PRESIDENT SARKOZY - LAST PORTRAIT OF 2010

This is my last portrait of 2010: President Nicolas Sarkozy of France.
If anyone bumps into him, please let him know that he can have it if he wants it. With my compliments, of course.

If you would like to contact me, please click here.

TAM AZAWAKH COCKS

As you can see I also do portraits of dogs.
Some people like them better than my paintings of people.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any queries.
Please click here.

CHRISTMAS ALWAYS COMES WITH PRESENT PROBLEMS

This is a present I planned to give to Mat and Vic.
This is what I was hoping for: Wild applause, cheering and clapping. Acclamation, congratulations, praise and plaudits. Tears of joy. People jumping up and down and doing cartwheels and summersaults. Being smothered in hugs and kisses and other overwhelming displays of everlasting gratitude. (Even, perhaps, material tokens of thanks).
This is what various people said:
Lynne: I'm still not sure about the one on the left. Her eyes are much bigger. (As if she's a barn owl).
Vicky: I'm not sure I can have a representation of myself in my flat. (As if it's a statue of the Virgin Mary to pay homage to every time you see it).
Ray: If you don't like it, try giving it to Mat's parents. If they don't want it give it back to us. (We'll find a cupboard to store it in).
Mat: (He's not seen it yet. Watch this space - if you're interested).

LATE ADDENDUM
This is what Paul said:

Dear Dad,

I think that it's a reasonable likeness but a great painting? I'm one
of the most enthusiastic supporters of your recent portraiture but I
think you do have to be careful of this production line of gifts and
commissions from photographs. Digital photos are great at recording
happy moments but representing these images in acrylic for a similar
purpose and audience can have limited artistic value and interest.

Most of them are brilliant but compare this portrait to your other
December posts. This is quite nice but the others have much more
interest (and artistic merit, I would argue) because of what they
convey about the characters, in terms of their expressions and general
demeanour, what is captured in their eyes, and the other telling
details. This portrait doesn't capture these things entirely
successfully, possibly because it is a fairly generic, staged
photograph of a couple. (No doubt a lovely photo and a very attractive
couple clearly). It's just that their expressions and posture say
'Cheese'. There may not really be a case for expressing it in a
painting, other than the kind gesture of a gift, but this sentiment is
the other factor that might be undermining the portrait.

That said, the painting is growing on me even as I click back and
forth to it while writing this e-mail. In fact it's not too bad at all
and I can't wait to receive mine for Christmas.

If you're interested in any more of my views on art, don't worry about
e-mailing me as I'll be happy to provide them entirely unsolicited
over the next two weeks.

Love Paul.

ANOTHER ADDENDUM

The trouble with Paul's email...

Well, before giving my final comment on Paul's criticism of my painting of Vicky and Mat, I decided to go back to Oliver Cromwell.
Here's what he said to the artist about to do his portrait:
"MR LELY, I DESIRE YOU WOULD USE ALL YOUR SKILL TO PAINT YOUR PICTURE TRULY LIKE ME, AND NOT FLATTER ME AT ALL; BUT REMARK ALL THESE ROUGHNESS, PIMPLES, WARTS, AND EVERYTHING AS YOU SEE ME; OTHERWISE I WILL NEVER PAY A FARTHING FOR IT." (The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations).

So, the trouble with Paul's criticism (from my perspective) is that he's absolutely right. And before my next portrait, I'm going to think very carefully about how I approach it.

M BRIQUET

This is M Briquet from St Pe, done from a photograph his delightful wife found for me.

BETTY SUTER

This is Betty Suter who is 99 and 7 months old.
We hope President Sarkozy will come to tea when she turns 100!
Perhaps he'll bring Carla Bruni with him.

PETER COCKS

Peter and his wife Jan live at the Moulin de Courbian which they've restored and turned into a huge and wonderful living space.

Mme ARNAUD

This is Louis Arnaud's wife. She works as a benevol at the Tourist Office.
I've never seen her in the flesh, but I look forward to meeting her because she's obviously a very attractive woman.
Her husband, Louis, commissioned the portrait from a photograph.

FRANCIS PLAYS THE BUGLE

Pompier Francis Glise plays the bugle at all the official ceremonies in Mézin.
He replaces Noel Sudbury on my exhibition. Noel is going to England.

THE BISHOP OF AGEN

He came to Mézin for a few days, so the curé asked me to paint his portrait.
This fits in perfectly with my idea to add to the exhibition as I complete more paintings.
My painting of Patrick at the Bar du Commerce has gone, so Mgr Hubert Marie Michel Marcel Herbreteau takes his place. Until we deliver him to Agen in the first week of December.
Crissie Mead says I must remember to kiss his ring.

If you have any comments or queries, please send me an email.
Please click here.

VERNISSAGE - OPENING NIGHT - 5 NOVEMBER 2010

I hope the photos speak for themselves...
Please let me know what you think.
ray@johnstonesinfrance.com
(Click on "Contact Us").

RAY'S EXHIBITION STATEMENT

MÉZINAIS ET AUTRES PORTRAITS

CETTE EXPO EST DÉDIÉ AUX MÉZINAIS
ET SURTOUT AUX SUJETS DES PORTRAITS

L'exposition consiste d'une serie des portraits des Mézinais faits pendant 2010 - en plus il y a d'autres faits depuis quarante ans.

Au fur et à mesure qui je continue à peindre des portraits dans les semaines à venir, j'en ajouterai.

*
“Avec les verrues et tout”
Oliver Cromwell (1599 - 1658) à son portraitiste





THIS EXHIBITION IS DEDICATED TO
THE PEOPLE OF MÉZIN
AND ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHOSE PORTRAITS ARE ON SHOW

The paintings consist of a series of portraits of the people of Mézin done over the past few months - plus several others that I have painted over the past forty years.

I plan to change the exhibition regularly over the next weeks and months as I paint more portraits. These will be added as they are completed.

*
“Warts and all”
Oliver Cromwell (1599 - 1658) to his portraitist

Ray Johnstone 11/2010

PRESS RELEASE

EXHIBITION: MÉZINAIS ET AUTRES PORTRAITS

PORTRAITS OF THE VILLAGE PEOPLE BY RAY JOHNSTONE

Oliver Cromwell asked his portraitist to paint his portrait ‘warts and all’, and I hope my 50 paintings of the people of my village of Mézin and others follow this imperative. I’ve never flattered my subjects, in the hope that my paintings wouldn’t be compared with chocolate box designs.

The works on show consist of a series of portraits of the people of Mézin done over the past few months, including several petanqueurs, Monsieur le Maire, the baker, les patrons des bars, an accountant, the priest and the church organist.

Armand Fallieres is there too. He was born in Mézin and became President of the French Republic from 1906 to 1913.

Also included are other paintings that I have done over the past forty years.

I plan to change the exhibition regularly over the next weeks and months as I paint more portraits. These will be added as they are completed.

You can see the exhibition during office hours at the Tourist Office in Mézin until the end of December.

For further information, please contact Ray Johnstone at:

05 53 97 38 17

ray@johnstonesinfrance.com
(Click on "Contact Us").

EL CAMINO - THE WALK TO SPAIN - SOME PICS WE TOOK ALONG THE WAY

DINNER WITH A PIG


THE DAY AFTER OUR WALK - ON THE BRIDGE AT ST JEAN PIED DE PORT


LYNNE HOPING FOR INSPIRATION



THE LAST TOWN IN FRANCE - AT THE FOOT OF THE PYRENEES

WALKING TO SPAIN - TWO WEEKS LATER

Two weeks after we started we crossed the border into Spain, half way up the Pyrenees.
No wonder we look so pleased.

EXHIBITION NOW OPEN

45 Portrait paintings are now on show at the Tourist Office in Mézin.
Please visit the exhibition if you live in or near the village.
It's only 15 kilometers from Condom or Nerac in SW France.

ON THE WAY TO A HANGING

My favourite painting of Lynne - a protrait I did in 1992 - on it's way to the exhibition. In the background is the wonderful St Jean-Baptiste, the gothic church right in the middle of the village of Mézin.
MÉZINAIS ET AUTRES PORTRAITS is now open at the Tourist Office.

LUCINDA'S DOG

One of the few problems one encounters when walking to Spain is badly brought up dogs.
Here's an email I sent to Lucinda Prior. Every word is true.
Bonjour Lucinda,
I hope this follow up on your recent phone call to us is of some interest:
As you now know, Lynne, George and Robin and I were walking from Mézin to the Pyrenees when your phone call came through to Lynne. She passed on to us how you had been hassled by a dog that eventually bit you when you were doing the same walk a few weeks earlier.
Needless to say from then on, every time we heard a dog barking, someone said ‘that could be the dog that bit Lucinda.’
Anyway, by chance, just after your phonecall, (and much to George’s disgust I suspect) I bought a catapult from a hippy who was selling them in the market. I put it in my rucksack and promptly forgot about it.
A few days later we were walking about a hundred metres behind another group of pilgrims when a pack of dogs ran out and started barking very aggressively at them.
A few minutes later it was our turn. The dogs were hassling and snapping at us in a very frightening manner.
But luckily I’d managed to pull the catapult out of my bag and pick up a stone.
Well, I must confess that I’d used a catapult thousands of times when I was a kid, and never managed to hit anything - except a few neighbour's windows. But St Jacques must have been on my side. Just as these dogs rushed at us – Lynne and Robin were fending them off with sticks – I put the stone in the pouch, pulled back the elastic, and aimed at the most aggressive dog. When I let go, St Jacques made sure that the stone hit the dog right between the eyes. There was a loud ‘thunk’ and a sharp spurt of blood. The dog promptly stopped barking and started yelping. And it kept on howling as it ran off down the road followed by the rest of the pack. The last we saw of it was it’s arsehole disappearing over the horizon.
Lucinda, I must say that I fervently HOPE it was the dog that bit you, and I trust that you are as pleased as I am with my shot.
The moral of the story is this: pagan dogs shouldn’t fuck around with Christian pilgrims.
Love to Luke and Minty.
Gros bisous.
Ray
P.S. like a WW2 fighter pilot - or a gunfighter - I've cut a notch in the handle of my catapult and simply labelled it "dog".

WALKING TO COMPOSTELLA - STAGE 1

In October we decided to walk to Spain. We've been talking about it for years.
The ancient, medieval road to Compostella goes right past our front gate. The final destination - the Cathedral of St Jacques in Compostella - is six weeks away on foot. Or, as you can see on the signpost, 1056 kilometres.
Probably too far for old codgers like us to do in one hit.
Se we set our sights on the Pyrenees. Or about 250 kilometres.
We set off from La Poste in Mézin at 10.30 on Thursday 13 October, and arrived in Montreal late the same afternoon. (Only 17 kms away).
Send me an email if you would like more information on walking to Compostella.
Please go to the following link and then use the email at the bottom of the page.
ray@johnstonesinfrance.com

LE CURÉ - THE VILLAGE PRIEST

This is the priest. He lives in the presbytere.
He comes from Poland. (Like England is short of plumbers, France is short of priests).
He speaks good French and, I presume, Polish. He also talks some English.
(Apologies for starting so many sentences with "he").

CAFE DU MARCHÉ - THIS IS CORRINE

Mézin has 5 bars. Not bad for a village this size. (We also have 4 bakers and a specialist boulanger who comes to the Sunday market). Which means we should never be short of a drink or a loaf of bread.
The Cafe du Marché has been in Corrine's family for years.

ACCOUNTANT

Accountants in France are all known as expert compteuse or 'Expert Accountants'.
Not sure why this is, but let's hope it's accurate. (In any case, all accountants should be accurate).
This accountant's name is Christian Forsans.

HARRY & LISA

This is Harry's Christmas present for Lisa.
It's done from a rather dark photo taken in a restaurant.
Hope she likes it.

ORGANIST

This is Maurice du Plessis.
He's in his eighties, has had two knee operations, but he remains as fit as a fiddle.
He also plays the organ in St Jean-Baptiste, the amazing gothic church in the centre of the village, just a few paces from our front door.
Many years ago, when we walked with a group of French pilgrims from Conques to Agen, he drove the back-up car.

THE PAINTER

This is Mark, one of our neighbours. He used to be a painter. Of houses. I once told him that in a few years I'd painted more houses in Mezin than he had in a lifetime. He looked confused, so I showed him my painting of Mezin from a nearby hill. The composition consists of a view of the houses in the village that surround the church. I don't think he understood.
He also tried to give me a cage full of snails one day. I told him they'd eat my flowers. I think/hope he realised it was a joke.

JOURNALIST AND RUGBYPLAYER

Eric is a journalist with La Depeche, our local, regional, daily newspaper.
He covers all the sport in the area and used to play rugby at a high level.
He asked me to change the colour of his jumper, but that proved too hard - so he'll have to be satisfied with pink.

ARTIST

Hervé runs a rural gite near Villeneuve de Mézin, one of the villages nearby.
He is also an accomplished artist, and is always in charge of the exhibitions held in Mézin, including the annual exhibition held in the Salle d'Almeida.

M. LE MAIRE II

This is the second painting I've done of Christian Bataille, maire of Mézin.
He's kindly agreed to open my exhibition at the Tourist Office on 5 November at 6.30pm.
His portrait will be amongst about twenty other village personalities - plus some other portraits and self portraits I've done over many years.

BAKER (RETIRED) AND PETANQUEUR (STILL GOING STRONG)

This is Marcel Manaberra, the renowned baker, now retired. But he's still a formidable petanqueur or boules player.
Marcel told me that when he first came to Mezin in 1956, the village boasted a cinema, several bars where you had to book a table to play cards, two vehicle service stations, and, wait for it, TWO brothels.
They sure knew how to live in those days.

THE ENGINEER FROM MONTCRABEAU

Keith is an engineer (with lots of letters after his name) who spends half his time in France and the other half in the UK.
Keith's wife, Liz, produces wonderful pottery.
They live in a lovely house in the beautiful town if Montcrabeau in SW France. If you stand on tiptoe on the top floor, you can just see the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
On the first sunday of August the fête des menteurs, or "Festival of Liars" is held in their village. The competitor who tells the tallest story is pronounced Roi des Menteurs or"King of the Liars".
Oh, and yes, they both liked the portrait I did of Keith.
You now have to decide what parts of this copy are true and what bits are complete fibs.

THIS IS ROBIN

He likes walking, collecting and selling antiques. His wife is an excellent cook. He's been walking in England recently. All over the place, but mostly down the Thames valley.
He's walking to Compostella next week. Thursday 9 September 2010.
We're going with him. Our plan is to walk as far a the Pyrenees this year. Then we'll think about the following stages. Hope we make it.

MÉDECIN MÉZINAIS

There are several doctors in Mézin.
This is one of them.

THIS IS ALAN

Alan is a keen fisherman and hunter.
He's known by everyone in the village because you see him everywhere.
He must spend a fortune in shoes.

LOOK AT THE BIRDIE AND I'LL PAINT YOUR PORTRAIT

Just to emphasise that I do portrait paintings from photographs, I've just done this self portrait with camera.
Lynne thinks the camera is the best part, but I hope it gets the message across.
If you have any suggestions/comments, please email me at:
ray@johnstonesinfrance.com
Then click on the email address at the bottom of the page.