Watson Kennedy, purveyor of fine goods, Seattle

Watson Kennedy just started carrying my paintings. We’re off to a good start!

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New blurbs for the 2nd printing of Hudson in Provence!

Nabakov’s Typewriter

Nabakov’s Typewriter. 8x10. SOLD.

In 2006, we visited the childhood home of Vladimir Nabokov in St. Petersburg, Russia.  I finally got around to painting my photo of his typewriter.

A winter visit to Musée Rodin

Last December we visited the Musée Rodin in Paris. The magnificent Hôtel Biron, home of the museum since 1919, had been closed for the last three years for restoration, and reopened to the public on November 12, 2015, RODIN’s 175^th birthday.

The collection is fascinating but my favorite part has always been the sculpture garden. Today I painted from one of my photos from last December.  Hydrangeas at Musée Rodin has been SOLD. Prints are available from my Etsy store. 

“The Thinker,” amid the sculpted cone trees. There are benches throughout the garden where you can relax or read. We stayed until closing time. 

Citizen Canine: Author and illustrator Jackie Mancuso based her Parisian transplant protagonist on her friend’s Norwich terrier, Hudson, and her own misadventures in France

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The Feeling Is Mutual : We Adore Barneys New York

And Barneys, we adore you!


Selon Beatrice, on trouve les plus jolies chaussures chez Barneys New York. Je suis d’accord.

Beatrice demande, 
"Bonjour, Madame. Est-ce que je peux vous aider?" 
‪#‎frenchlesson‬ ‪#‎frenchvocabulary‬
‪#‎paris‬ ‪#‎parischien‬ ‪#‎chien‬ ‪#‎etiquette‬

Beatrice asks, "Bonjour, Madame. May I help you?"

More Puglia. Maldives of Salento

Thank You, Anthropologie

I've always felt that Anthropologie’s aesthetic and mine were a good match because I love so many of the products they carry, and the urban bohemian arty frenchy manner in which they are displayed.

Others see the similarity too. When friends come to our house, they think I painted the Natalie Lété dinner plates. I tell them, no, they’re from Anthropologie.

I wrote to Anthropologie a few months ago to introduce myself. Yesterday they placed their first order for Hudson in Provence! 

link to Anthropologie

5

Love the book, it's like being in Provence. "Who would have thought the adventures of a little expat dog could bring alive so vividly the experience of being in Provence? It seems that the provençal dogs Hudson meets have the same joie de vivre as the people of Provence. Makes sense, and somehow seeing it through the eyes of dogs captures the feeling of being there even more vividly. This book works for adults and kids I know love it for the bravado of the lead character. Hudson perseveres through all to find his place.”

Aesthetic 5/5

Quality 5/5

5

Cute Story Book

I bought this book for my nephew, named Hudson, for Christmas. The illustrations are adorable and the story is very cute. I am sure he will love.

Aesthetic 5/5

Quality 5/5

Painting Puglia

We had maybe the best vacation ever in Puglia. Two years ago we went to Otranto on the Adriatic (east) coast. We loved it so much we decided to return and this time also explore the beaches north and south of Gallipoli area on the Ionian (west) coast. I’ve started painting from the photos and sketches and posting them on instagram.

Painting my hillside walks

Films I saw in July at Il Cinema Ritrovato, Bologna

1896: Cinema anno uno - Lumière!

PROGRAMMA 1: LA BELLEZZA DEI FILM LUMIÈRE

Apertura ufficiale del Festival

Documenti e Documentari

VOYAGE À TRAVERS LE CINÉMA FRANÇAIS

(Francia/2016) R.: Bertrand Tavernier. D.: 195’. V. francese

Introduce Bertrand Tavernier, in presenza dei produttori

Jérôme Seydoux (Pathé) e Nicolas Seydoux (Gaumont)

Jacques Becker – L’idea stessa di libertà

(Replica sabato 2 ore 18.00)

Progetto Chaplin

MODERN TIMES (Tempi moderni, USA/1936)

R.: Charles Chaplin. D.: 87’. Did. inglesi

Musica composta da Charles Chaplin, restaurata e diretta da

Timothy Brock ed eseguita dall’Orchestra del Teatro Comunale

di Bologna

Introducono Gian Luca Farinelli e Kate Guyonvarch

Serata sostenuta da Carisbo

(In caso di pioggia, la proiezione si sposterà al Teatro Comunale, Largo Respighi 1)

The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project

(Replica mercoledì 29 ore 18.30)

MEMORIAS DEL SUBDESARROLLO

(Memorie del sottosviluppo, Cuba/1968)

R.: Tomás Gutiérrez Alea. D.: 97’. V. castigliana

Technicolor & Co. - Vintage Print

MARNIE (USA/1964) R.: Alfred Hitchcock. D.: 130’. V. inglese

Precede - Technicolor & Co - film dipinti sulla pellicola

Frénésie (Francia/1955) R.: Albert Pierru. D.: 2’

1896: Cinema anno uno - Lumière!

PROGRAMMA 4:

MUSEI DELL’ATTIMO PRESENTE – ATTUALITÀ

Omaggio a Marlon Brando

(Replica giovedì 30 ore 9.00 Arlecchino)

ONE-EYED JACKS (I due volti della vendetta, USA/1961)

R.: Marlon Brando. D.: 141’. V. inglese

Introduce Margaret Bodde (The Film Foundation)

Serata sostenuta da Mare Termale Bolognese

(In caso di pioggia, la proiezione si sposterà al Cinema Arlecchino)

The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project

(Replica mercoledì 29 ore 21.45)

TAIPEI STORY (Taiwan/1985)

R.: Edward Yang. D.: 119’. V. taiwanese

Introduce Nicola Mazzanti

Golestan Film Studio, tra poesia e politica

(Replica venerdì 1 ore 9)

KHESHT O AYENEH (Brick and Mirror, Iran/1963-64)

R.: Ebrahim Golestan. D.: 130’. V. farsi

Introduce Ebrahim Golestan

Jacques Becker – L’idea stessa di libertà

(Replica giovedì 30 ore 18.30)

TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI (Grisbi, Francia-Italia/1954)

R.: Jacques Becker. D.: 96’. V. francese

Un’altra storia del cinema argentino

(Replica venerdì 1 ore 16.45)

THE PLAYERS vs. ÁNGELES CAÍDOS

(Argentina/1968) R.: Alberto Fischerman. D.: 84’. V. spagnola

The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project

(Replica venerdì 1 ore 21.45)

RAID INTO TIBET

(GB/1966) R.: Adrian Cowell. D.: 28’. V. inglese e tibetana

BUDDHISM IN TIBET

(GB/1966) R.: Adrian Cowell. D.: 25’. V. inglese

Introduce Tenzin Phuntsog (Tibet Film Archive)

Technicolor & Co. - Vintage Print

THE BAND WAGON

(USA/1953) R.: Vincente Minnelli. D.: 111’. V. inglese

Copia 35mm Technicolor proveniente dalla collezione personale

di Martin Scorsese. Introduce Ian Christie

Serata sostenuta da Aeroporto di Bologna

(In caso di pioggia, la proiezione si sposterà al Cinema Arlecchino e sostituirà

la replica serale

Universal Pictures: gli anni di Laemmle Junior

(Replica giovedì 30 ore 10.00)

THE KISS BEFORE THE MIRROR

(Il bacio davanti allo specchio, USA/1933)

Un’altra storia del cinema argentino

MÁS ALLÁ DEL OLVIDO (Beyond Oblivion, Argentina/1955)

R.: Hugo del Carril. D.: 93’. V. spagnola

Jacques Becker – L’idea stessa di libertà

CASQUE D’OR (Casco d’oro, Francia/1952)

R.: Jacques Becker. D.: 96’. V. francese
Serge Reggiani, Simone Signoret

Progetto Keaton

THE HIGH SIGN (Tiro a segno, USA/1921)

R.: Buster Keaton, Eddie Cline. D.: 21’. Did. inglesi

Musica composta da Donald Sosin

COPS (Poliziotti, USA/1922)

R.: Buster Keaton, Eddie Cline. D.: 20’. Did. inglesi

Musica composta da Timothy Brock

Mario Soldati, uno scrittore a Cinecittà

Il ventaglino (ep. di Questa è la vita)

(Italia/1953) R.: Mario Soldati. D.: 14’. V. italiana

LA PROVINCIALE (The Wayward Wife, Italia/1953)

R.: Mario Soldati. D.: 115’. V. italiana
Gina Lollobrigida

Ritrovati e Restaurati

A WOMAN OF THE WORLD

(USA/1925) R.: Malcolm St. Clair. D.: 70’. Did. inglesi

Accompagnamento al piano di Donald Sosin

Introduce Andrea Kalas (Paramount)
Pola Negri

JRitrovati e Restaurati

QUAI DES ORFÈVRES (Legittima difesa, Francia/1947)

R.: Henri-Georges Clouzot. D.: 106’. V. francese

Introduce Sophie Kopaczynski (Studiocanal)

(In caso di pioggia, la proiezione si sposterà al Cinema Arlecchino e sostituirà

la replica serale)

Jacques Becker – L’idea stessa di libertà

LE TROU (Il buco, Francia/1960)

R.: Jacques Becker. D.: 120’. V. francese

Introduce il regista Jean Becker, figlio di Jacques
acques Becker – L’idea stessa di libertà

MONTPARNASSE 19

(Les Amants de Montparnasse, Francia/1958)

R.: Jacques Becker. D.: 104’. V. francese
Gerard Philipe, Anouk Aimee

Profile in the Palisadian News

Link to article in the Palisadian News, July 6, 2016: 

Palisadian Author Mancuso Writes Hudson in Provence

Reinstating the Aïoli

“Relever l’aïoli.”

I am a confident cook, fearless when it comes to trying new things. Sometimes too fearless. And, as a painter, prone to improvise.

At the end of a day spent working around the house, we walked to the local market under moody slate grey skies, a pungent salty smell in the air. A handful of chairs and a bride and groom posing for photographers on the beach in front of Gladstone’s. A wedding!
The fish department didn’t have cod, but they had fresh rockfish. We chose fresh green beans and carrots to go with it.

Back home we steamed the carrots with thyme from the garden, then the green beans, and the rockfish. Sliced some heirlooms. Followed the directions for the aïoli. Put the smashed garlic, salt and yolk in the cup. The immersion blender hardly touched it. Started dribbling in the oil. It was looking more like vinaigrette than mayonnaise. Transferred to a small bowl and whisked by hand but it still wasn’t emulsifying.

Remembered my copy of "Simple French Food" and found on p. 137, instructions for “reinstating the aïoli" ("relever l'aïoli"). Started anew with another egg yolk, lemon juice and added the “unsuccessful” aïoli little by little. This time I tried  the food processor. Slightly thicker, but still a sauce. Ever hopeful, I put it in a gravy boat and poured. Nope.

Finally I surrendered. It was clearly time to fake the aioli. Put some best foods in a small bowl and beat in a few cloves of pressed garlic. Result? Not great, but it wasn’t the worst dinner ever. Still a lovely evening with a couple of glasses of rosé, a goofy French variety show, Les Années de Bonheur, on tv5 and a husband who knows that my culinary adventurousness sometimes backfires. I’ll be working on my mayonnaise. And might try a mortar and pestle next time, like the ones I saw on youtube.

I took some solace in this quote from Richard Olney, “There are many who believe a healthy dose of imagination is all that one need bring to the kitchen. The cacophonous results are in quite the same spirit as the poignant failures of the liberated artist.” 

Visiting Provence with Kids

It was my great pleasure to share my favorite places in Provence with Laura who writes the fabulous French inspired blog hudsonandseine. 

Oh my…I haven’t posted in a while

I didn’t realize it’d been so long since I’d posted here. I have been posting paintings on instagram, and working on some new manuscript ideas. 

I googled Paris-Chien yesterday and found two reviews I hadn’t seen before. Always a nice boost.

The first was a post about 36 Hours in Paris on the blog The Neo-Trad about a visit to Shakespeare and Company in Paris.

The next review was on the blog Kids Books Without Borders.  

"The purpose of Kid’s Books Without Borders is to send books to families living overseas who have little or no access to bookstores or libraries with children’s books in English. My desire is to encourage these families by providing, free of charge, quality books for overseas families to read to their children and for their children to enjoy reading independently."

BRAVO! And my favorite part of the review: "I also appreciate that the author paints a diverse picture of Paris, with people of different ethnicities and cultures.”