Saturday 12 March 2011

The bridge and the birds at Montlouis sur Loire

People joke about those who will go the opening of an envelope!  However, if you ever get the opportunity to go the opening of an envelope from Ronelle van Wyk (African Tapestry) you MUST GO!

It's a real treat!  With added extras.  ;)  Ronelle is all about added extras! I oooed and aahhed and generally had a good time when I opened mine

I'm not saying any more than that about "the extras" so as not to spoil the surprise for my fellow Sketchercisers who will in turn get their envelope from Ronell!

Anyway, first off there is the envelope which I have down in the category of "added value" for both me and the postmen who have handled it.   Lovely pen and ink and watercolour sketches of the "muettes"  flying around the Loire

"Les Birdies sur le Loire" - sketch on an envelope by Ronelle van Wyk
Inside there were a couple of more sketches of birds on the reverse of Ronelle's sketch of the railway bridge over the Loire in February at Montlouis sur Loire - which I've been to!  That's a real February sky!

Pont de Montlouis by Ronelle van Wyk
pencil and watercolour

I so admire people who can just touch in watercolour here and there.  I've always wanted to be able to do that but somehow my brush manages to try to cover the whole sheet before I know it.

Here's what Ronelle has to say about the bridge and the birds
Dear Katherine

A loire sketch for you - the Montlouis birdge that has been bombed 13 times in WWII (by the Americans no less!!) and is the only bridge still standing.  How is that for hope and determination?  

The "muettes" are starting to nest on the islands in the Loire and along with all the bulbs peeping through the dark soil, Spring is tickling us with the desire to renew our lives..... our houses, our habits...like Sketchercise

I wish you the same... strength and determination like the Pont de Montlouis, renewal like the arrival of the Muettes and a non-stop flow of creativity like "La Loire".

Gros bisous
Ronelle

PS  It is a postcard even if it is a bit big - it has two stamps to prove it!
Ronelle van Wyk sketching the Loire - February 2011
It must be so lovely to be able to walk out of your front door and go and look at and sketch the Loire whenever you want to!

Now I wonder whose postcard I will get next month?

15 comments:

Robyn Sinclair said...

You keep the postcard, I'll have the envelope, Katherine! Just joking but it is beautiful isn't it - there is something magic about a brown paper ground.

You do have the magic touch, Ronell just enough beautiful marks and splashes of colour to tell the story perfectly. Brava!

Happy Little Trees Studio said...

Beautiful!!!!

vivien said...

Lovely - so fresh and lively and evocative

Alison Staite said...

Robyn I'll fight you for the envelope! It is very special! :o) How great to see a photo of Ronelle as well!

Cathy Gatland said...

Such lovely dancing lines on both the very special envelope and the postcard - love those February clouds. What a lot of creative care went into this!

Liz Steel said...

wonderful! sure am looking forward to getting mine!

Papierflieger said...

Indeed a very nice card! Ronell really swings a very vivid brush in loose style :).

Desiree's Designs said...

Oh Ronell another beautiful card, I can't wait to get mine. Your melodic words also paint the postcard in words, they are as lovely as the paintings themselves.

Cathy said...

Oh my! That enveloppe is a pure gem! If I had been the postman, I think I couldn't have let it go!!!!! ... that's probably why I'm not a postman ;-)

La Table De Nana said...

I love everything:) I know how special she is..Love the envelope..the watercolor and her photo..so wonderful!

Charlene Brown said...

Indeed, “It must be so lovely to be able to walk out of your front door and go and look at and sketch the Loire whenever you want to!” And it’s lovely to see the results as well -- beautifully done, Ronell!

Albrecht Rissler said...

I love Ronelle's spontaneous watercolor technique. Very fresh and authentic!

Felicity Grace said...

Beautiful, so vibrant and fresh!

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

Thank you for all your lovely comments, I appreciate them all and yes, la Loire keeps me humble...both for being fortunate to seeing it from my windows every day as well as respecting it for all its power.
As for the photot...didn't actually think it would end up on the blog, but I've started letting let go of my phobias, so it might be a good thing to have me "loosen up" some more!

Pat said...

I just had to add to everyones comments that all your paintings are so special and you always give 200%.