Painting Carcassonne

A week of solid drawing in Carcassonne and I forgot how to PAINT WATERCOLORS! I've been brushing up since I got back.

Prof Jeremy had us draw with a single line the contour of the buildings. No fussing around with annoying perspective. Yay!

What a relief

Jeremy's sheet of exquiste drawings done on site in all sizes and shapes. He likes to make the tiniest thumbnails (timbres) too.

The towers are daunting at first. Maybe they never stopped being daunting. You feel like a peanut.

There are tourist shops selling armor and medieval gear in the town. No wonder.

The entrance to Carcassone, where we met every morning.

Much more crowded than shown here, but once you're inside, the structures are so monumental,the crowds appear to  thin out.

Tibetan monks, their straw cone hats provide perfect protection from the strong sun and match the tower rooftops.

In case you're planning on going to a workshop a few tips I picked up. Forget the tripod seat on the left.

Lise had a clear makeup case picked up on Amazon - perfect for carrying supplies. I found I had one at home from a gift makeup assortment.

Lise formed a deep attachment to my Art Advantage double cup water cups, also on Amazon but half the price at Hyatt art supplies.

We all coveted Matine's Maison de Chocolat long chocolate boxes - perfect for stashing your watercolor brushes.

Carcassonne has much in common with Mt Saint Michel. If you like one you should enjoy the other at least for an overnight.

Fortunately I stayed close by in 'plain Jane' Hotel Espace Cité. Espace is clean and simple, but with a fabulous array of fresh fruits in the morning petite dejeuner. Nary a single peach can be found inside the walled cité of Carcassonne. You have been warned. Same story at Mt Saint Michel by the way. Oh the pitfalls of travel. One thing there certainly is, is plenty of is Cassoulet. You have been warned.

Carcassone is definitely worth a visit. Just bring your own fruit and maybe steer clear of Cassoulat in the summer months.

Cheers!