(CNN) -- Hilary Duff says her new album is "very positive" but admits that it started out "a lot heavier and a lot darker" because of the separation from her husband, Mike Comrie.

"I'm separated from my husband right now, which has been a very difficult thing to go through," she told Billboard's "Pop Shop" podcast. "In the beginning, the album was a lot heavier and a lot darker, because I had to get that out. Once I did get that out, a lot of fun came."

Duff married Comrie, a former pro hockey player, in 2010 after dating for three years. Their son, Luca, was born in 2012. Duff and Comrie announced their separation in January.

Duff, 26, admits that she's "nervous" after being away from music for seven years. Her just-released single, "Chasing the Sun," is from her still-untitled album, which will be her first studio release since 2007's "Dignity."

She says she first started thinking of new material when she was pregnant with her son. After having the child and taking another year, she was even more anxious.

"I felt like I was missing a big part of myself," she said.

Duff established a successful singing career on the heels of her popular Disney show, "Lizzie McGuire," which aired from 2001 to 2004. She spent most of her teenage years touring and says that turning 20 was a big factor in leaving the road.

"It was time for me to be a person, and the break just ended up being a long time," she said. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who is this about?
2. Who was her husband?
3. Are they still together?
4. When did they get married?
5. How long were they together before?
6. When was their son born?
7. What is his name?
8. When did they split up?
9. When did she start coming up with things for her album?
10. How long has it been since she made music?
11. Does she feel confident about it?
12. What was her show called?
13. Who produced it?
14. For how long?
Answer: 1. Hilary Duff
2. Mike Comrie
3. No
4. 2010
5. three years
6. 2012
7. Luca
8. January
9. when she was pregnant with her son
10. 11 years
11. No
12. Lizzie McGuire
13. Disney
14. 3 years

(CNN) -- They were a Parisian group of artists that gave birth to the Impressionism art movement, so it is perhaps fitting that one of their devotees records the French Open with those broad brushstrokes.

Year after year, Joel Blanc makes the short pilgrimage from his Paris studio to the Stade Roland Garros for the tennis year's second grand slam, aiming to encapsulate the tournament's magic onto his canvas.

In a style reminiscent of those Impressionist forefathers, he brings to life in his paintings what he witnesses taking place in front of him on the famous red clay courts.

"When I begin the painting, I don't know exactly what will happen but I know what I want to introduce in the beginning. After, it's a story of life," he told CNN's Open Court show.

"I know how it begins, but I don't know how it finishes."

A key principle of Impressionism was to paint outdoors rather than inside a studio, so it's a style tailor-made to Blanc's own way of working.

It's an approach that has won over tennis stars such as Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal -- both fans and owners of the Frenchman's paintings -- or television companies, who invite him to cover sporting events.

Making his first visit to depict the action on the main court of Philippe Chatrier in 2004, Blanc has returned every year since, attracted by both the stadium and the French Open's allure and charm.

"Roland Garros is my favorite place," says the 68-year-old. "It's very special, it's near to my studio, I'm like a neighbor. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Does Blanc know how it begins?
2. What about how to finish it?
3. Does he like to paint outside?
4. What movement is painting outdoors a key principle of?
5. Versus painting where?
6. What sport is Federer famous for playing?
7. Who else is good at tennis?
8. Do Federer and Nadal dig Blanc's paintings?
9. Do they own any?
10. Who invites Blanc to come cover sporting events?
11. When did he make the first of such visits?
12. Which court was that on?
13. Has he ever come back since that first time?
14. How often?
15. Is he attracted to a woman's allure and charm?
16. What is he attracted by?
17. Is it a far pilgrimage from his studio to the Stade?
18. Is Roland Garros one of his favorite places?
19. How old is he, anyway?
20. What brush strokes does he use to record the French Open with?
Answer: 1. Yes
2. No
3. Yes
4. Impressionism
5. inside a studio
6. Tennis
7. Rafael Nadal
8. Yes
9. Yes
10. television companies
11. 2004
12. the main court of Philippe Chatrier
13. Yes
14. Every year
15. unknown
16. both the stadium and the French Open's allure and charm
17. no
18. Yes
19. 68
20. broad brushstrokes

My name is Lisa.I have a bird.She is white.So I call her Xiaobai.Xiaobai is only two years old.She's not big.But she is beautiful and clever.She can speak. One day I go shopping with my sister Gina and Xiaobai.At Green Clothes Store Gina sees a red skirt and says, "Look! Lisa! That red skirt is very beautiful." Xiaobai answers her instead of me, "No.I think you look nice in that green skirt." Gina says, "OK.I listen to you." Then she asks the shop assistant, "How much is the green one?" The shop assistant looks at Xiaobai, opens her mouth but says nothing.At last she says to Gina, "I never see a bird that can speak these words.It's great! You can take this green skirt.Oh, you don't need to pay for it." Gina is very happy.She asks me and my bird to have a big lunch in Leo's Restaurant and then we go home. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What is your bird's name?
2. what color isshe?
3. can she talk?
4. do you take her outside with you?
5. where did you take her?
6. what did you buy that day?
7. can you take your bird into stores?
8. how about restaurants?
9. did you go shopping alone?
10. who did you go with?
11. who is Gina?
12. Did Gina have fun that day?
Answer:
1. Xiaobai.
2. White.
3. Yes
4. yes
5. Shopping
6. Nothing
7. Yes
8. Yes
9. No.
10. Gina and Xiaobai.
11. My sister
12. Yes