Rebecca's week 20th-27th August

The beautiful hot weather continued during Rebecca's week with temperatures reaching 38C, but it was a dry heat which meant that, as long as painters sat in the shade, they could keep working. 

Rebecca laying down washes in the shade of a tree

The group pioneered a new location, looking up from below Roussillon

and also the little ochre quarry near Rustrel.

Rebecca at the little ochre quarry

With a bright blue sky, the colours of the firs and the ochre sing!

Terry's week 13th-20th August

With the heat building during the week, Terry's group painted in locations elevated above the valley, where the air was slightly fresher. 

Landscape above Lioux

Thursday being picnic day, the group went to Simiane-la-Rotonde, erstwhile home to the photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.

His most famous photo of the village was taken on a terrace overlooking the valley.

The terrace is still there

He was a man renowned for his meditative attitude and his 'patient eye' something that painters also have to cultivate!

Heat wave hits Les Bassacs

Terry's week ushered in the canicule, or heatwave, with temperatures in the high 30's.  High summer has arrived, sun all day long, nice out painting in the morning but the swimming pool very welcome in the afternoon.  The fruit has come into its own with basketfuls of fresh local peaches, figs and nectarines.  Fortunately these very old houses have nice thick walls so inside it stays cool.  Early mornings are delicious, bright and cool.

Holidays 30th July - 13th August

We have rented the house, packed away all the stools and easels and are on holiday for 2 weeks.   What bliss!

Kieran's group at Viens

If its Thursday it must be picnic day.  Kieran's group spent a beautifully fresh, sunny day at Viens right on the edge of the border between the Vaucluse and the Alpes de Haute-Provence.  Kieran took inks and rollers with them in order to do some impromptu transfer printing out in the field.  Something we hadn't tried before.

Oh Gordes!

Finally tested out the view of Gordes scouted earlier on in May.  David took a group of 7 to try out his new site.  It is right below Gordes with nice shade, big cyprus trees and a great view looking up at the village.  There was nobody about.

Mixed Media with Kieran Stiles 23rd~30th July 2011

The group have been working with inks watercolours and wax resist in the studio.  The tables are filled with an enticing array of colours.  Kieran's free style and enthusiasm have encouraged experimentation and an exciting use of materials.

David's week 16th-23rd July

A shaky start to the week with a bit of rain and a dip in the temperatures meant that people worked in the studio on still lives as well as getting out into the countryside when there were breaks in the clouds. 

The last of the lavender on an overcast day

The Mistral brought the sun, but kept the temperatures down at night which was refreshing as sometimes at this time of year it gets difficult to sleep because of the heat.  David has become skilled at finding places sheltered from the wind, so the group went to Rustrel, which is protected from the full force of the wind by the Monts de Vaucluse, and also Oppède le Vieux which is protected by the Luberon.

Oppède le Vieux

David found a small and secluded shady ochre quarry near Rustrel that made a perfect spot for painting in amongst the pines.  The deep oranges and reds highlighted by the strong light brought by the Mistral, contrasted beautifully against the bright blue of the clear sky.

Rustrel, abandoned ochre quarry

Bird spotting

Scops Owl,  its call people often mistake for a electronic beeping!

Matt, an ornithologist and husband of Giovanna who was painting with David this week, kept a diary of birds that he spotted in Les Bassacs and its immediate environs, some of which are shown here. 

Cirl Bunting, Blackcap, Common Redstart & Melodious Warbler

Golden Oriole, Stone Curlew, Hoopoe, Short-toed Tree Creeper, Booted Eagle & a Wood Lark

I am indebted to the site http://www.birdforum.net for the photos.

Dramatic sunset and full moon over the Luberon