What I Saw at the Abbey

(c) James Currin, 2016

One day during the recent workshop in Provence with Maggie Siner, we painted at the beautiful Abbaye Saint Hilaire. I found myself thinking a lot that day about how light and shadow appear on a structure that is situated in the landscape--and how very quickly those lights and shadows change! Maggie's remarks that day also stimulated me to think about building my composition around an interesting pattern of shapes, both dark and light, rather than simply illustrating the subject.

(c) Bob Dodson, 2016

One of my takeaways from Maggie's lesson that day was to solve the big color blocks first. Only after doing that should I let myself move to smaller events or "details". I loved the way

One, Two, Three...

(c) Maggie Siner, 2016

I have just returned from several weeks in France--the highlight of which was a week long workshop with the inimitable Maggie Siner. We had a wonderful group of ten painters. As always, I learned a great deal from my fellow painters, as well as from Maggie.

One thing I took away from the lessons with Maggie is the benefit of simplifying the landscape into simple shapes. Maggie's related to us some wisdom from Robert D'Arista, which lodged in my mind as the concept that we can

Painting in Provence

"Through the Door"
10 x 8, Oil on Paper
(c) Lesley Powell 2016
(SOLD)

Greetings from sunny Provence! I am wrapping up a few weeks of painting here in the South of France, and wanted to share some favorite moments from the trip. Soon I will be back home, and I plan a series of posts focused on the trip.

I began the journey by spending a few days in Aix-en-Provence. I rented an apartment in the heart of the old town. Even though my building was in a busy part of town, it was located

The King of Soaps

Happy Bastille Day! I thought it would be timely to write about a French product this holiday. If you haven't discovered the wonders of Savon de Marseille, you are in for a real treat! It is an amazing soap, touted for a wide range of uses. Need  a moisturing skin treatment? Check! Or a high-powered stain remover? Check, Check! Personally, I have found that a nice block of Savon de Marseille is the very best thing ever for

Strolling in Sonoma

"Cottage Garden"
14 x 14, Oil on Canvas
(c) Lesley Powell 2016
(Available)

I have recently been working on a new series of paintings, inspired by the sidewalks of Sonoma. During my recent visit, I was enthralled by the beautiful gardens there. Strolling along the sidewalks was a feast for the senses, with a profusion of colorful flowers. Some of my favorites were picket fenced yards with flowers spilling out. I made a few color notes, sketches, and photographs, and have been reliving the scenes back in my studio. My goal

Happy Fourth of July!

"The Fourth of July, 1916"
Childe Hassam

CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY
AND THOSE WHO FOUNDED

OUR GREAT NATION!

Quoting John Adams: "I must study politics and war, that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain."

I am republishing this post from 2014, because it's just such a grand sentiment for the Fourth of July. Wishing you all a festive Independence Day!