Sunflowers

David has been tracking the progress of this sunflower field all summer, just waiting for it to burst into flower.

Tom's week 9th-16th July

The week started with hot weather that built to a thunderstorm on Tuesday, producing some dramatic skies.

Calm sunny weather returned, but with a fresher feel.  Murs was looking particularly inviting as a painting venue, with the freshly cut corn fields that fringe the village.

Tom's teaching, a mixture of individual tutoring in front of the subject and inviting students to watch while he painted and talked about what he was doing, was inspired.

Baby Bird

Jess and David rescued this baby Redstart that had flown into the studio this morning.  Its mother was outside in the Tilleul tree making a very agitated clicking noise.  Once liberated, it squatted in the undergrowth whilst its distressed mother encouraged it to fly.  We are hoping that none of the local cats get wind of it before it gets its act together!

Maggie Siner's Group

Our third week of American groups.  This week Maggie Siner is the tutor.  She has arrived from Venice where she has been living and painting for some months.  You can see her work at http://www.maggiesiner.com .

 She knows the Luberon like the back of her hand, having spent many years teaching and painting here.  Maggie works her group very hard with painting sessions starting at 8.30 am, afternoon sessions often followed by time in the studio in the evening. She is passionate and knowledgeable about landscape painting and this is reflected in her own beautiful landscapes of Provence.

Lavender - scouting for painting spots

Choosing a new painting spot isn't as easy as you imagine, it involves a compass and David's discerning eye.  This field of Lavender spotted from the car, looked like it had potential, but no shade at any time of day ruled it out.  It is a beautiful spot nevertheless!

Hameau Les Riperts

Tom's Bithday

Tom celebrated his birthday at Les Bassacs, and he being American,  I made him an Oregon Trail birthday cake.  I had to improvise with rather depleted resources. 

Last time I made a cowboy and Indian cake people insisted on taking sides and a war broke out over the dinner table.  Many of my toy soldiers and Native American Indians went walkabout, so when it came to this one all I had left was a lone Native American Indian with a spear.

American Watercolour Group

We have a group of American watercolourists here for the next two weeks, most are from Washington DC although their tutor is from Vermont.  She is posting her paintings (both oils and watercolours) everyday while she is here.  You can see her fabulous paintings and follow her day by day on http://susanabbott.blogspot.com/

Spring to Summer--Vignette 6

Oil on linen panel, 27" x 81", triptych (detail)

Dibbs and Liz go scrumping

The cherry trees are laden with cherries which no one is going to pick.  The rain in the last few weeks has come at the wrong time and all the fruit is split.  Dibbs and I spent a happy half-hour this morning scrumping in the cherry orchards and returned with our hoard of slightly scarred cherries to put out for lunch.

Jessica's success

We got news this morning that our eldest daughter Jess has passed her Diploma in Architecture with a Distinction. 

Six years of hard graft, inspiration and perspiration have been happily rewarded!

A week of hard painting rewarded by beautiful weather and the first lavender.