Purple and Gold, not a football shirt but the colours of Provence

Poppy takeover

Last week we went for our annual foray to see the lavender and add to my collection of photos. Usually we go to the Valensol plateau near Digne-les-Bains, but this year we decided to go slightly further afield and do the Sault/Mont Ventoux area lavender trail and to take two days rather than one.

We were a little unlucky as it was a little early and the lavender was not in full bloom (I figure it will be at it's peak in about two weeks). The area around Sault had several patchwork fields but nothing like the sweeeping fields of the Valensole. The other parts of the trail was very scenic but seemed to missing the lavender! On the second day, heavy rain was predicted so we decided to come home taking a detour through the Valensole.

Luck was on our side as the weather started to clear up after midday and when we got to Valensole the sun was shining. The Valensole lavender was also much more advanced, so I got my fix of the purples and the lavender scent.  The only down side was the blustery wind resulting in several blurry photos. (you can see the lavender blowing about in the photo).

An added bonus was the fields of sunflowers on the way in the Durance valley. Just breathtakingly beautiful.

Did van Gogh live here? Yellow House Arles oil painting

Yellow House Arles

Palette knife painting

Oil painting on box canvas

15x20 cm (6x8inch) 1.5cm deep

Available on Daily Paintworks

Yes there really are yellow houses in Arles,  and no, van Gogh did not live here - the yellow house of van Gogh fame no longer exists.

About this painting
I took this picture a couple of years ago and actually started this little painting then. I came across it a few days ago and finished it off. The blue shutters, so typical of Provence, were irresistible. Using the palette knife allowed me to build up layers of colour.

Some close-ups of the palette knife work

Working loose and suggestive - "Golden Path" oil palette knife painting

Golden Path palette knife painting

15x15cm (6x6inch)

Oil on box canvas 1.5cm (5/8inch) deep

Available on Dailypaintworks

Another exercise in keeping things very loose and suggestive, but using a slightly different technique than used on "Distant Mountain". With this painting I did not blend the strokes but used single strokes and left them alone (well mostly!). I finished the painting off by splashing colour on the foreground to suggest flowers.

Here are the two paintings side by side. Which technique do you prefer?

Distant Mountain Palette knife oil painting

Distant Mountain Palette knife painting

15x15cm (6x6")

Oil on box (gallery wrapped) canvas

This painting is available by auction on Dailypaintworks

This little painting is a bit of an experiment, I was reading an article about loose foregrounds and decided it would be good to try out the ideas. I painted into a layer of liquin to give me a smooth surface. I flattened out most of the first layer of paint with the palette knife. In the second layer I used thicker paint to give texture. Finally I splattered water-soluble oils mixed quite thinly water over the foreground. I enjoyed painting this and like the way it came out. I think I was able to loosen up as I didn't use a reference.

A close-up of the surface

Provence Poppies Landscape, Palette knife oil painting

Provence Poppies No. 1

Palette knife oil painting

4.75x4.75 inches

Oil on gessoed MDF panel

This small painting is for auction on Dailypaintworks and has been chosen for the DPW auction picks.

I can hear you asking - "Why 4.75x4.75 inches?". Blame my husband! I asked for 5x5" pieces from a larger board, but somehow they turned out a little smaller.
Contact me about this or any other painting HERE

Le Petite Cabanon Provence, oil palette knife Landscape Painting

Le Petite Cabanon Provence Landscape Painting

18x24cm Palette knife painting

Oil on MDF canvas panel

Available in my Etsy store

These little cabins are scattered throughout the Provence countryside. I wonder what they are used for, are they barns or for habitation?

About this Painting
I sometimes feel I put too much detail in the foreground of my paintings, so with this one I used broad swipes of the palette knife with the colours in the rest of the painting. The painting turned out quite high-key but I resisted the urge to tone it down as it has a nice lively look about it. Let me know if you think.

A few close-ups

Autumn Vineyard in Sunlight Palette knife painting

Autumn Vineyard in Sunlight

Palette knife painting

Oil on canvas MDF board

18x24 cm (approx 7"x10")

Click here to purchase

This is a view of a vineyard in the Var with The Maures in the background.

I took photos on a recent trip (the same one where I photographed the cork tree) but as it was springtime I used my imagination with the autumn colours. This was probably a reaction to having painted the scene with the spring colours. The spring version is slightly larger and I will post it later when it has dried.