# 68 - Flower Serendipity

                                               Rue Bellevue

                                                La Cour de Jerome

Fellow Art Lovers:

The last time I wrote to you, not that long ago, really, I presented an unfinished work that had beautiful possibilities, and I had high hopes for it. It was the Rue Bellevue (This is the correct spelling.) in Saint Aubin-sur-Mer, and it was one of a kind.

Well, now the work is completed, and the people who have seen it had some real praise. But I have to admit that I often cannot judge my own work. Sometimes I look at a work I’ve just completed, and I know, I feel it in my bones that the work is right, and I got the most out of it. But sometimes I’m lost; I see this and I see that, and I don’t know what conclusion to draw.

Rue Bellevue turned out fine, but I can’t make up my mind how fine. That’s why I’d love to hear your opinion. Did it realize all of its potential? I know it’s tough for you to judge, but please try to give it a try.

But while I painted it, something else happened. I’ll call it flower serendipity. I really got into the swing with flowers. I was just swinging that palette knife, and the flowers just came to life. If I feel good about one thing with Rue Bellevue, it was certainly the flowers, of which there were multitudes.

So, just a while ago, I was walking through Le Vieux Luc, a part of Luc sur Mer that translates as “the Old Luc”; this is the part of Luc that’s inland, away from the sea and the beach, and by its name the older part. As I walked, I noticed that a big, metal gate was open, and I glanced in.

Wonder! Wonder! There was a big open space covered with a combination of grass, bare, red soil and gravel. At the far end, I could see an old, rusted metal hangar-type structure that contained old equipment and building materials half-hidden in the shadows. Behind this structure was an old, stonewall. To the left were another stone wall and some foliage and flowers.  But on right side of the open space was this wonderful collection of foliage and several types of flowers.

I found the contrast between the natural beauty of the foliage and flowers, on the one hand, and the roughness of the hangar and its contents, on the other, so interesting. Also, the light was coming from behind the hangar, and it flowed from the sky, through the hanger and onto the open space.

I talked with the owner, who’s first name happens to be Jerome, and he was more than polite and helpful. He was absolutely charming. He not only gave me permission to paint this courtyard, he even invited me to come inside the courtyard and paint it from the best angle. That’s why I’m calling this painting “La Cour de Jerome.” Why French? Well, why not? And the word “cour” can mean either court or courtyard.

I had my work cut out for me, and it clicked. The foliage and flowers from Rue Bellevue freed up my palette knife and movements, so they fell in place naturally.

That’s why I call the act of choosing this scene and the painting “La Cour de Jerome” serendipity. I know that painting the foliage and flowers on Rue Bellevue gave me a lot of momentum, but it also may mean that my sensitivity was increased for this kind of scene.

As always, if you have the time, I’d love to hear your reactions.

Thanks for listening.

Best,

Bill