I'm on my way back to Vermont from Marseilles, with a few more Provence watercolors in my bag to post when I'm back home. This one was painted in an abandoned ochre quarry--the color in nature was really too bright for my ochre pigment to capture! Like Cezanne, I'd really need to return here again and again to understand these colors and forms.
5 comments:
Still and yet, I think you've captured some beautiful color and a lovely location in this piece. Beautiful!
OMG Susan, did you pick up bits of earth while you were there? I want one. I want to go there and roll on the ground.
I first painted here two decades ago while on a painting holiday - filmed by BBC cameras for The Holiday programme!
I have a very vivid memory of being asked for soundbite for editing - with a fluffy microphone thingie pointed at me - while taking a break in the shade.
As you say the colour is absolutely overwhelming - especially on your clothes if you slip fall over while carrying your painting gear! That's when you find out why ochre is far from fugitive!
Thanks for these comments! I've been looking some more at Cezanne's ochre quarry paintings, and he is so accurate in showing the relationship of the trees to the earth in these weird and beautiful places. As you say, Katherine, difficult to paint here, especially if there's any wind, and there frequently is--ochre particles permeating clothes, hair and easel. Clair, I can see you happily sliding down these cliffs, and covering your Vermont blue jeans with indelible Provencale ochre.
You'd make Cezanne proud with this one Susan! Striking investigation. You stopped at the right moment...easy to get lost with something like this.
Post a Comment