July 2011 / Shell Sherree

Francophile Friday: Meow Jaune

29.7.11

ink & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

Followers of le Tour de France {and most people with a telly} will know that this year, for the first time, an Australian won the maillot jaune ~ yellow jersey ~ and if a fluffy toy was given for Most Valiant and Humble, Cadel Evans would have won that, too. Afficionados with the gist of tactics and technicalities will wax lyrically about what a beautiful race it was from that perspective. As for me, I just did a big happy dance. Life's simple Chez Shell. In celebration of Cadel's win, I've gone to the archives and dug back a couple of years to find this fine Paris Jaune inspiration thanks to dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens. My interpretation heads towards the pumpkin side of yellow, but it's the thought that counts. Rather than be predictable, our kitty is not cycling today, but limbering up for her ballet class. Or endeavouring to open the door. Shall we help her out? And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

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Furry Friends Friday: Pawchance to Dream

22.7.11

ink & watercolour illustration, ACQUIRE PRINTS

In the interests of feline and canine equality, please find herewith one puppy dog, enjoying the tail end of the northern hemisphere summer. His humans might be found in a lazy hammock nearby. If you live above the equator, I'm very much starting to look forward to trading seasons with you, and exchanging my hot water bottle and double doona layers for linen sheets and someone to fan me. {Something like this would do. Or to keep it Australian, this. Hugh's on recuperative leave for a few weeks, possibly enjoying his very own hammock...} And on that note...

Happy Furry Friends Friday!

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Francophile Friday: Saintly Aristocats

15.7.11

ink & watercolour illustration, 8.75" x 7" [22.5 x 18cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

Yesterday was Bastille Day. But thanks to the miracles of time zone travel, you might still be wearing your beret, brushing macaron crumbs from the table and resisting the urge to tap the closest piano accordion player over the head with a baguette. It was thus inevitable that today would irresistibly draw us back to Paris and this view. Merci and abundant thanks to Genie of Paris and Beyond for her gorgeous inspiration. And our three little tricolor kitties are Berlioz, Marie et Toulouse in a walk down memory lane with The Aristocats. Being an artistic pianist with one camouflaged whisker of prima donna, this is one of my all-time favourite Walt Disney movies. Berlioz can be considered blue in cat lingo, so I'm only taking a smidge of watercoloured poetic license. Let's go for a stroll and find some jazz. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

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Venerdi in Venice: Morning Muneghete

8.7.11

ink & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

Just another morning of quiet reflection in Venice. The weather's fine. The coffee is brewing on the stovetop. The tiny pussycat is wondering whether the boat is aqua with a pea green cover or pea green with an aqua bottom. The air is rich with the promise of an owl. Thanks to Danielle at VenetiaMicio for her gorgeous inspiration ~ I followed her lead and named the aqua pea green boat in her honour. This seems the perfect excuse for a magnum of champagne and the opinion of a man named Hugh. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

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Francophile Friday Fleurish: The Macaron Apology

1.7.11

ink & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

While we merrily took tea in Paris last weekend, there was an elephant in the room. No, it did not break any of the china. {It's an elephant, not a bull. Stay with me, s'il vous plaît.} But it was there, no matter how quietly it tried to drink its Assam Harmutty Estate Tea while standing in the corner with a lampshade on its head. The cause? There were no macarons invited to our tea party. Today, this travesty is addressed ~ may the festivities resume. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

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