Blooming Great News!                 September Edition #2 

NEWS, VIEWS, SHARES & SOME WORKSHOP UPDATES

Hi there Bloomers! 

I’m often asked how can you even bear to leave your place in France?

I have to admit to feeling a little emotional in the final days of my stay. A favourite song could set me off! My heart feels full. It’s been energising and soulful to reconnect here, with all the creative possibilities, and to spend time with daughter Lily. I know I will be back. That helps!

Getting the work and life balance just right! 

It's not actually a holiday its working whilst away. There is lots of behind the scenes arranging on blooms projects, mentoring students online as well as house maintenance in France all from France. It is lovely to be able to work from France.

My assistant Cath has been working for me a few hours a day whilst on a holiday with partner Chris on the Italian island of Elba, their van parked on a hill in an olive grove! Does it get more exotic for the location of an a part time office? 

Below; My assistant Cath in between replying to your emails!

PAINTING FOR RELAXATION

I doubled a catch up with Jose our French chef for French Art School, with a two hour painting session. I thought it would be interesting if he painted French cuisine instead of cooking it! Lots of fun.  

Breaks from my work have included meandering the ruins of Crozant, once frequented by the famous writer Georges Sand, who found it an inspiring backdrop for her romantic novels, and by many Impressionist painters from the Creuse which is why this area is also known as Valley of the Painters.

These ruins date back to 10th century and are a short drive from my French Art School. They overlook two converging rivers. Painting heaven!

It's also a safe region to be, not too many people, as well as relaxing with stunning panoramas, chateaux, picturesque villages and winding rivers and valleys.

There's always an opportunity for the Blooms Travel Paint Box to come out. Light and easy to carry, and the 8 x 8 inch ( 20cm square) size of canvas it carries is quick to paint .

Below; My little 8 x 8 inch study of a path through the trees at La Foret du Temple, where hazelnut, oak and chestnut trees abound.

LOVING UP OUR FRENCH ART SCHOOL HOUSES 

There’s been lots to do.  

From a barn with a crack in the wall that needs a stonemason to repoint it as it probably hasn’t had any attention for about 150 years!...

To finding the right local person to ventilate and care for the houses once a month so they get fresh air through them because that’s what you have to do with these wonderful old houses. I found the right people. All in French! Though I could still do with more training to learn more words in French!

Gregoire the gardener and I hatched plans for the coming year. We have three very different gardens to tend to and they are kept in rustic shape.

The old farmhouse has a field. We are planting  a few fruit trees. In the front part of the garden hydrangeas and peonies grow without our help and look fabulous. But there was some ivy beginning to grow up the wall of the house and a tree that had cheekily sprung up alarmingly close to my big barn wall that if allowed to continue could destabilise the beautiful stone wall. 

Yes, we will prune the ancient apple trees in the orchard and plant some more varieties of fruit trees in a vacant field. Those two walnut trees that have self seeded will be transplanted to the field too and given room to spread out. 

NOW BOOKING FRENCH ART SCHOOL 23 MAY - 2 JUNE

Did you know that Paris is known as the City of Lights, and earned this reputation because it was the first city in Europe to light the city with gas lamps, beginning with lighting the Champs Elysees in 1828?

Imagine how magical that would have been. This magical photo was taken by daughter Lily using her Iphone on the weekend on a stroll home together from dinner in the Latin Quarter.

As our first French Art School has booked out, ( max of 6 people)  I’ve opened up a second set of dates with max group size 6 guests. By booking your place now with a deposit you will save on airfares. We are encouraging everyone to plan ahead. All the details are at the link below including my generous Covid safety plan and incredible online bonus training to do after your time in France and so much more! Click below for more info!

3 PLACES LEFT FOR BLOOMS FRANCE

            14 April - 24 April 2023

Above; stunning work created at Blooms France by student Victoria K

We have three places left for Blooms France for 2023. This is different to French Art School as I teach my Blooms Painting Method. It's all floral ! Though you can do fruit as well. Once these places go they are GONE! I'm not opening up another one as no room in the schedule. Don't miss out! 

Blooms France is ideal if you live somewhere far from Australia but want to work with me in person as France is likely to be closer than Australia.  Or join us  if you want to learn in France and soak up the inspiration of being in France as well learn my Blooms Painting Method. 

NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. 

I TEACH YOU FROM SCRATCH.

 Complete a number of blooming lovely paintings in the beautiful setting of French Art School! I help  pack the paintings and make them light and easy to carry or post.

What do I love about having maintenance time at French Art School?

Whether it’s the proximity of beautiful Charolais cows in the village of La Foret du Temple, the friendliness of locals and new friendships made, reconnecting with old friends, discovering new local artists, the fabulous open air markets full of vintage things going for a song, or going for a drive and stumbling upon a wonderful Impressionist exhibition in a gorgeous centuries old town, it’s all adds to the rich flavour of being there. I know you will love it too.

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I took a close up detail of this Creuse Impressionist painter's painting, by Eugene Allouard (also collected in the Musee D'Orsay), from an exhibition at Crozant to share with you because I love how he has built up the paint with a dry brush and suggested shapes rather than feel the need to explain everything. 

That is what Impressionism is about.... capturing the form and not overly  labouring it, as well as capturing the light and colour, in this case a beautiful harmony of golds and terracottas  and lavender and greys in the shadows. I each Impressionist techniques at French Art School.

Below; the pretty town of Gargilesse. A fabulous artist lives in the chateau to the left. And in the bottom picture as we are at the end of the summer the pumpkins and squashes were superb at the markets. We were the happy recipients of striped zucchinis and tomatoes from friends with abundant veggies patches.

However when the the weekend came it was time to go.  Lily and I headed to Paris. I got to sleep on her couch for two nights but it’s very comfortable!

Lily starts back at fashion marketing school today and had an internship interview.

Fingers and toes crossed. I had a plane to catch to Florence where I am waiting to meet up with son Hannibal later today. 

Here are those links again for French Art School and Blooms France if you want to experience the magic in 2023 for yourself!

Hannibal is getting ready to start a post grad study for three years in portraiture in Florence so he’ll need somewhere to live. I have to leave him to it after a few days and hope he sorts it out because I’ll be on my way home then to the Sunshine Coast Blooms Painting Workshop. And it is good to let the kids start making their own solutions. I'm letting go!  And off to the Sunshine Coast!

There’s still some space you want to join me! No, I am not coming to Brissy anymore. Sunshine Coast is the gorgeous go-to in a fabulous old Queenslander in Yandina. I adore the Queenslander architecture with the coloured panels in the windows, the polished floorboards and high roof line.

For the coming months I'll be teaching my Blooms Painting Workshops  starting with the Sunshine Coast Blooms and then the Melbourne Blooms later this month. For the New Zealanders I’ve opened an extra set of dates for Hamilton in October.

Here are the dates in black and white for you and their links!

WHAT'S HAPPENING 

WITH BLOOMS PLUS EXTRA DATES FOR NEW ZEALAND

BLOOMS SUNSHINE COAST, QUEENSLAND

23-26 September, 2022

(plus evening of September 22)

BLOOMS MELBOURNE, VICTORIA ( Glen Iris)

Eve of 29 Sept (Thurs) then 4 full days
(Fri, Sat, Mon, Tues) 30 Sept to 4 Oct 2022
inclusive 9am to 5.30pm 

plus a BONUS HALF DAY SUNDAY OCT 2nd

NEWLY OPENED EXTRA 

HAMILTON BLOOMS PAINTING WORKSHOP DATES

Oct 18 - 21, 2022 daily 9-5:30pm
plus evening October 17 from 3-8pm

Details for ALL of my in person workshops including the BAROSSA VALLEY BLOOMS and PPERTH BLOOMS which can be found at this link below. 

Last days of my FLASH SALE (save $400 off three of top programs) It ends Wednesday at Midnight!

Don’t forget to take advantage of my 7 Day Flash sale on for a few days only where I have offered $400 off; 

The Blooms painting workshop online 

The Blooms Masterclass 

The Make Money From Art Program 

If you want to remind yourself of the offer, either check your inbox or click on this link here which takes you to the offer details and VIP code!

Here’s what some of my online students have been up to in the MMFA PROGRAM

Trang from California started painting with me online two weeks ago and produced this stunning coral peony.

Cheryl K produced this beauty from Canada from a recent painting lesson I provided in the MMFA Program.

Valerie K from Sydney produced this double petal tulip in the MMFA PROGRAM.

And below that, we see a fabulous painting from the Blooms Painting Workshop Deep Pink Peony Pack by Amanda Corcoran from Canada.

And finally, Vail Queen Elizabeth 2

Whether you are a monarchist or not, I’d like to acknowledge the passing of a legend, of a female who’s been in power very graciously for 70 years.

We can be inspired by her hard work, loyalty and commitment having served for 70 years. Plus she rocked the look for wearing a crown in the 20^th century. She was never afraid to get out in her wellies or to help during the war alongside everyone else. 

Let’s all send our kindest thoughts.

Love and paint brushes,

Jacqueline Coates 

Blooms Painting Workshops

Blooms Online

French Art School

Have questions? Please email me at [email protected] or my assistant Cath at [email protected]