Oppede Soleil - theme and variation

Oppede Soleil

18" x 24" - acrylic on canvas - $400

I have said  this before.....I love working with a subject and interpreting it in different ways. In the last two months I have returned to a photo reference and subject that I am fond of and that evoke good memories of shared painting experiences. This is the photo of the olive grove below the Provence village of Oppede-le-Vieux....

September 2016

I have worked on this painting on and off  over the last 3 weeks. 

Here is an early photo and later one, as it evolved....

and a detail from the finished work

and two recent variations.....

Oppede-le-Vieux

Pink Olive Trees  sold

ok, think that's out of my system for awhile!

Pink Olive Trees

Pink Olive Trees

15" x 19" - acrylic on paper - SOLD

I seem to be in a pink phase these days. It's just such a happy colour and harmonizes so well with blues and greens, not to mention purple, yellow and orange - all the colours I love. The scene is based on a photo from the Provence village of Oppede-le-Vieux - and the olive grove situated at the base of the village walls. Fun to paint, and full of colour on a December day!
   

Olive Tree 'Variations' at Oppede le Vieux

Oppede le Vieux  is a beautiful village, slightly off the beaten tourist track, and for that reason alone makes an ideal spot in which to paint. There is a wonderful olive grove below the main part of the village, and that's where I sat for several hours in June, painting one of my favourite subjects. Here are two variations on the theme, with earlier stages too. 

Olive Trees at Oppede le Vieux

14" x 17", acrylic on canvas paper - $75

an earlier stage

Oppede Olive Abstract

14" x 17" - acrylic on canvas - $75

second stage

first stage

Painting in Oppede-le-Vieux

Oppede-Le-Vieux Olive Grove

11" x 13" - acrylic on Canson canva paper

We had a wonderful day (I think I say this a lot) painting in the perched village of Oppede-le-Vieux. 

"Perched on the northern flank of the Petit Luberon, Oppede-Le-Vieux is a stunning mix of buildings sitting on a rocky fold that flows from the long flat summit. The properties there range from grand houses decorated with elaborate stone carvings, to ivy-clad, skeletal remains of others that open onto the street, winding its way towards ruins of the once impressive castle. Whilst most villages in this area have a polished appearance, Oppede-Le-Vieux has a natural, relaxed character that hasn’t changed over the years...." (from French Entree)

As we were staying until mid afternoon and having a picnic lunch I had lots of time to first walk through the old village, looking for a perfect view to paint, and though I saw many possibilities, I ultimately chose the one I saw last - the olive grove just outside the walls. I particularly loved the shapes of these olive trees, and had lots of fun painting them, in 3 different paintings. A fantastic day. 

After lunch I still had some time and worked on two smaller paintings featured just the trees. 

Oppede-le-Vieux 2

7.5" x 10" acrylic on Canva paper

Oppede-le-Vieux 3

7.5" x 10.5" acrylic on Canva paper