A Week in Provence

It seems that the season for getting out into some decent weather is upon us. I'd signed up to spend a week in Provence with Julian Merrow-Smith a great member of the daily painting fraternity. We were housed in a wonderful old property that had been a monastery in a former life. The place was set in wonderful countryside with acres of vines, mountains and old buildings. We were hosted by a wonderful couple, one a brilliant cook and the other an expert on Rhone wines. Suffice it to say we were fed and watered in royal fashion.

This post is to give a little introduction to the visit until I have enough time to do it a little more justice. The painting below is one of fifteen that I managed to get done during the week.

Gap in the Wall - Oil on panel 10" x 8"

Evening Falls

I've not posted for while but have managed to get in some painting, much of it for other people. However, last week I got away to spend a few days with my oil painting guru, Martin Kinnear. As usual I came away inspired and with a few new paintings and techniques. The painting below is one of them. As it happens I posted the image on FaceBook last night and this morning it sold, a very speedy turn around.

Evening Falls - Oil on board 24" x 20"

Single Sorrento

I took out one of yesterday's lemons and put it in the still life box. This is the result.

Single Sorrento Lemon - Oil on gesso board 7" x 5"

Sorrento Lemons

Since my lost post Sheila and I had a little break in the sun, escaping the local low temperatures. Since getting home, thoughts keep returning to warmer climes and spotting a tray of plump Sorrento lemons in the supermarket I couldn't resist capturing them for the still life table.

Sorrento Lemons - Oil on gesso board 7" x 5"

Asparagus

It seems like I'm developing a serious shopping habit, browsing for suitable still life subjects on the fruit and vegetable stands. This trip I took a fancy to this bunch of asparagus spears which rapidly landed on my still life bench. I found the subject taxing in that there were a variety of greens to be mixed as well as balancing the pink tones. This is a subject that I could return to as I found it a good exercise in mixing and good preparation for moving outdoors and dealing with the range of greens that present we plein air painters with so many problems.

Asparagus - Oil on gesso board 7" x 5"

Coffee and Cake

Off to the home of a pal of mine today to have some chat and a little painting time. A simple still life set up was the order of the day. The set up may have been simple but the various reflections were anything but simple - so the word that I had running through my head throughout the session was SIMPLIFY. Maybe the simplification was too much as I feel tempted to make adjustments here and there, but I've decided to sleep on it and hopefully resist the temptation.

Coffee and Cake - Oil on canvas board 12" x 10"

Pomegranate

Little time this last week but managed to catch an hour with this pomegranate. Lesson to be learned this week is spend more time and care in colour mixing, I was a little slapdash with this and thought about wiping it. However, I think we all have days when things don't work as well as they might so here is my latest 'less than satisfactory' piece.

Pomegranate - Oil on gesso board 6" x 6"