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.

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....

Monhegan Island Workshop July 20-27, 2013

Come and paint the fabled Monhegan Island this summer with Frank, July 20-27, 2013. For decades, Monhegan Island has been on every artist's radar as the place to capture the beauty of the Maine Coast.  And through Frank's instruction, you will paint the craggy coastline, the quaint village, the working harbor, and Monhegan's headlands tumbling into the ocean. When you are not painting, you'll have the freedom to roam the 17 miles of hiking trails that grace this 1.2 mile long island (in typically fabulous weather), to swim if you can brave the cold ocean temps, take a morning yoga class, get a massage, read books from the island library and eat ice cream, lobster, and all kinds of decadence, in the few island restaurants.

Don't delay signing up! Places to lodge will fill up quickly, since July is high season, and you need to secure your spot in the class.  Click here to see the logistics on Frank's Website.

The kids and I will be there too, and besides painting we are always finding fun things to do, beach combing, picnicking after a long hike, catching the talent at the bi-weekly Monhegan Jamboree, harvesting and/or working at the weekly Farmer's market, jumping off the dock and innertubing in the harbor.

Rising Sun Lights up Gull Rock

Frank quickly painting the rising sun, August 2012