I toured, last week enjoying rose and perennial gardens in the Goulburn valley, Yarra valley and in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria. I came home to my own late spring display of Delbard, French roses in my own small cottage garden that was inspired by the plants and romantic settings in the gardens of Giverny.

Today my flowerbeds have a colourful display of roses, the last of the bearded iris and the first of the summer lilies. I see the soft green foliage of grape vines and wisteria over arbors, back dropped by an avenue of poplar trees. I want to grab my French easel and paint, en plein air impressionist, garden pictures or head off into the field to paint the surrounding rural landscape. My mind turns to think about the great impressionist artists and the country that founded the impressionist movement ~ France.

The French impressionist Claude Monet, in particular, has inspired my life, both through his garden design and his art.

I would love to visit the great gardens of France, stay in quaint farmhouses, which have been set up as bed and breakfast accommodation and wander around the countryside of France, soaking in the atmosphere.

To visit Monet’s garden at Giverny, would, be to fulfil an artistic pilgrimage of appreciation to this great artist. I already know I would love the country and climate; it is similar to picturesque parts of my own homeland. I could imagine staying in quaint cottages and farmhouse bed and breakfast accommodation so I could soak in the atmosphere and beauty of the countryside of France.

The parks and gardens of Paris have been are described by others as places of elegance and artistic delight. Paris is famous for bringing the beauty of nature, right into the city. I would stay at Paris hotels, so I could tour the gardens of Paris. I adore the impressionist paintings of Parisians picnicking in parks and gardens. 

Sigh, (I am getting all dreamy. Thinking about bed and breakfast and accommodations in Paris France, makes me want to paint even more, and plan a painting tour of Paris and France.

Right now, though, I’m going to pack my French easel and go paint on location (en plein air), while I am feeling so inspired by the city and country, known internationally, for its fostering of the arts. J ,

Images of Australia in the Paintings and Writing of Artist Author

 Kathy Shell  Artist – Kathryn Shell  AuthorKathryn Shell is a published non-fiction and fiction author currently working on an Australian Novel.
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