Eton Mess

In London I spent time messing around with teapots and boxes.

And I browsed more in supermarkets than museums.The names of products are so enticing. An Eton Mess is an English dessert I felt an instant affinity to, being a master mess-maker myself.Squeak the cat could expound on the subject at length. Here he steps none too gingerly onto my 'work table'/bed. Squeak does an inspection of the Gillott mess...
In disgust, Squeak gazes out the window for some relief from chaos.
A natural still life waiting.
Finally Squeak chastises me,
"Why R U SUCH a mess?!"
Ultimately he gives up and goes to sleep.
Making watercolor 'messes' in London and Paris is a good way to warm up.

I even made a mess on AirFrance with all my drawing stuff laid out on two seats. Who knew many AF flight attendants were former artistes?
Doing warmups can be fun - except when you thought they weren't going to be just a 'warm-up'.
Enfin, not a warm-up, but an Angelina I'm happy with.
Back home the mess continues minus Tom the cat.
I wonder if Squeak makes house calls?
Here's what I'm listening to whilst I get messy.
BONJOUR ETON MESS!

English Breakfasts

You're terribly late you know posting. Naughty!

But never late for breakfast. I went all out the first morning at the club, soup to nuts minus the beans.

It's fairly common for locals to eat every day like this. I tried to cut back, yet rashers of bacon called my name. The hardest cut of all - just a plate of fruit, yogurt, OJ. The hot croissants + 'lade' or marmelade are divine. If we could only cut out the croissants :( Full English breakfast - 6.95 pds. a sign in a caf. If I keep up the daily croissants + bacon, I'll look like this Wagnarian Valkyrie mug at Harvey Nichols.

Why ever did I think breakfast mugs were a newish invention?

The V & A has just opened up their enormous ceramic collection for study.

Ceramics from every part of the world, floor to ceiling ceramics.

How would you choose which teapot in the morning?
A gazillion white teapots alone.

Blue and white Wedgewood of every variety.
Back at the club, Tom the cat simply wants a plain bowl of breakfast food. He's not fussy.

BONJOUR ENGLISH BREAKFASTS!

Private View - Chelsea Arts Club

Photo by The Selby

It's been quite harum-scarum around here pulling together, framing and hanging an exhibit in a mere four days. London can be a tad difficult when it comes to finding 15 frames all the same size and color. After all most frames are made bespoke/to order like a suit on Saville Row. A very kind salesman assisted me at London Graphics Center in Covent Garden, helping carry the bags of frames out and fetch me a cab. He mentioned in passing, "It looks like those taxis are threatening to come down the road..." Don't you love British dry wit?

I've been very lucky indeed to have a British assistant, this time inhouse. The club cat, Tom, has decided to help organize me a bit. I'm not sure he understood what an undertaking that is!

Tom was not at all impressed by Parisien Max, the bear and informed him in no uncertain terms to keep his paws out of things. Tom would be in charge henceforth.

Of course Tom wanted to know if this was his portrait.

He takes a closer look.

And decides this was not the case. He let his displeasure be known, but carried on with the job anyway. Tom sent me off for provisions to Burlington Arcade.

I was told, "get two pyramids" as they call piece montee here. Pistache + framboise macarons. Plus caramel + chocolate macarons. Tom knows a thing or two when it comes to putting on a soiree. 

Tuesday morning Tom had me racing out to get Blue Tack for 'the hanging'. No matter that it was pouring out and I'd left my brolly back in the room with Tom. Enfin all pictures were lined up somewhat unevenly on the wall. The sun decided to come out. The gateaux had been retrieved and had not collapsed in the cab on the ride back. Let the soiree begin!

Et voila
THANK YOU dear PBers for stopping by.

Artist Ian Sidaway and wife Lydia made an appearence.

The anatomy of a piece montee - decimated post-private view.
THANK YOU dear Tom for your invaluable assistance!

What would I have done without you I ask myself...

BONJOUR FROM LONDON!

Update:

Tom the cat, has managed to sell 10 watercolors!

Update: ALL 15 watercolors have sold.

Tom/Squeak gets to go to Paris.

He's been hustling round the clock non-stop

Merci Tom.

Hello London!

There is pink in London, on this dental surgeons doorway -gum pink that is

Ah the London underground.

I walked from South Ken station to the club Chelsea is always beautiful. I saw a London boy... I saw a London Girl... I saw Londoners having a pint, whilst on the way to the club...I passed dangerously close to Rococo Chocolates on Kings Road... Typically British is it not?

A 'Made In Britain' decor shop nearby...

As are many decorating shops in Chelsea

My favorite art shop is Green & Stone.

It's been on Kings Road for ages.

They sell antique watercolorboxes too.
My first cuppa.

Somewhat waxen it was

HELLO LONDON!