L'Air du Provence

Corner of Les Murets, 6 x 6, Color study, late afternoon

Simple Color Notes, Les Murets, late afternoon

Color Study, Mt Ste Victoire, 6 x 6

Quick Gesture and Color Demo. Late Afternoon, Les Murets, 9 x 12

Something about Provence, a certain je ne sais quoi -- perhaps the dry air contains fairy dust -- produces an incredible synergy that lifted all spirits last week during our trip to Les Murets, Ann Huff's hilltop mas near Gordes that serves as our home base.

My words can not adequately describe the feelings that we (8 wise and amazing women, all painters, plus me) experienced as each day built upon the last.  I'm still pinching myself and holding the memories tight.

We enjoyed charming restaurant lunches, rose wine, outdoor dinners at home, walks, talks, market visits, a meeting with French artiste Andree Thobaty -- and we did actually paint along the way!

Our painting mission was to do color studies, and to focus on the large shapes; we were not concerned with  creating "completed" works.  Instead, the goal was to capture l'essence of this special place.

As so aptly put by designer Norma Kamali in a recent newspaper article: "If there were a description of what heaven looks like, I would say this [Provence] is it."  

Below are just a few shining examples of the fine studies done by my fellow travelers last week:    

Caseneuve Morning, 8 x 10, Mary Muir

Mt Sainte Victoire, 12 x 16, Suzy Dmetruk

Caseneuve Doorway,  12 x 9, Debbie Bruce

Caseneuve Vista, Ann Currey, 8 x 8

Color notes taken first are on the left!

Captured View,  Eygalieres, 10 x 8,  Dawn Douglas

Vineyard near Aix, 8 x 10,  Dianne Williams

Morning Light, Mt Sainte Victoire, 10 x 12,  Sandy Cox

Mt. Sainte Victoire, Color Notes on right, 8 x 10,  Martha Elder

I am flying high right now, despite a bit of jet lag -- such beautiful times with like-minded friends, seeing through the eyes of all of the artists who have traveled the path before us; for me, that's the magic of this art life...  Sante, mes amies!