The Bus Stop, St Paul de Vence work in progress update 2

A little further along the way with this one. I have had to put this on hold for now as I have several commissions to fullfil. Hope to continue on it soon.

The Bus Stop St Paul de Vence - Work in Progress

I have not painted many (in fact only two here and here) scenes of local village St Paul de Vence. I don't know why - it is a very picturesque perched village and one of the most visited. I have lots of photos, of course, and it is about time!

This is the local bus stop for returning to Nice. It is located on a tiny bit of path and near a corner. In summer there are crowds of tourists trying to get on the bus. - Sorry for some reason the photo is not good and does not show the colour variations in the shadows well.

I am trying to capture the heat of the afternoon, as it get extremely hot waiting for the bus and test the patience of even the most patient of tourists!

A little further along the way...

 

#AbundantArtShow is ending soon.

Hidden Passageway, 30x40cm

You might remember I mentioned a few days ago I was taking part in the #abundantartshow alongside several hundred other artists. It ends in two days, and today's challenge is to ask people to share your work to help you spread the word and perhaps find new buyers. {I find this very hard to say! But nothing ventured...} So if you feel moved to support an artist today, visit the #abundantartshow hashtag and share your favourite painting any which way, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest etc - it doesn't even have to be mine. ;) And don't forget to use the hashtag! Either way, a HUGE thank you to you for already supporting and encouraging me so much. I appreciate it more than I can say. 

I have created a pinterest board for the abundantartshow showing some of the art I like. I must say, there is a lot of variety. https://www.pinterest.com/artbymarion/abundantartshow/

Hidden Passageway oil painting

Hidden Passageway

30x40cm (12x16") Oil on stretched canvas

AVAILABLE

We have lots of beautiful old villages around us, and apart from a few small paintings see this post here I have not painted any of them. I have hundreds of photos but there is something about painting buildings, however picturesque that I find daunting.

I decided it is about time I changed that and challenged myself to paint some larger pieces. OK this one is not a large one but a step along the way.

About this painting
This is an alleyway in St Paul de Vence my local village. It leads up to a hotel at the top and they always line the ally with flower pots. You often see tourists arriving, and after driving through the narrow village streets they then have to take their cases up this passage and negotiate the steps.

This painting is not as textured as usual, I have reserved the texture for the highlighted area. I scraped the foreground walls several times to give the impression of the weathered wall texture. Tell me if it worked.

Some closeups

 

Secluded in St Paul - Day 9, 30 day challenge

Secluded in St Paul

Palette Knife Painting

Oil on MDF canvas panel

18x24cm (approx 7"x10")

Available on Daily Paintworks

See yesterday's painting HERE

St Paul is my adopted home here in France. It is an iconic, medieaval  hill-top village and very well known for its art heritage. Consequently it is much visited by tourists, especially in the summer. It is hard to find a quiet corner. I live outside the village but have a beautiful view of the town.

About this painting
I have taken many photos of St Paul over the years, but never painted it. Something always held me back, perhaps it was the thought of all those building so close together and doing justice to something that has been painted so many times by others. This courtyard appealed to me because it is not the usual scene of St Paul. I  now have no excuse not to paint more of my local town.

Some close-ups

And how it would look framed

Hollyhock Village Part 2 - Day 8, 30 day challenge

Hollyhock Village Part 2

Oil on gesso laminated wood panel

20x30cm (8"x12")

The companion piece to yesterday's painting. Contact me here about this or any other painting.

Some close-ups

Hollyhock Village, Part 1 - Day 7, 30 paintings in 30 days

Hollyhock Village Part 1

 Oil on gesso laminated wood panel

20x30 cm (8"x12")

During our recent lavender hunt, we came across a village which I shall call Hollyhock Village. Hollyhocks lined the streets, seemingly growing out of the concrete in the road. The roads were narrow enough, barely room for one car let alone a car and two rows of hollyhocks. I took heaps of photos both on the way there  (overcast day) and on the way back (nice sunny day).

Some photos of the hollyhocks

The village is Revest du Bion, Alpes-de-Haut Provence

About this painting

 This painting is part 1 of a pair painted on gesso panel. I did not add any additional gesso to it as they are supposed to be ready to go. Not sure I will do that again! the surface is so slippy and I wasn't convinced the paint was adhering. I've never used Yuppo with watercolour but from what I have read, it seems that this surface is similar.
I used a brush mostly with just a bit of knife work on the wall to give it texture.

I will wait until the paint has dried a little and rework some of the hollyhocks for more impact.

Come back tomorrow to see the the companion piece.

Close up