Electric bike excitement and a cow shed

Because we are in our motorhome we have no ancillary transport with us, so up to now I have been on a borrowed push bike.
Well, as you can imagine it's a bit hilly in these mountains, so you can imagine how excited I was to be offered a trial of an electric bike.
Now this wasn't your average, measly engined pedallo.  Oh no, it was a super duper, top of the range high voltage (well not too sure about that bit) high speed mountain bike.
It weighed a ton, so I wouldn't have liked to hump it across streams or over fences, but by golly it went like s**t off a shovel, and what fun!  I want one.

Sadly it was rather too expensive for me just now, and was also so heavy we would have had to put a stronger bike carrier on the van.  It was with heavy heart that I handed it back at the end of the day.
But it made my trip up to the cowshed a much more fun experience.

I had spotted this little shed over the winter.  The valley is quite steep here so it got little sun, but now the sun is much higher for longer (in mid-summer) it was perfect fodder for my paint palette.
The sun was hot, but I found a generously shady tree, inevitably surrounded by nettles waiting for when I dropped brushes etc, but the shade was welcome.
I am trying to get more paint on my canvas, and end up with a brighter result.  For many a long month I have been a bit disappointed to arrive home and find a dull painting that needed post brightening treatment.

I prefer working on a tinted canvas.  Recently I have been tinting my board on site, rather that preparing it before I leave home, and I suspect this has added to my woes.  I have other strategies for future attempts that involve a quick rough block in of the basic shapes, on a white ground, then a layer of thicker paint on top.  This was my first attempt at this ploy, and I think it paid off. I didn't need to brighten this one up at all, in fact no alterations were made when I got home, other than to photograph it better.

I am quietly pleased.  The shed doesn't look too precise (always a bugbear of mine) and the roof colour has worked well.
The position of the sun also meant that as it moved round the light didn't vary too much.  I had established the shadow patterns early on so was able to stick with it, and my preparatory sketch helped me remember relative values.  I will get there eventually!

Cow Shed on the Plateau
12x10"
oils on canvas board

Nice weather in the Alps

When we arrived last week it was a bit English, in terms of grey, cool and damp, but the weather has taken a turn for the better and I have been able to get out with my paints,  As we came in our motorhome and didn't bring bikes I have been using one from my next door neighbour.  I think blokes have seat bones in different places to us girls, and my painting gear just puts extra weight on the old bones.

We live in a residential area, but the chalets are well spaced and most have delightful backdrops of mountains and lots of conifers.  Here is one just down the road from us.

I am standing next to the public bins, so it could be called 'view from the Poubelles', but I think I need to find a more apposite title.

The giant rock on the right will have fallen from the steep mountainside, out of shot.  Glad I wasn't there when it landed!  That is Pointe de Villeneuve in the background.  it has crept into quite a lot of my local views.  You will see that they have a parasol and garden chairs out.  Thats always a good portent.

10x12" Oils on canvas board
No proper title as yet.

Heading for the heights..

A long way to the sea
Doronne de Chaviere at Roc de la Peche
Parc National de la Vanoise
12 x 9" oils on board

Walk, wine, weather.  A heady mix, but what better way to spend a late summer Saturday in the Alps.  We hiked up to Roc de la Peche for a delicious lunch, happily my lovely husband helped carry my gear (note to self - organise lighter kit for next trip).  After lunch I went down into a ravine to paint at the side of the river (the very same that lower down the mountain was the subject of my last post). I only had a couple of hours until the sun sank behind the very high cliff alongside me, so I made haste and tried to cut short chatting to curious bypassers.

I made a good start, got the blocking in done, noted the colours of the river, which were spectacular, and the fantastic hues of the cliffside reflecting light from the water and the hillside across.  I probably got 75% of the painting under my belt before the sun slipped behind the mountian, probably sooner than it would have done had I been in a more open situation, but perhaps as well as I still had an hours trek down to where my car was parked.

I am now starting to get used to working with my limited palette of six colours plus black and white, and I think it helps give unity to the finished work as all the colours, shades and tints consist of  a really small and common collection of pigments.

I hope I get lots more opportunity to get out to paint plein air before winter closes in.  For the next four weeks I am doing an online study course dealing with values, so mostly I will be doing exercises rather than finished paintings.  Expect a short hiatus, then hopefully some improvement in my value studies!

A short walk in high pastures

I have been concentrating my efforts on reducing my payload.  To that end I have cut my colour selection down to 6 + white, less brushes, less everything, so that I can manage to hike without needing a pack donkey or a porter.
This trip, which was my first sortie more than 100 metres from my car, took me a 45 minute uphill trek to one of my favourite spots near the Refuge de Roque de la Peche.
It was in full sun so I was relieved to have taken my brolly.  It takes a bit of securing to prevent it being blown away and taking my set up with it, but the shade it affords enables me to see the colours, and the intensity in a more accurate manner.
As usual it need a couple of tweaks when I got back home, but it now takes its rightful position amongst my ever growing collection of mountain views.  A friend has made a rustic style of frame for me.  I really like the effect, it suits the mountain paintings very well.  I will post a photograph shortly.
In the mean time here is

Le Gorge de Montaiment

Oil on panel

12 x 9"

Land of big pointy mountains

Where the sun doesn't shine all the time! Trying to avoid the rain I spotted this view, which I have painted before in watercolour, but this time it was almost all grey.  The distant mountains kept dissappearing behind a heavy veil of clouds, and sometimes just a fat sausage of cloud obscured the middle distance.  The painting looked very dark when I got home so I had to liven up the foreground, although on checking my reference photos there were times when the light appeared from nowhere and illuminated parts of the scene.  You can see the ski slopes on the bottom left, carving their route through the trees.  They look very odd denuded of their habitual cloak of snow.
Vallee de la Glière, Pralognan la Vanoise
Oils on linen board
30x30 cms

Les Prioux - a summer hamlet

Les Prioux

This hamlet is only accessible in the summer, it is a favourite spot for taking a leisurely lunch in one of the delightful restaurants or a gentle stroll up the mountain tracks.  There are loads of quite taxing hiking routes around, but also a good selection of easier options, and it is easily accessible by car.

The old stone chalets have mainly been refurbished and are used for holidays.  The brown building at the front left is a mazot, a traditional french shed or barn.  The wood is that deep brown colour because it has been burnt by the sun and has no other protection,  the ones in this village are in remarkably good condition.

My first attempt at this painting, yesterday in the sunshine, was a bit of a disaster. I made some amendments to it when I got home, which is never a good plan as it often destroys the freshness of the original.  Watercolour painting is a real 'one shot' affair.

So in good time honoured tradition I gave it a second shot today.  

The weather was a bit murky so I climbed up into my eerie, armed with the original painting done on location, a photographic reference and a well thumbed copy of a book of watercolour paintings of the mountains round here by an artist who's work I really admire  http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/images/284206271X/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=301061&s=books

I don't think my job looks anything like his (I suspect 'robust' is an adjective I would apply to mine, whereas 'subtle and sensitive' would be more appropriate for Mantis' work),  but I love the way he uses colour and I did find it helpful having something to refer to that I liked rather than my original, which I thoroughly disliked.

I am pleased to say I am happier with the result than I was yesterday.

watercolour on hot pressed paper

35 x 25 cms

Tumbling waters

Doronne de Chaviere

The mountains around Pralognan are crowned by three enormous glaciers, which control a micro-climate in the valley below.  In the summer the melt water gallops downhill in glorious shades of cobalt turquoise and green over the soft yellows and purples of the underlying rocks.  

These rivers have an undeniable attraction for me, yet I approach them with dread as the bubbling waters are notoriously difficult to capture in paint.  Once again I am beguiled.

This is another sketchpad entry, but I think it would look good framed and hanging on a wall, so I will cut a mount for it and add it to my 'exhibition' stock.

22 x 30 cms

watercolour on paper

Back up the Hill

Hameau de Fontanettes

I like this spot.  I can get there in the car so I can take all my equipment and make myself comfortable.  This is my first watercolour of the summer here in the Vanoise National Park despite having been here two weeks already.  Up to now the summer has been more like an English one, so I have been working inside.  It is nice to get out though now the weather seems to have broken.  

This is on a popular route up the mountain and there is a pleasant lunch stop at the top of the hamlet. The grass is a ski slope in the winter and I would be mowed down by skiers if I were to set up there in the snow.

I think there are some other versions of this scene further back, but as a familiar spot it is a good one for a warm up painting.  

It is watercolour in a sketchbook and has a grubby mark in the sky where I was impatient and rubbed the paper before it was dry, so it will stay in the sketchbook and I will do another version at a later date.

I was here last summer on foot, and walking down admiring the view I tumbled carrying all my kit, broke my right thumb and made a real mess of my elbow, which put my out of contact with paintbrushes for six weeks until it all healed.  Moral = watch your footings, never mind the view!

30 x 20 cms

watercolour on rough paper

Summer chalets Les Prioux

These chalets are at Les Prioux, another little summer hamlet on the road up towards Roc de la Peche, way above Pralognan. You can get to it by car when there is no snow so it is a popular spot, so much so that it has two restaurants, and is one of the few places where you can buy the local delicacy Serac cheese, similar to ricotta.

The tiny chalet in the centre belongs to the patriarch of the family we bought our chalet from so I shall give it to him as a gift.

I am quite pleased with the way the background trees came out. I find it more difficult painting vague suggestions of trees directly from the scene in front of me. A photograhic reference makes life simpler - although it leads to the temptation to put in more information than necessary!

Watercolour on Arches paper 23x31 cms approx.

Summer hamlets - Cholliere

There are a number of hamlets in the mountains that can only be used in the summer months. In the winter they are only accessible on foot, with skis or snow shoes. In the summer they come to life, often rented out to holidaymakers, but still with little or no vehicular access.
Cholliere is one of the closer ones. It is about 20 minutes above the village, a lovely walk up a path alongside the river.
In the winter the river bubbles under the snow and ice, but in the summer it rushes downhill, boosted by the glacial melt water to a pale turquoise, over ochre coloured rocks. That is a painting for another day.
Behind you can see Grande Casse and the Aiguille de Vanoise, and the distinctive mound of Le Moriond.
This time it wasn't too far to carry my painting things. I still need to reduce what I take, but watercolour needs less equipment, so has to be favourite for outings on foot.

Watercolour on Arches paper. Approx 31x23 cms.
My paintings are always for sale. If you are interested email me.

Barmettes mountain refuge

This is a painting of one of the mountain refuges, at Barmettes approx 2000 metres. It is at the top of one of the ski lifts so in winter it is easily accessible for skiers.
It has a stunning backdrop of the Aiguille de Vanoise, and the Grande Casse behind.
In the summer it is a serious uphill climb, but at the height of the season the lift opens for three days a week. I caught the very last opportunity to lift up as I would have had difficulty hiking up there with my painting kit.
I sat in the middle of the piste to paint, but happily there were no skiers rushing downhill at breakneck speed. Just a few curious hikers.
On the day I was painting there was a race going on - 68 kms with a total rise of 3800 metres. The runners started at 5 am, and the leading runner came past about 2 pm. Huffing and puffing, but still running!!

Watercolour on Arches paper. Approx 31x23 cms.
My paintings are always for sale. Please email me if you are interested.

Mountain watercolours

I have filled a painting pad with watercolours of the mountains. They aren't all worth posting, but one or two are fit to show.
This first one is of the Val de Chaviere from the top of the Bochor cablecar. The viewpoint is at 2000 metres, and is a enormous view over the entire valley, heading up towards the Roc de la Peche.
The refuge at Roc de la Peche is open all year round for intrepid travellers in the snow but access is often restricted because of avalanche threats, the approach valley is really steep. In the summer it is accessible by foot for normal souls. Having said that it is still a good uphill treck of around 5 kms.
This watercolour was done at the top of the cablecar, it was so hot I tried to shelter under a tree, but they were all conifers - and very prickly!

Watercolour on Arches paper. Approx 23 x 31 cms.
My paintings are always for sale. If you are interested please email me.

Summer again

After much flitting about we are back in Pralognan, the weather hasn't been as consistent as last year, so I have established a more permanent (than the dining room table) studio upstairs in the attic. The light is good and here is plenty of space, unfortunately the access (via ladder) is a little precarious, but hey ho...

The first of my summer offerings is here, started in the spring from sketches on site and photographs to follow up. The first painting finished in my new studio!
It is the view upstream of the Torrent de la Gliere, with the round dome of Le Moriond behind, from the Pont de Creuset at the hamlet of Fontanettes. I have got some great photos of the same view covered in snow so I'll save that for later.

Acrylic on canvas. 40x40cm

My paintings are always for sale. If you are interested please email me.

Notre Dame des Neiges

This tiny chapel of Our Lady of the Snows at Novaz sits dwarfed by the enormous mountains behind it. In the depths of winter it gets no more than a few minutes of sunshine each day, but as winter melds into spring the sun gets to rest on the roof, the skeletal trees stand out against the darkness of the mountain pines and light illuminates the snowy plain.

Notre Dame des Neiges at Novaz
Acrylics on canvas covered board. 26 x 20 cms

All my paintings are for sale. If you are interested please email me.

Winter works

It has been a while since I have posted; time has been taken up by other (glassy) creative adventures and the irresistible charms of snow sports. However the lure of the scenery called and I have mangaged another couple of paintings, this time in acrylics. I love the vibrancy of the colours and the texture of the canvas.
Both are subjects I found in the summer, and look totally different cloaked in snow.
It has been too cold to work outdoors, so in both cases I took my sketchbook and tiny tin of watercolours together with my camera. When the sun shines there is enough warm time to do small watercolour sketches (croquis in French I think) take lots of photos and then work the sketches up into finished works in the warmth of the chalet.

Hameau de Cholliere.
Acrylic on canvas 30 x 30 cms

All my paintings are for sale. If you are interested please email me.

Another summer hamlet

This is the hamlet of Les Fontanettes, at around 1800m on the lower slopes of La Grande Casse. In the winter it is totally covered in snow, in fact I didn't even know it was there until the snow melted this spring. We spend the winter skiing quite happily over the roofs.
You can see the Aiguille de Vanoise peeping out, Grande Casse is behind that.
The cows are still out on the pastures, hence the posts down the sides of the track, but soon they will be taken down the mountain to their winter homes in sheds in the village.

Patel on Hermes sanded paper.
Approx 33x24 cms.

My work is always for sale.
If you are interested please email me.

Another chilly day

Another chilly day. I had Parsnip (our Jack Russell Terrier) with me and she shivered in the boot most of the day. I have a little hatchback, and if I park in the right direction I can sit in the boot and paint quite happily on my easel and box set up.

This is a view from the car park at the end of the road up towards Roc de la Peche, which is a refuge about 5 kms up into the mountains. It is not a hard walk, and the views and surroundings are well worth the effort. The refuge is open all year although in the snow you have to use snowshoes, and has a lovely restaurant, together with rooms and very good facilities.

The early snow sits well on the higher mountains and shimmers gently into the valleys below. At this high altitude (around 1800m) it lingers for days. There are glimpses of autumn but there are few deciduous trees at this level. Most of the colour is from stems and berries.
Despite the sunshine you need plenty layers.

Pastel on Hermes sanded paper
approx 36x24cms

My work is always for sale. If you are interested please email me.

My new set up

One thing that has hindered me from painting out with pastels in the past is how best to transport them.

I tried various boxes and small assortments but never had enough colours for what I wanted, or the boxes were inconvenient.

A month or so ago I bit the bullet and ordered a Heilman Backpack Box from the USA (on the recommendation of my good friend and excellent pastellist Margaret Evans. It arrived in remarkably good time (about 10 days) then I had the joy of loading it. I was amazed to get most of my stash of colours in, with a bit of careful packing.

This pic is my set up before I started the painting of Grande Casse that I put up earlier.
It is really sturdy, fits happily on top of my (fairly substantial) camera tripod, and the easel support is a great addition. I am really chuffed with it.

It has been up a couple of mountains with me already. I am still working on the minimal packing concept. Not a thing that comes naturally to me, but lugging kilos up high mountain tracks might be good for my weight but not my back.