Gérard Potoise is both Chareauville's biggest artistic talent and the most sought after bachelor. He is already approaching thirty, but shows no signs of wanting to get married. His "Peintre Artistique" artist’s shop is doing good business and the paintings that he makes in the summer sell well in the souvenir shop "Boutique de Souvenirs" van Giscard Ballancourt. Tourists love his work and in the summer when he sits on the beach with his easel to paint, he has the full attention of the girls, he only has to choose one.

But in winter too, when there is no one to see, he is able to catch the lonely sphere of lashing waves on the coast and dark snow clouds above. To his immense surprise tourists even buy these cold scenes as well. Sometimes he even starts to believe in his talent, but this usually passes quickly.
When he lacks for inspiration, he likes to accompany Philippe Chantiers on horse back to a nearby town to dance with the girls there.

But each year at Christmas he paints the most stunning landscapes on large panels as décor for the crib in the church of Padre Henry Thiory. He paints mountains and rocks and Bethlehem in the distance. He has also received a cautious enquiry from the Mayor, Victor Domont, for a wall to wall and ceiling to floor fresco in the council chamber. And who knows, that might lead to work from Victor’s wife Gérardine, manageress of hotel "Chez Gérardine". The post office of Jean de Limours could also do with a bit of livening up, so that the people have something to look at while waiting for their turn.