Day 100: The End

...but I have so much more to say.

It’s been fun. Thanks Emma xox

23 July, 2012

Day 99: Go Kiwi

Early morning train trip, but I had time to sip my tea from a cup before my journey south to visit friends. Then back to London for a BBQ and the Opening of the Olympics

Day 98: Complexities of the creative mind

The best little art shop in London: L. Cornelissen & Son (since 1855)

“A great idea should always be left to steep like loose tea leaves in a teapot for a while to make sure that the tea will be strong enough and that the idea truly is a great one.” 

― Phoebe Stone, The Romeo And Juliet Code

Wilton's Restaurant/Oyster Bar of Jermyn Street, London (since 1742). It seemed the right thing to do while in London; to indulge in a pot of gorgeous tea, lovingly brewed in a silver teapot.

Day 97: Still Life with Planet Earth

London; there’s a buzz in the air as the city prepares itself for the Olympics.

Earth is a water planet. This morning as I drink my tea, I think that I’m consuming a little of our beautiful planet that we call home.

Day 96: Directions

An early start as I manoeuvre my way through the Metro system of Paris with suitcase and backpack to Gare de Nore...which is a huge station! My look of bewilderment was noted by a passerby, who helped me with directions to find Eurostar, which was to take me to London. I just made it in time so my morning cuppa was on the train.

Day 95: Watching

Another gorgeous day, so I head out early to find a cafe and watch Paris wake up.

Day 94: Postcard from Paris

Tour de France is coming to Paris today and it’s my intention to be there to cheer the lads on. It’s something I’ve watched on television for years and voilà here I am in Paris; the right place at the right time. My morning tasse de thé is in a cafe, then a leisurely stroll through Paris in the direction of Arc de Triomphe.

Day 93: au revoir Blacons

One final yoga practice, a quick bowl of tea, many hugs goodbye and then bus/taxi/train/walk to a hotel in Paris.

Day 92: Practice random acts of kindness

Like when my Oakura neighbours (on one stormy night when I lost power and they didn't), Ian and Helen ran an extension cord all the way from their house to mine so I could have power to run the frig, but more importantly to have power to boil the jug for my morning cuppa xxx

Day 91: Nourishment

The five vitamins required for the practice of yoga are; faith, memory, courage, absorption and an uninterrupted awareness of attention. This could be linked to my art practice as well...me thinks.

Day 90: Yoga is art

It's an art form practised with skilfulness. Then there's the discipline of yoga and the discipline of my 100 days project....hummm.

Day 89: Three tiers, many tears

I'm crying, my nervous system is in tatters, my whole inside is violently shaking while outside my body is still. I cry my tears into a tissue...then I study the patterns of tear drops left on the tissue and it quietens me; always the artist. I’m working on a series of paintings about water. Just a quick snapshot today.

Yoga bandages drying on the line, just stunning colours and shadows created by the sunlight.

Day 88: Imagination

I know inside this bowl there is a cup and saucer fighting to get out. Maybe that’s like me. Instead of waiting I should take some more drastic action....to achieve many things, including organising an exhibition with a gallery in Singapore.

Day 87: A Sunday outing

Only a short 2 hour practice this morning so we’re in time to catch the bus to a Farmers Market at the neighbouring town of Saillens. This is where I have my morning cup of tea, a word that is universally understood...asking for milk can sometimes be a challenge and I know one of these days, somewhere in the world I’m going to draw a cow with a big fat udder; just for the fun of it, unless it’s India, then I’d perhaps draw a buffalo.

Day 86: Vive la France

Bastille day celebrations included sharing an evening meal with the Blacons community....I know, I'm deviating from writing about my cup of tea, but this is southern France!

Day 85: Keep calm and drink tea

Friday 13th
If I had a tattoo, should it be in celebration of my morning cuppa?
And where should it be?
And what design should it be?
And how big? Colours?
Isn’t meditation great.

Day 84: Always the artist

Art is not just a degree
Art is not just a business card
Art is not just a blog entry
Art is not just a mention in a publication
Art is not just a painting framed in all its glory
Art is not just a price tag
Art is not just an artist’s statement
Art is a way of life

Day 83: Postcard from Blacons

It’s weird that the first thing I do in the morning is not having a cup of tea, which now holds third place behind a morning walk and then yoga. This morning’s walk was to a spectacular field of sunflowers in full bloom. The region is filled with crops of lavender, sunflowers and other grain crops, along with hillsides of grapevines.

Day 82: Man cannot survive on vegetables alone

Eleven o’clock again and I head straight to the urn for tea. I never imagined myself drinking tea from a latte bowl and adding honey and rice milk for energy at a beautiful chateau in southern France

Day 81: Southern France in summer

This morning’s cuppa was taken outside. Thought I’d let my right hand do today’s drawing, though I needed to wait until 11am to enjoy a cuppa...a long wait. This is my first time ever of 8 hours of yoga instruction in one day. I’m going to sleep well tonight.

Day 80: Have sketch books, will travel

Travel in motion - that's why I love trains more than any form of public transport, especially fast trains. Today I have a train journey to Southern France...this may be my last posting until I surface in two weeks, back in Paris to watch the Tour de France boys ride in.

(photographed the following day in Blacons)

I'm having fun (in other words it's a challenge) drawing a square cup. My inspiration is coming from spending time viewing paintings from the Cubist movement at Centre Pompidou yesterday.

Day 79: Paris in Summer...alone

Thé et un croissant frais, peut-être un peu confiture et fromage et un verre de jus de pamplemousse rose. Cette compensation m'en bonne forme pour une journée au Centre Pompidou. Mon avion a atterri à 06, dirigé directement à l'hôtel où ma chambre était prête et juste à temps pour les breakfast.
Merci beaucoup Timhotel.

Day 78: Bon voyage

This moment is a gift, that’s why we call it the present :)

This evening I take a 13hr 25min flight to Paris.

Day 77: 'To Do' list

Making art is like making a cup of tea. You’re required to do 50 other different things before you can drink your tea...or before you can put paint brush to canvas.