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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>(the initial sending was without
subject, sorry for the inconsiderateness)</span></font><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Hi gang!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I am just back from a
very special show dedicated to watercolor in Brioude, Auvergne, in the central
part of France.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>For 2 weeks, around 40
artists are attributed an individual space to hold a personal show, in 14 places
scattered in the town. Artists must be present in their booth at least 8 days
during the festival, as a means to encourage interaction between artists and
visitors. Artists are also expected to propose activities such as demos, on
site painting in the town, and workshops. The organizing team, while being very
energetic and efficient, manages to instill a welcoming, low pressure
atmosphere to the show. Several informal friendly meeting events between
artists and organizers are also scheduled during the show, to reinforce the
atmosphere of camaraderie. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I was flattered to be
accepted in the show to display my work alongside the paintings of some very
fine artists. Roland Palmaerts from Canada was the guest artist. I was also
most impressed by the paintings of Cao Bei An and the portrait work of Wen Ming
Xin (his wife), but many more artists displayed excellent pieces of art.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I was therefore surprised
and delighted to see my own work faring not badly as I sold 5 paintings, got a
portrait commission, and several gallery and show proposals. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>This, in all, was a very
intense and greatly rewarding experience.</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>You can check the show
website at <a href="http://www.festivaldaquarelle.com/">http://www.festivaldaquarelle.com/.</a>
The "Artistes" section shows a few images per exhibiting artist and a
link to the artist's website ("site") when available (I definitely
must develop mine…).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Gilles<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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