I can still hardly believe I'm here, but at the same time, I can hardly believe I have to leave in fewer days than I've already spent here! Time certainly flies when you're creating art, making new friends, and riding a relentless emotional rollercoaster (more on that later.)

Although I had big exciting plans to make pieces for a series I've been working on at home while here, I've come up against a few roadblocks on that plan, so in order to keep myself from dwelling on the roadblocks, I've made sure to do at least 2 shoots - a still life and a light/figure study, each day.

I do the still life in my little third floor studio at the back of the chateau. Here are some behind the scenes photos to give you a glimpse into that process (yes, it does involve eating my 'props' :D )

For the other shoot each day, I'll usually find a different room to use. I've been learning the light at different times of day, in different rooms tucked away in corners of the big old chateau, or even in my bedroom which is in a wee house in the town, just a short walk from the chateau.

The challenges of working without all my usual gear and all of my lovingly collected/created/curated props and backdrops have been frustrating, for sure, but I'm also certain it's been good for me to be pushed outside my comfort zone. I've had to examine a lot of strong emotions as they swing through (and they're a-swinging, ha!) It's really forced me to slow down and figure out a bunch of my 'why's when it comes to making art, which I won't bore you with in this post. But I'll say that I thought I was coming here to be productive in the "make a bunch of finished, polished artworks" sense of the word, and it's clear at this point that won't happen. At least not in the way I had hoped for.

I think that maybe I'm here to be productive on a much less tangible, much more "face your internal demons and admit to yourself (and apparently to the internet) that you have some baggage to sort out" kind of way. Le sigh.

Along with the light and the flowers and the fruit and the studio sessions, there have been a handful of really amazing conversations with the most lovely strangers-turned-fast-friends; there have been a few tears shed; and there have been many walks through this postcard of a place to let it all settle into my bones.

Nearly all of the above are phone snaps. Artwork from the 'real camera' will follow soon. Thank you for being here xoxo