What a year it has been. While the world was shutting itself down and building a new kind of life, things were quite eventful on a personal level too. The change was sudden for everyone and no doubt frustrating for many. I must admit that in the beginning I rather enjoyed the stay-at-home policy — living as I do in the middle of a forest on top of a mountain, forests and mountains were already my home, and my home was large enough to explore all the wild flora through the changing seasons.
Having spent much of my life travelling, this felt like a rare opportunity to stop, be still, and stay in one place — and it was a genuine joy to watch the seasons shift slowly over the months. Pure joy. But as I said, that was in the beginning. After several months, my feelings began to change, and I could no longer suppress that restless desire for action. All I needed was a trigger — and it came in the shape of the de Candole family. Despite all the cancellations that had accumulated throughout the year, James and Rachel were determined to make this course happen. And it did.
Every class I had scheduled before and after this masterclass in Copșa Mare had been cancelled in 2020. This one was the only course that remained full, without a single cancellation — at least not yet. All the participants waited until the very last minute, hoping they might still make it to this magical place. But the constantly shifting regulations in each country eventually caught up with us, and one by one everyone was forced to cancel — everyone except the dearest Curzon Tussaud. I received a characteristically warm email from James: "So it seems probable that it shall be just the two of you. Rachel and I would be delighted — we could all have a lovely holiday with some teaching of course, but perhaps less intensive, and with a day trip or two we have in mind." My answer was an immediate yes. And thanks to Curzon's determination — she was prepared to spend fourteen days in quarantine upon arriving in Romania — the course was going to happen.
Then, at last: action. What a wonderful feeling it was to go somewhere again, and especially somewhere as surreal as this. In Copșa Mare, surrounded by vast meadows and endless forests, it is easy to believe you have stepped into a fairytale. And since it was October, we were greeted by carpets of Crocus banaticus — which was, fittingly, to be our main subject.
As James had promised, it was a lovely holiday with some teaching woven in. After collecting specimens of C. banaticus, Curzon and I spent long, unhurried hours painting this beautiful species in the wonderfully relaxed atmosphere of our studio "pod." The pod doubled as a tailoring atelier for Fred, the de Candoles' son, who is working towards mastering the craft. It was a pleasure to have him there — the workshop had the feel of a holiday, with good music and drinks after dinner each evening.
It was actually rather interesting to discover how two seemingly unrelated disciplines — botanical illustration and tailoring — share so much common ground. Both are about creating a perfectly finished piece, and both are ultimately about millimetres. In botanical illustration, if a measurement in a plant portrait is slightly off, the portrait is not quite right. You correct the mistake if you can — but what if it cannot be corrected? Do you start again, or do you aim for perfection in the next piece? It was a useful reminder to myself: finding and holding that fine line between perfectionism and simply getting things done. And perhaps that is what mastery really means — knowing when something is finished, even when it falls short of perfect; embracing it, while continuing to strive for better.
Beyond painting in the cosy pod with its view over the old Saxon houses, the days were filled with gentle walks across the meadows, while Rachel and Fred rode out on their horses — choosing between Thimble, Millie, Rebeta, Nemesis and Robinia. Unlike the previous year, I also had a glimpse of the vast surrounding forests, where you can wander freely and gather mushrooms for lunch. Dinner was another daily joy: James made sure the wine was always good and the glasses were never empty, while Rachel brought everything together with her delicious cooking. You could certainly leave this place with at least one wonderful new recipe. We even rounded off the evenings with a fiercely competitive card game — Racing Demon — after dinner.
I love having this kind of balance in my life: a little work, woven in with everything else. When I can combine all of these things in one place, that is an A++ for me. Such balance is something I seek in every project I take on.
This was the first course that actually took place in 2020 — and fingers crossed, there will be many more workshops with wonderful tutors in the years ahead. If you would like to experience a fairytale setting while learning to paint plants from an expert, this one is for you, dear plant lovers.
