Jacqueline’s Blog

Painting in our Journals – Inspiration from Local Tradition

Painting in our Journals – Inspiration from Local Tradition

One of the most exciting things about traveling with a group of painters is that we can immerse ourselves in the local traditions.  During our recent painting trip to Provence, France, we were lucky enough to be in St. Remy for La Fête de la Transhumance.  This happens once a year, 50 days after Easter.  This moving festival is dear to the hearts of the Provençal people and is without a doubt the most famous festival in the south of France.   This is the day that celebrates the flocks of sheep being herded to their summer pastures. Historically, this journey could take up to 10 days by foot. 

Over 3,500 sheep, lambs, goats and donkeys filled the streets of St. Remy on Monday, May 20, 2013.  The whole event was made even more colorful by the local shepherds tending the sheep in their traditional costume with the help of their well trained dogs.  As they passed by the sheep were stepping on my toes, parting their path in confusion and running through the crowds of people.  The shepherds did not seem to mind as I reached out and petted their silky wool.

I made this short video to show you how marvelous this day was.  Then look below to see how some of my students used this inspiration to paint some fabulous pages in their watercolor journals. 



Photo Paintings: A Slice of Life – Watercolor Workshop

Photo Paintings: A Slice of Life – Watercolor Workshop

Here is another workshop that I love teaching – Photo Paintings: A Slice of Life.  We always have a good time and it is a fun and easy way to make some incredible art!  Below is a short video that shows some of the students fantastic creations from past workshops!

Here is where you can sign up:

CREATE, Chicago:  Photo Paintings: A Slice of Life – 2 classes offered – Aug 24 or Aug 25, 2013
ART & SOUL, Portland, OR:  Oct. 4, 2013

Painting on Location, Provence, France

Painting on Location, Provence, France

One of the challenges about painting on location is to find the right spot to sit.  First of all, it is important that you find a safe spot and you will be comfortable for a certain amount of time.  You will need to a good view of what you want to paint.  Don’t forget to bring:  your watercolor palette filled with watercolor paints, several brushes, pencil, eraser, something to hold water and water,  camera, and your watercolor journal.  Here are some photos of our fun group painting out and about in Provence, France.  

Student’s Watercolor Journals from Provence, France

Student’s Watercolor Journals from Provence, France

We share our journals and all the painting we have been doing while enjoying happy hour with French wines and cheese…..  Just look at all these beautiful paintings!  What do you think?

Liz’s Journal:  Scenes from Les Beaux, inspired by Yves Brayer, French artist

Phillis’s Journal:  Inspired by local costumes

Scenes from around our Hotel

Robin’s Journal:  Vaison la Romaine

The reds of Roussillon

Roussillon

Beautiful red poppies

More beautiful red poppies
A Windy Day to Paint in Roussillon

A Windy Day to Paint in Roussillon

The famous Mistral winds of Provence has followed us to the east as we explore and paint plein air in the little town of Roussillon.  Roussillon is known for its colorful buildings of reds, ocres, and yellows mined from the nearby rocks.  It is also designated as on of France’s Plus Beaux Village de France!  The Mistral has pushed away all the rain and the clouds so that we have a beautiful, sparkling day to paint, if you can stand the gusty wind.  Several of us walk to the outskirts of town to paint the village while others paint in the cute, colorful streets of the village.

I learn that the bell tower of a lot of the hilltop villages are open to allow the mistral to pass through.

 

Colorful red buildings are found throughout the town.

 

We explore.

 

Great view of the town

 

Barbara and Liz find a sunny spot to paint.

 

JoAnn shows her beautiful painting in progress.

 

Ice cream shops are plentiful!
I buy this little ceramic chicken made from the nearby colorful clay.
I visit my favorite store that sells pure pigment in little jars.

 

More colors of pigment.

Would you like to learn the joys of keeping a watercolor journal?  We are now taking reservations for painting in Umbria, Italy, May 10-17, 2019, Painting in Provence with Frenchescape.com

Painting en Plein Air – Vaison-la-Romaine

Painting en Plein Air – Vaison-la-Romaine

Painting en plein air means painting outside on location.  Watercolor painting is easily done en plein air because the supplies are so easy to transport.  In a little bag you can carry your palette loaded with watercolor paints, a couple of brushes, a watercolor journal or loose watercolor paper and a drawing pencil.  That with a little container of water is all you need to paint on location – one of the many reasons why I love watercolor painting!
The weather may or may not cooperate!   This year France is experiencing a very cool spring.  So we drove to Vaison-la-Romaine prepared for wind and rain.  We were pleasantly surprised to have snippets of sunshine and not too much wind.  We were also warmly greeted by the owners of the extremely charming bed and breakfast, Les Tuilles d’Elise, who were so generous to let us paint in their gardens.  They have a magnificent view of the old hilltop village.

 We also got a tour of the B&B.  Each room was as charming as the rest! 

Ringo greeted us and was very curious to see what we were painting

Charming room in the B&B
This blue door was a great painting subject too!

Market Day in St. Remy de Provence

Market Day in St. Remy de Provence

Accordion music fills the streets.   Booths of fresh olives, tablecloths, sunglasses, shoes, dresses, terracotta pots painted with local scenes, spoons carved from olive wood, goat cheeses, donkey soap, lavender soaps, pate de fois, herbs de Provence, lavender honey, Fleur de sel and colorful scarves are an overload of sensations! Wednesday is market day in St. Remy de Provence. Everything imaginable  fills the cobblestone streets of this charming town.  The strong Mistral wind has arrived and blows through the narrow streets creating a dance of swirling fabric and snippets of lavender smells. Our shopping bags are sagging with with local produce and goodies to take home as gifts for our loved ones back home. Hopefully it will all fit in our suitcases!

We return to our hotel to paint the color-filled sights we have seen today in the market and during our stay here.

Olives at the St. Remy Market
Little Baby Olive Trees

Sunny Day in Provence!

Sunny Day in Provence!

It is hard to believe that after such a rainy couple days that we could have an incredible gorgeous day!  Maybe we are just so happy to see the sun that it seems like heaven on earth. And how lucky we are to find out that St. Remy de Provence is having a colorful festival today with people dressed in their traditional dress.  The six regions of Provence are represented, spanning an area from Spain to  Italy.  It is hard for us to find the time to paint in our journals but here we are during our happy hour  

 

Rain, Rain, Go Away….

Rain, Rain, Go Away….

I have never seen it rain so much in Provence, let alone anywhere!  Rivers of water are running down the street and puddles are gathering.  The shop keepers tell me it has been raining since January!  This is very unusual for this normally sunny burnt sienna and Indian yellow with a touch of manganese blue kind of place.  Still we manage, armed with umbrellas, to walk to St. Paul de Mausole, a hospital for the insane and home of Vincent Van Gogh for one year.  Here he managed to paint over 160 paintings.  We see his bedroom and walk along the corridors where he once painted.  We sketch and paint on location.  The iris and red poppies are blooming.

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Posing with a statue of Van Gogh

Beautiful Scene in the cloister gardens

Blue Iris Blooming

Marie takes advantage of some sunshine to do a drawing

Painting in the courtyard