PAINT in Provence! Frank's Workshop is happening! May 17-25, 2019

PAINT with FRANK for 8 DAYS in heavenly PROVENCE!!!

MAY 17-25, 2019 Rognes, FRANCE.

Painting the village of Rognes, where the market day is Wednesday.

  We've been doing recon for several months while living in this small stone village plunked between Aix-en-Provence and the most charming villages of Provence....and have created 8 delightful days of painting, exploring and tasting Provence's bounty.

Painting at one of the many Rognes vineyards. Picnic lunch break included!

  If you can visualize yourself painting under the blue sunny skies of Provence all day with Frank's excellent instruction and dining sumptuously in a Provençal farmhouse with fellow artists by night,  critiquing paintings whilst sipping locally grown and produced wines, contact us today.  

Here is the link for all those details and travel tips 

Bonnieux, one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France...ready to pose for you!!

With fresh insight into this part of France, Frank has designed his workshop to be YOUR painting paradise. You've always wanted to paint in Provence with Frank, so make it happen!  

Walk 5 minutes towards the village and right into this composition....

Sneaking Around.....

Shhhhhhhh! I snuck some photos of Frank and poured through photos that he has taken, to try to figure out what he's up to all night in that studio of his....We are so lucky to have found a home with a detached studio....even though the lighting is a challenge, it still gives him his own space to work. But, just as well, if he had perfect lighting, I'd never be able to pull him away to the neighbors for apero, explore with the kids or to meet up with friends...I will show you what (I think) he is up to below....

Hey Frankie, I see you....

Vineyard Machines

I think there is a vineyard series on the horizon....I saw the beginning sketches of these totally cool vineyard machines that hover over and trim the vines after the vendange (harvest).

I saw so many views of this lovely rambling ruin atop some totally gorgeous hilltop. I think I need to personally visit this place....will have to remember to find out from Frank exactly where it is....

This photo proves that Frank is a painter with good practices, as he has taken a minute to step back to look at his painting from afar. Good job Frank! A gorgeous sunny scene.  We haven't had consistent good weather (damn it) so when the sun shows  up, Frank screeches out of the driveway in his little Fiat Panda to find a lee from the wind and to get to work....

Les Baumes, Sangliers Farm

My photo, I confess. But I WANT it to be a painting subject...Les Baumes, pictured here, is a  Sangliers Farm in Venelles. This farm is owned by a family that inherited property rather unwieldy for growing veg. So, they bought a few wild boar, and voila, now they grow and farm wild boars. Some are penned in and some roam the rock outcroppings above (click photo for close up). The 15 year old stud is massive and has his own muddy digs. They are curious and friendly creatures with lots of spunk....until, bien sur, they end up on your dinner plate. Alas. 

Didn't I tell you they were curious creatures???? (and really muddy)

Here are some of the latest family member pics, to get a feel for what else is going on.....

Jorgie potting the tree so we can return it to its home after it spends Christmas with us indoors...

 

Arlo and Hazel up at sunset in the village of Lauris, Provence.

The chateau in the old part of the village is a series of art studios, all with totally different shapes and sizes and of course, different art and artists....

Someone else should caption this one. Kyela Puech, photo credit.

And finally, I'm up to something too....feeling sneaky myself...packing and sending out these postcard sketches to collectors back in the US of A. Bon voyage! 

                  

3 Big Starts! 3 Very Different Places!

Mount Ste. Victoire is ALL THE WAY on the other side of Aix-en-Provence from us and although we thought we'd know all the hiking trails by now, it just isn't the case. Our first day of exploring the area was windy, rainy and chilly, so we took in some sights and cafés instead of hiking or painting....However, Frank did take his easel that way later and here is the beginning of a larger canvas of ye olde mount, made famous by Cezanne.....just a start....stay tuned for the progress....

Just a start, Mt. Ste. Victoire, oil painting by Frank Bruckmann©

Check out the time-lapse video I caught of Frank before my arm fatigue was too great to continue.  I have watched it way too many times to admit. Love how we can watch him sketch in the composition.... This is the vineyard just down from our house, previously mentioned. If you head down there on foot, you get to witness the neighbors' 4 dogs comically mauling each other to get a look at us passing by, or to get a piece of Hazel (our dog). It's hilarious...anyway, look at the video below:

Below:  still an early phase.....still what he considers the "block-in phase" but this is with some color....I would estimate that this is within the first hour of the painting...my personal favorite phase to watch and observe....watching the blank canvas come into forms


Below:  Fast Forward waaaaay ahead. This is Day 2 or 3. He is still not finished the piece, but it is much more than a block in at this stage.

St. Marcellin, Rognes.  oil painting by Frank Bruckmann ©

Frank found this patch of pavement on which to paint during the siesta part of the day. The boulangerie just behind his easel does a brisk biz until 12:30pm, and then the baker goes home for lunch like everyone else and then returns for a late afternoon stint. She makes lovely boules with the crest of Rognes dusted on in flour and pastries and baguettes and tons of deliciousness that we haven't even tried yet.....but we still have (a few) months to do so.....

Rognes! one of the Road to Lambesc pieces that Frank has begun. oil painting by Frank Bruckmann©

It's time for olive harvest, called the "recolt". We answered a call from a small farmer who needed some hands to harvest. We filled a container with olives that we gathered in exchange for a litre or so of olive oil from the exact olives that we picked. Being that this farmer isn't a pro olive farmer, I don't expect the oil to be exceptional, but since I know barely anything about what it takes to make great oil, perhaps we will be pleasantly surprised....

These two (three) in a doorway of the charming village of Ansouis

See?.....Rognes Boule

Painting the Neighbor's Vineyard

The leaves on the grapevines are starting to change to their fall color....different grape varieties change differently and at their own pace. Beautiful.

Love this painting and the golden light surrounding....

I painted in watercolor up on this old stone wall as Frank was below, painting the same view in oil paint. This may be the last painting before the leaf change....

a great spot from which to paint!

And speaking of vineyards, a few Sundays ago I observed the annual mass to bless the grapes.  With so many farmers and workers tied to the vineyards for their income and so many of us who need the grapes to keep providing, this is serious stuff!  Afterwards, all unpacked their picnic baskets and ate lunch along with the wine and grapes that were available. It was a charming event...

You can see the clergy and the altar boys in their robes, facing the vineyard and sending prayers towards the vines!

During the blessing, from within the old altar of St. Marcellin, Rognes, Provence, France..
Notice the various shades of grapes on the table for sale by a group of old ladies.