Painting day at Cazals lake.

Pénélope Milner, renowned painter and pastel artist based in Cazals, hosted a day of plein air painting on Wednesday July 17 at the edge of the town’s lake.

Article in the ‘Vie Quercynoise’ written by Luc GÉTREAU. Translated from the French.

A moment of sharing appreciated by all which will be repeated thanks to creation
of a new association: ‘Flying easels’.

Pénélope Milner : ‘we decided to spend a day in July at the edge of the Cazals lake to paint, draw, contemplate the landscape, exchange and enjoy the magnificent light reflected in the water, which reminds us of the work of the Impressionists.

The group included people of all ages, adults, children and elderly people.

‘I did a little painting demonstration by sketching out a canvas to introduce the resources of the technique to everyone present and lunch was served on the terrace of the campsite ‘Tente Simone’. This day was so pleasant that I plan to repeat the experience next year and establish an annual plastic arts day, painting, drawing, pastels, which would always take place on the 17th of July.

Anyone who wishes can participate freely and free of charge.
People can come simply to look at the work of amateur and professional artists or to practice.

This artistic practice has nothing to do with the art gallery system and the
art trade.’

Kathe Capmas, amateur painter and mayor of Saint Martin le Redon :
‘We have just created a new association, ‘Les Chevalets Volants’, whose objective
will be to share a moment of convivial plastic creation
regardless of the level of technical mastery of the participants. We will
paint and draw in small groups in different areas around the Bouriane. We want to paint
from the motif, in nature and in small villages like
St Pierre de Redon, Each event will give us the opportunity to soak up the environment, nourishing ourselves with sensations and emotions.

With Pénélope we are in pursuit of the moment and the movement in the changing effects of
the light. It teaches us to see better. In her paintings, as with Monet, the stone of a building
The farmhouse becomes a wealth of colours going from morning blue to the fiery orange of an afternoon. Nature with its palette and all its nuances is the best workshop, it forces us to concentrate on the richness of the moment.

We are passionate amateurs, thirsty for beauty but we do not take ourselves seriously.
The atmosphere is always very warm and inclusive. This is why, at the end of this beautiful day,
we decided to meet at the edge of the Cazals lake to celebrate the founding of
our association, introduce walkers to our passion and celebrate the magic of water in
the landscape.’

• Luc GÉTREAU

If anyone would like to join us next year to make this a bigger and better event, to share the pleasure of painting and drawing in the landscape without judgement, please send me an e.mail: penemilner@gmail.com.

My aim is bring people together around the pleasure of creation, listening to the birds and enjoying the changing light. I will be there to give help to those who would like it, but this isn’t an art course, it’s aimed as a shared experience to open up the potential joy of expressing with immediacy line and colour.

Next year the event will be free to all who wish to participate, for as long as they wish, an hour or all day. The terrace of the ‘Tente Simone’ campsite will be available to us for drinks and snacks throughout the day.