we stepped out of the vans. One of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard was the humming of the bees hovering over the lavender! We painted accompanied by nature's choir! It was a warm day but not like the heat waves that have recently hit France and much of the world. Still, we were grateful for the refreshing water flavored with lavender syrup that the owner gave us. Bill, the owner of Le Vieux Couvent, came to visit us and we were one big happy painting party! 

Bergers des Lavandes, of course,  produces many lavender products. I took home some sachets,  bon bons and lavender syrup (to try in a gin and tonic). 

Eventually, we piled in the vans and fell asleep on the way back to LVC. The day ended as usual with just enough time to freshen up, have drinks at 6 and dinner at 7. Yum!