<![CDATA[NOREEN COUP ~ FINE ART OIL AND COLD WAX PAINTINGS - Blog]]>Sun, 17 May 2026 09:24:55 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[A Tuscan dream in Painting and sharing La Bella Vita...]]>Sun, 29 May 2022 18:33:23 GMThttps://www.noreencoup.com/blog/a-tuscan-dream-in-painting-and-sharing-la-bella-vita
The journey began in Firenze, Italy April 27, 2022. I was lucky enough to have the delightful Peggie Fariss join me on the adventure. We have been long time acquaintances from Disney for many years, but had never traveled together prior to this trip. It turned out to be a fabulous combo for this great Adventure... 
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Our Villa, Casa Selva, for the next 8 days. Just outside the town of Lucca, Italy on the hillside overlooking a vast tuscan valley. Beautifully appointed with charming rooms and suites. Fresh flowers, linens and exquisite meals were awaiting us.
'Here is the darling Monique and our Class of Tuscany 2022. I can't tell you how many gastronomic meals we had together... too many to count. However, I walked almost 3-5 miles most days and it helped keep the lbs. off. Not to mention all that wine... 
A little study in Abstract Landscape Painting. Acrylic on gessoed paper. How could you not love painting under this canopy of vines...
Hi Ho, Hi Ho... its off to work we go! 
Had great fun with this little painting. Completely random in nature to start and then narrowed in on Water Reflections. Acrylic on Paper 6x8 inch. Love the way it turned out... much to my surprise. 
Thank you Karolina for your gracious Hospitality!!! You and your staff were awsome! Visit Follow Your Senses in Tuscany @followtuscany 
Our first warm up exercise was some Plein Air Painting on the Villa's grounds. Our workshop instructor was the fabulous painter Monique Carr. She had us doing Charcoal Value Sketches before every painting... yes, I do mean  every painting!!! However we didn't always comply. Visit www.moniquecarr.com for info on future Workshops.  I know that Lavender Fields of Provence France is coming for 2023.
We had a create your own Pizza Party Night, so much fun with visiting Chefs from the nearby town of Lucca to help us create the perfect Pizza, Yum! 
Here are some Abstract Landscapes in Mixed Media. I started with an acrylic underpainting and then finished each painting in Oil. 
A trip to Tuscany would never be complete with out a Wine and Olive Oil tasting at a neighboring vineyard. So delicious.
A lesson in Limoncello making. What a refreshing treat by our amazing Host and Chef Karolina Lenart. 
Side excursions to Porto Venere, Lucca and the charming village of San Gimignano. Just to round out the adventure.
A trip to Italy would be complete without Gelato from the "Best Gelato" in Italy, Gelateria Dondoli at the Piazza della Cisterna, San Gimignano, Italy. ​https://www.gelateriadondoli.com/home-uk.html

Until the next great adventure, "ciao for now"...

]]><![CDATA[tulip festival - skagit valley, WA]]>Sat, 28 May 2022 19:18:44 GMThttps://www.noreencoup.com/blog/tulip-festival-skagit-valley-wa
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Original Oil on Canvas. 36 x 36 inch.  Inspired by my first visit to Skagit Valley and Bellingham, WA. What a beautiful trip to see these magnificent flowers in full bloom. The weather was slightly overcast, but no rain. Perfect for "tip toeing through the tulips" as someone once said. Not only were the enormous amounts of tulips in various colors and shapes, there were fields of glowing Daffodils as well. Lots of inspiration for paintings and you can see a few of my new works below. Visit www.noreencoup.com for updates.
]]><![CDATA[Solo Exhibit Nov. & Dec. 2020]]>Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:00:31 GMThttps://www.noreencoup.com/blog/solo-exhibit-nov-dec-2020I am delighted to share my upcoming Solo Exhibit at the Mirella Cimato Gallery within the St. Petersburg Opera Company. Show runs November and December 2020. Watch for Virtual instructions coming soon. In person visits by appointed. Call 727.823.2040 or email mirella.cimato@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting.
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]]><![CDATA[Summer Workshops in The Poppy Fields Of Ile de re, France]]>Sun, 22 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.noreencoup.com/blog/summer-workshops-in-the-poppy-fields-of-ile-de-re-france
Having traveled to my husband's hometown of the Island of Ile de Re, France for over 25 years now, my favorite time of the year is early Summer. The Parisienne vacationers have not invaded the island yet, that is reserved for August each year. This past summer was extremely special as the Poppies were in full bloom. I arrived in France mid May, which was actually a little earlier than I normal travel. To my surprise RED was everywhere. When the artists arrived for our Plein Air Painting week, it could not have been more picturesque.
We were a group of Painters driving around the island in hot pursuit of fresh Poppies. We drove down a small meandering dirt road until we found this gorgeous field with a beautiful farmhouse off in the distance. STOP the car... and out of the SUV we jumped, with our easels in hand, ready for a quick setup to get started painting. I must admit, we spent as much time snapping selfies in the fields as we did painting. It was too beautiful to pass up this amazing photo op.
Here are fellow Artists Catherine Mulflur, Janey Brammer, Patty McGeeney and Noreen Coup enjoying the beauty of the Island and its fresh Poppy Field. The exciting thing was that we were all at different levels on our painting journeys. To see a beginner at first be overwhelmed with the entire experience and feel so happy and satisfied at the end of the session was so gratifying.  And watching a seasoned pro get just as excited to paint was rewarding for all of us to experience.
This is a Painting that I did while standing in the Poppy Field. I loved the way the tree line background set the stage for the Poppies in the foreground.
Here is the actual photo from this location in the poppy field. It's always exciting when you stumble across a good spot to paint, as we certainly did with this location.  
One of the 10 villages on the island of Ile de re, is the village of La Flotte, registered as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages In France".  There you will find the ruins of a XII Century Abbey. This historical site offers the spectacular remains of the Abbey build by Cistercian monks in 1156 who first settled on the island and developed the wine and salt industry, still in production today.  It is surrounded by wheat fields and poppies  this time of the year and a potato farmer working the fields. BTW, he wasn't too keen on us taking his picture. Opps, we snuck a photo anyway. C'est la vie.
If you would like to join me for a  Summer Workshop in France, please click here to sign up. Its free to sign up and you will be the first to know about these exciting trips.

    Join my network below

]]><![CDATA[July 08th, 2019 - Painting In the Loire Valley]]>Mon, 08 Jul 2019 12:38:43 GMThttps://www.noreencoup.com/blog/july-08th-2019Painting In The Loire Valley
Our 2019 Stay at our host Chateau in Nouzilly, France was amazing. Two glorious weeks of plein air painting, visiting chateaus, cooking together, eating, drinking, and so many laughs to remember forever.
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We stayed on the grounds of this beautiful private chateau. NOT open to the public. Day one, Rain! Oh No, Plan B, on the property there is a Atelier where we painting the figure... me. It was a slightly overcast, so painting inside was the way to go. Being the model gave me the opportunity to see what it's like to sit still for 3 hours... Hats off to those models who do it professionally. However I did get to enjoy watching these talented artists do a study of me.
We also visited three of the majestic Chateaux's in the Loire Valley. Chenonceau, Amboise and Villandry. Each  Chateau has its own special character and charm. We painted on the grounds of Chenonceau and nearby Chateau Amboise. What an exciting experience for everyone to be able to paint next to these impressive Chateaux's. 
Visit my website www.impressionismwithanedge.com for information about Workshops in France 2020. 
]]><![CDATA[Painting and Cooking our Way Through France, WOrkshop 2018]]>Wed, 25 Jul 2018 12:55:59 GMThttps://www.noreencoup.com/blog/painting-and-cooking-our-way-through-france-workshop-2018Highlights from our 2018 Workshop in France 
It all began in Paris on June 24th, at Charles de Gualle Airport. I asked the group to please pack light! Take a look at the trunk of one of our Peugeot 5008's. We just made it. One more paint brush and we would have been overloaded.
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Our first stop... Chateau d'Ambille, a private Chateau in the heart of the Loire Valley. We were the guests of our hosts,  Fe and Gus for this amazing stay on the grounds of their estate. We visited the magnificent Chateau Chenonceau and Winery's and Caves in the area.
Cooking classes everyday with our own Personal Chef, Laurent Guinci.
Crepes, Salmon en Croute, Tart Tatin, Tomato Puff Pastry, Chicken 3 Ways, etc.  The list of fabulous, easy to prepare and delicious dishes goes on and on. For a peak at Lolo's Cookbook, visit ​https://laurentguinci.com/lolo-cook-book/
Next stop, the beautiful island of Ile de Re where we took over this quaint B&B L'Hippocampe in the village of La Flotte. This magical island is the getaway for Parisians and the French who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the big cities. There are 10 villages on the island, each with its own character. Beaches, Lighthouse, Restaurants, Boutiques, Wineries and Sailing. The island is know for its salt production, the "Fleur de Sel". Also growing on the island are grape vines, potatoes, wheat, sunflowers, poppies and more. 
And of course, Painting. Check out these Plein Air paintings from the group. We painted on the grounds of the Private Chateau, along la place (the beach) at low tide and high tide on Ile de Re, and at the Abbey des Chateliers, a 12th Century ruin at 10 pm that evening. Simply Magical!
And a final farewell dinner at an outdoor terrace in the beautiful harbor of St. Martin, Ile de Re. 
NEXT YEARS WORKSHOP, promises to be just as magical. We will visit Ile de Re, La Rochelle, Bordeaux,  St. Emilion, Pomerol Wine Region and Dordogne with its Hillside Castles, Prehistoric Caves and some of the best food in France. And of course Painting and Cooking all along the way.
Visit www.impressionismwithanedge.com to sign up for the waiting list.
]]><![CDATA[Montreal 40 years Later, EVERYTHING Old is New Again...]]>Mon, 16 Oct 2017 22:43:50 GMThttps://www.noreencoup.com/blog/montreal-40-years-later-everything-old-is-new-again
Montreal in the Fall... Its been nearly 40 years since I last visited Montreal, and I found the City much more beautiful than I remembered. This is were my Mother was born and lived from 1930 to 1948. After the war, the family moved to Hollywood, California, but her roots in Montreal are still present.
Clark Street where she lived from age 5 to 12, the neighborhood called Plateau-Mont-Royal. Its reminded me of the Brooklyn of Montreal. Trendy, Hip Shops and Restaurants and renovated apartments and townhouse. It is also the Jewish Quarter with many delicious Bagel Shops here for over 80 years. We had to do a "Bagel Challenge", St. Viateur Bagel Shop vs. Fairmount Bagels. Agreed that right out of the oven wins everytime!!!
The Marche Atwater is a collection of food stalls and shops selling everything from Cheese, Pastry, Meats, Flowers and so much more. One of 3 major markets in the City.  
And a visit to Montreal would not be complete without a stop at Schwartz's on Blvd. St. Laurent, 80 years of tradition, A Montreal Classic. The oldest deli in Canada. www.schwartzsdeli.com
And to keep the scales balanced, there is Damas, voted the best choice for Vegan and Vegetarians in Montreal. Tried the sampler menu with both Vegan and Meat Dishes for those who cared to indulge... and we did. Yum!
www.restaurant-damas.com
And a blog could not be complete without a blurb on Art. Sadly this trip did not allow time to visit the many wonderful museums and galleries in the City. However, during the 2 days and nearly 20 miles of walking... not to mention the blisters on my feet, we did see lots of colorful street art. It is a very colorful city, with lots of projection mapping and street festivals throughout the City.
]]><![CDATA[The "F" Word in French]]>Sun, 30 Jul 2017 15:58:19 GMThttps://www.noreencoup.com/blog/the-f-word-in-french
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Bonjour and Welcome to France 
This trip took us to Beynac et Cazenac. Another "F" for fabulous region of France. Amazing hillside castles, fabulous food at surprisingly reasonable prices. Know for its Duck Confit, Foie Gras and Wines from Bordeaux. ​​ Kayaking along the Dordogne River was breathtaking. We were lucky enough to be staying at an AIRBNB, where the Le Tour de France passed. Truly a once in a lifetime experience. 
Stopped in for lunch at Chateau La Dominique. Surrounding this Sanint-Emillion Grand Cru Classe vineyard is an exceptional property which combines the authenticity of an 18th century residence with the modern architecture designed by famed archived Jean Nouvel.www.chateau-dominique.com
We stomped grapes (not really)  and enjoyed the delicacies of this spectacular region of France. 
Stands for Fabulous, Friends, Family, Food, Foie Gras, Flowers and Fun!
​That's pretty much all you need to know to Explore France.
Oh yes... PAINTING too, but of course...
4th Visit to Chateau d'Ambille, simply one of the most enchanting private chateaux in the Heart of the Loire Valley. Spent a morning painting in Fe's beautiful garden. 
The Port of my families hometown. This is the village of La Flotte on the Island of Ide re Re.  Voted one of the most beautiful villages in France. A must see.
Low tide at Rivedoux Plage. Look closely and you can see the boats resting on their sides as the tide has gone to sea. 
Join me for my next trip to France Summer 2018. Registration opens soon. Visit www.impressionismwithanedge.com for details.
]]><![CDATA[Countdown To Extinction, ARUBA]]>Thu, 15 Jun 2017 20:00:00 GMThttps://www.noreencoup.com/blog/countdown-to-extinction-aruba
The Sunsets in Aruba are breathtaking. Everyone on the Island stops what they are doing to see what the sunset will bring. 

Wilhelmina Restaruant

Cocktails and dinner at one of the newest restaurants in Aruba, Wilhelmina. This converted hardware store still maintains its original interior finishes, terrazzo flooring, exposed truss ceilings and iconic turnstile entry. 
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Visit Marriott Vacation Club, Aruba Ocean Club and Surf Club Resorts. http://www.marriottvacationclub.com
New Alcohol Ink Paintings available at Marriott's Surf Club Market Bizarre.
Never a shortage of things to do in Aruba. From ATV trips around the island, to the best windsurfing and kit sailing on the planet, to snorkeling and diving at a WWII sunken ship.
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Catamaran Snorkeling and Sunset Sails
Ligenne and Christina, our Island BFF's Congrats to Ligenne Trimon as new PD S&M Marriott Vacation Club Aruba.
"Extinction Sunset" by Noreen Coup
]]><![CDATA[Hola - San Miguel de Allende]]>Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:17:20 GMThttps://www.noreencoup.com/blog/hola-san-miguel-de-allende
Be sure to visit Bistro Mi Casa for an evening of great food, drinks and music. I had the Mexican bouillabaisse, it was absolutely delicious. Who new the Mexicans can make a bouillabaisse as well as the French.
https://bistromicasasma.com
A more quaint, colorful, lively and safe town can't be found...  From great Colonial Architecture, Food and Drinks, Music Sightseeing, Shopping and much more. San Miguel de Allende has it all.
Another must see is the Otracara de Mexico, the Mask Museum of San Miguel with over 600 authentic ceremonial masks. A collection gathered by Bill LeVasseur for over 25 years. There is also a charming B&B called Casa de la Cuesta at this site where you can enjoy traditional Mexican colonial architecture, charming bedrooms and fantastics views of San Miguel.
http://www.maskmuseumsma.com/casadelacuesta.html
The Sights of San Miguel de Allende
The fantastic artists of San Miguel with our amazing instructors: Frank Gardner, Anne Blaire Brown and Thomas Kitts. 
www.frankgardner.com
​http://www.thomaskitts.com
https://anneblairbrown.com​
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