30 in 30 - Day 30 - End of Summer I and II

 End of Summer I

11" x 13" - acrylic, pastel, intense pencil on canvas paper - $30

End of Summer II

16" x 12" - acrylic & ink on watercolour paper - $30

Today is of course the last day of September and the last day of the month long challenge of painting 30 paintings in as many days. I actually completed two today and am still not sure which one will be my final challenge piece. I really like them both. Similar palettes and styles and both inspired by travels in France. It has been fun, and I have very much appreciated those of you who looked, commented and purchased my work. 

Have a wonderful weekend.

Painting at la Fontaine de Vaucluse and in an abandoned Ochre Quarry

Thursday (not sure why publication date is Wednesday because I didn't actually post until Friday????) we spent a wonderful day at the village called La Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, where the largest spring in France is found, and is the source of the Sorgue river. The sun shone, the temperature was perfect and the colours in the fast moving water were intense blues and greens. I love painting reflections in water, and so was delighted to walk, snap photos and feel inspired.

                               

I finally settled on a view.......

                                   

                                   

Friday morning we painted at an old ochre quarry near Les Bassacs. We arrived about 9:15 and the view I wanted to paint had many interesting cast shadows. I tried to paint quickly and get down the darks and some mid tones, but the light kept changing.

I did finish the painting (left) in situ but felt it neede some colour correcting back in the studio, and so the final version (right) is a little different, though the photo is too light, and the painting has a stronger ochre tint. Now that I see them side by side I think I like the first version better! C'est la vie!

                         

Tonight is our vernissage and then last dinner. I am almost packed and already anticipating the next two travel days, to Marseilles and Paris, then to Toronto and finally to Guelph and home. 

Provence, Day 2

 This morning we drove a short distance to the small village of Murs, and painted there for about 3 hours. There were lots of good views, but finding one that also provided some shade and even ground was a bit of a challenge. Over the three hours the light changed, of course, and so did my painting. It felt like all I was doing was mixing warm, then cool, then warm greens - until finally I just threw in some purple and turquoise, eliminated some of the troublesome buildings, and ended up with this.

After lunch I painted from the view from the studio window as it was hot and sunny and I had had enough of that in the morning. This is a view that I really like for it's abstract qualities, and strong colour. Voila the view and painting - a quick one!