Path through Ochre Quarry, Roussillon

Another view of a landscape made of pigment.

July Morning, Joucas

It's always a pleasure to stand in the hot sun in the square of a village in Provence and hear the sound of cool water running into a stone trough. These were built long ago for the humble purposes of washing up or a drinking supply, but they still hold all the charm and music of a Bernini fountain.

View from Sault on a Clear Day

The colors were especially intense when we painted here last week--a clear sky, and the lavender and wheat fields at their peak, right before harvest.

Sunday Sketchbook: Provence

My plein air paintings usually begin with a quick gesture sketch that helps me figure out composition, values, and in this case, colors. The challenge is to keep hold of this "premier coup" ("first blow", a great description of the visual idea) through hours of painting.