Rue du Vertbois, Paris

I think art is good at looking back and looking forward. I don't think art is good at looking head-on. At the end of the day, people are more important than paintings-Damien Hirst



First picture by Gilles Gorriti, painter and piano player. Would love to sit and listen to Gilles at the piano. I wonder if his music is as sparkling as his paintings. This still life draws the mind back to the sun-dappled days of my childhood along the vibrantly colourful impressionistic French/Italian riviera.

Second picture: Rue du Vertbois, Paris. By Japanese painter, Takanori Oguiss, who spent a great part of his life capturing the spirited silent charm of Parisian side streets. I shall wander down the Rue du Vertbois this afternoon, walk in the footsteps of Oguiss, and draw Rue du Vertbois as I see it. Which of these paintings do you relate to? xx

Sweet, Sweet Alchemies

We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink... ~Epicurus

Who are you eating and drinking with this week? I am looking forward to breaking bread with fellow violinist, and good friend, Maia of sweet alchemies. She bakes the most scrumptious chocolate cakes as the one pictured above, and I'm quite certain she makes a divine vegetable stew, too.

Last weekend, we had friends round for dinner. I made Sichuan-style sea bass with wok-fried vegetables, Rioja-braised lamb shanks with chorizo and garlic, beetroot soup with feta followed by Maia's delightful orange chocolate brownies. Everyone loved the chocolate orange brownies. I had to fax the recipe to three friends yesterday. Don't be bashful. Go ahead and try this at home. Online Receipe HERE