Wood I?

Today's photo essay is brought to you by the trees, without whom we'd suffer horribly.  There is so much to notice and celebrate....think of all the essential things (air!) they provide for us...and then all the other things that make life gorgeous....

Following a winding path through pine forests above Rognes....

Detail from an old door in Aix-en-Provence...

The gnarly plein tree I seek out every time I walk the dog...

If you were thinking about trespassing in this village ruin, this would stall you for 3 seconds, at the most...We were tempted to steal it and hang it up at home...

       

A pair of "shelters" built simply of standard sheets of plywood. The burnt wood lines evoke veins on a leaf.  They are off in a corner in the Place de Precheurs in Aix-en-Provence. Contrasting against centuries old architecture and being a cool relief, but mostly they were functioning as a partial cover for a young kissing couple.

This gnarly woody vine isn't captured well enough in a photo...so Frank stepped in to translate it for you...onto the canvas....the photo below is a teaser, just a detail from his series in progress of the beloved vine...

Frank is capturing their graceful curves and responses to the wind and weather of Provence. We will post photos of these paintings as his series expands...

Trees, vines, wood, wine....we cannot have life without trees, and we cannot enjoy it as much without the vines! Hug a tree today! 

Getting High

Conquering mountains on foot, getting a bird's eye view, painting the apex, getting air while jumping, teens having a beer with us in a plaza, riding a Ferris wheel to look out over the port in Marseille, being at the  top at the Chapel de Notre Dame...all the ways we're "getting high" this month....

Mt. St. Victoire Above Mas. original oil painting by Frank Bruckmann©

Frank spent a few days working on this vista, and all Aix-en-Provence residents see Mt. St. Victoire from varying directions, after all, it is the iconic view of this town and region. But to tie up your laces, pack a lunch and GO is an entirely different level of knowing a place. We spent a sunny gorgeous day plodding up up up last week and I was elated to reach the tippity top where the cross of Provence statue overlooks the surrounding farms, vineyards, villages, cities and the Mediterranean Sea. 

through Cezanne's pines, looking UP at Mt. St. Victoire

Delighted to find a monk's priory and chapel up on the top of  the mountain, recently restored, several volunteers buzzing around who make their 2 hour+ commute on foot.

Visiting Bonnieux with gusto!

Atop Bonnieux, a lovely park and a church overlook this valley.
Sleepy, quaint, gorgeous village sitting up high in the Luberon.

Along the old port in Marseille with Grandma. 

Kids took in the view from the Ferris wheel.

  

Teens in the plaza...Quinn from Monhegan Island
and Arlo are soon off to explore the EU this semester. 

Up high at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Marseille

Unbelievably gorgeous interior

January color....grass still green, some varieties of grapes have leaves still clinging onto the vines. so many curves. love it.

Frank and Hazel scout painting locations for the Workshop in May!
Who wants to come paint with Frank from May 17-25?

Lourmarin at dusk; as we left the cafe it was filling up
with locals watching football.