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| lavender field near Roussillon New Years Eve |
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Happy Christmas Everyone!
Joyeux Noel from Les Bassacs
wishing you peace and prosperity in the New Year
Friday, December 12, 2014
Eurostar Bookings open today
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
John Raynes Chinese Connection
John Raynes, one of our regular tutors, is preparing to publish a book on Sketching for the Chinese market. Some time ago he was approached by the Guangxi Art Publishing House to produce a book about sketching and it is now at an advanced stage.
John's book is being published at a time of growth in painting as a leisure activity in China as economic changes have given people more time to pursue their interests.
John has included many of his drawings and watercolour sketches that he made whilst teaching here at Les Bassacs.
John's book is being published at a time of growth in painting as a leisure activity in China as economic changes have given people more time to pursue their interests.
John has included many of his drawings and watercolour sketches that he made whilst teaching here at Les Bassacs.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Autumn in the Luberon
Like most of Europe we have had a beautiful autumn with fresh sunny days and mild temperatures.
The temperate weather in 2014 meant that trees that usually suffer in the summer heat and drought have had their water supply replenished throughout the growing season and as a result the valley has been dressed in fresh green leaves until the beginning of November. Everywhere you go the ground is littered with an abundance of mushrooms, acorns and chestnuts.
Walking on the high plateau above St Jean de Sault, we came across this beautiful sweet chestnut tree and we filled our pockets with chestnuts. Incredibly, there were poppies in bloom and fields of cut lavender which had re-flowered.
We also came across a field of sage with a faint stripe of lavender growing just next to it; simply glorious colours!
The temperate weather in 2014 meant that trees that usually suffer in the summer heat and drought have had their water supply replenished throughout the growing season and as a result the valley has been dressed in fresh green leaves until the beginning of November. Everywhere you go the ground is littered with an abundance of mushrooms, acorns and chestnuts.
Walking on the high plateau above St Jean de Sault, we came across this beautiful sweet chestnut tree and we filled our pockets with chestnuts. Incredibly, there were poppies in bloom and fields of cut lavender which had re-flowered.
We also came across a field of sage with a faint stripe of lavender growing just next to it; simply glorious colours!
Monday, September 15, 2014
Beautiful September weather
We have had the most beautiful, peaceful sunny weather, the first really settled weather of the summer. Mark Cazalet's two weeks saw temperature's at an ideal 29 C with very little wind. David tried a new picnic venue - Brantes which is situated in a dramatic valley behind Mont Ventoux.
The village perches above the Toulourenc river and is a labyrinth of lanes, archways and stone
built houses.
The group also painted at the Abbaye St Hilaire near Menerbes, a religious site first occupied in 1240 by a community of hermits; Carmelite monks. The abbey fell into private hands after the French revolution and is now owned by René and Anne-Marie Bride who bought it in 1961.
The Abbey became a 'monument historique' in 1975 and is in the process of being restored. It is an intriguing mixture of gothic and romanesque buildings. It proved a beautiful place to paint, with its peaceful garden, cloisters and chapel.
and the Abbaye St Hilaire at Menerbes.
The village perches above the Toulourenc river and is a labyrinth of lanes, archways and stone
built houses.
The group also painted at the Abbaye St Hilaire near Menerbes, a religious site first occupied in 1240 by a community of hermits; Carmelite monks. The abbey fell into private hands after the French revolution and is now owned by René and Anne-Marie Bride who bought it in 1961.
The Abbey became a 'monument historique' in 1975 and is in the process of being restored. It is an intriguing mixture of gothic and romanesque buildings. It proved a beautiful place to paint, with its peaceful garden, cloisters and chapel.
and the Abbaye St Hilaire at Menerbes.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Raise a glass to Jeremy le Grice
The Penwith Gallery in St Ives is holding an exhibition of Jeremy le Grice's unseen work from July 12th-3rd September. Private view Saturday 19th July 2.00-5.00 pm.
Jeremy taught at Les Bassacs from 1990 until illness forced him to retire which he did very reluctantly in 2011. He died 9th August 2012 and is missed, but not forgotten by us all at Les Bassacs.
Jeremy taught at Les Bassacs from 1990 until illness forced him to retire which he did very reluctantly in 2011. He died 9th August 2012 and is missed, but not forgotten by us all at Les Bassacs.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Moon rise at Les Bassacs
We have had a week of the mistral which brought the storm clouds from further north skidding over us at great speed and lowering the temperature. Yesterday evening the wind suddenly dropped, the clouds disappeared and we were treated to a spectacular full moon rising over the Perréal Hill, the site of an ancient fort (200 BC) occupied by the Vulgientes tribe.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Starlings
Congratulations to Jane Revitt, a Les Bassacs regular, who has just completed her flock of starlings land installation 'Swoop' at Blackley in Elland, to commemorate the start of the Tour de France in Yorkshire.
The flowing abstract representation of 560 starlings swooping across the hillside links the dramatic patterns made by the birds in their murmurations, with the movement of the cyclists’ peloton. Jane had a trip in a 2 seater airplane to view her work from above and emailed me this picture. Read more about the installation here.
The tour is passing below Les Bassacs on stage 15 which starts at Tallard in the Alpes de Haute Provence, with a finish opposite the magnificent Nimes Arena on Sunday July 20th. We will try to take some photos, though last time this happened the peloton passed by so quickly it was barely possible to make out the riders in the blur! This time they will be going even faster as they will be going down hill towards La Tuiliere.
The flowing abstract representation of 560 starlings swooping across the hillside links the dramatic patterns made by the birds in their murmurations, with the movement of the cyclists’ peloton. Jane had a trip in a 2 seater airplane to view her work from above and emailed me this picture. Read more about the installation here.
The tour is passing below Les Bassacs on stage 15 which starts at Tallard in the Alpes de Haute Provence, with a finish opposite the magnificent Nimes Arena on Sunday July 20th. We will try to take some photos, though last time this happened the peloton passed by so quickly it was barely possible to make out the riders in the blur! This time they will be going even faster as they will be going down hill towards La Tuiliere.
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