Les Baux

[Grapes]

This is a pleinair 3 yrs back from my drivings in Europe. The place is Les Baux-de-Provence in Provence, France. The hill top town was once owned or given to the Prince of Monaco (17th century) and I saw signs of that time period there. In the village I was only walking and watching things but when I came down I stopped the car by the road and decided to give it a try to the view from down up to the village. It was quite late, the sun about to set and getting dark so my colors were dimmed. I didn't even see much detail.
I never liked this pleinair but nowadays randomly erase them and this one results as a good memory painting of the trip to in the Provence Alpilles mountains and the natural park.

"Les Baux-de-Provence", oil on board, 20x30 cm.

Later I found out that these rocks weren't actually rocks but facade of the castle that is standing next to the cliff. I won't change it, nor add castle detail. It's just a quick pleinair when passing by. Thank you for looking!

 

[Triduana]

Beauitiful colours and light! I love Provence.

 

[Grapes]

Thanks!
It's an interesting place, l was there the first time.

 

[Joy]

Thanks for posting this! Very interesting painting and story.

 

[Grapes]

Your welcome, Joy! Thank you for commenting. I'm glad that I stopped in the end of the day and tried some pleinair. There were spectacular views up in the hill but also lot of people.

 

[Donna T]

I’m glad you posted this, Grapes. I was admiring the thick strokes of paint in your recent lion cub piece and when I saw this one it really hit me that I need to use much more paint. This is a lovely painting and I’m sure it brings you right back there when you see it. (Also, I can see why you thought one of my little abscraps looks like a village. We both painted similar skylines!)

 

[Grapes]

Thanks, Donna!
If l didn't have done this pleinair l probably wouldn't remember the village at all. When you drive around in central Europe you see so many different places and sites that you just forget some.

I think the texture occasionally is thicker bc l often use stiff Old Holland paints together with stand oil. I have now ran out of medium and plan to get sun-thickened linseed oil instead for the reason that I like what it gives to oil paintings.

 

[Terri]

Later I found out that these rocks weren't actually rocks but facade of the castle that is standing next to the cliff.

That's amazing - what a great experience, to have unwittingly captured such history!

I'm enjoying the shapes and palette and your thick beautiful strokes - a terrific pleinair.

 

[Enyaw]

Good to capture and hold memories. When you plein air you bond with the place and it stays with you. It did for me. I don’t go out for years…too old and lazy.

 

[Grapes]

Thanks, Terri & Wayne!
I've gotten lazy going pleinairing but I think I'll be back to the habit next fall if not before.