One Hundred and Two Years Ago

Five small vertical paintings done in Nice this year.  8x6 oil on multimedia artboard.

I've read that when Henri Matisse first showed up in Nice in 1917, it rained for two solid weeks.   He decided to stay after the sun came out because he loved the light so much.  It's hard to believe that was 102 years ago, and that Matisse was almost fifty years old at the time.

The Story of the Hopper and a Truck

The first painting I did this morning was a view of the Hopper.  People immediately think of Edward Hopper when I say "the Hopper" but the Hopper is the v-shaped valley visible at Haley Farm at the end of Hopper Road in Williamstown, MA.   The sun started to fade away in the early afternoon, so I went to the truck graveyard nearby.  This is a good time to visit since the hayfields are accessible and the truck graveyard is not yet overgrown with the bushes that hide the trucks.  Both paintings are 9x12 oil on panel.

Fidgeting

Here are five small horizontal paintings I did in Nice old town, four from the balcony.  All are 6x8 oil on multimedia artboard.  Have you noticed that once you are done with some large project, it is difficult to pick up again where you left off, or restart something else? You eventually get going, but it takes some fidgeting.  I'm working on a couple small studio paintings, but since the sun is shining, I'm going out painting.

Invisible in Nice

A painting of Nice old town from the top of the Escalier Jules Eynaudi.  I wrote earlier that someone had set up an 'invisible man' on the steps.  This consisted of a cardboard box with a pair of shoes, a sign stating in English, "Invisible Man. 0.50 Euro per photo," and a straw hat to collect the money.  While I was painting, I saw the same person come by on two different occasions to collect the money.  The second time I told him that I could see him.  He only smiled.  9x12 oil on multimedia artboard.

A Sky in Old Nice

A quick drawing to demonstrate that sky form that intersects between the two tenements of Rue de la Loge at the corner of Rue de la Croix in Nice old town, which I wrote about the other day.  This piece of sky is what amazed me almost every day when I walked here.   8x10 pen, ink, wash, and pastel on Bristol paper.

At the Top of Road

The view at the top of Montee du Chateau, a wide pedestrian road leading up to Chateau hill in Nice old town.  I am a sucker for yellow buildings with orange roof tiles against a blue sky.    Green trees don't hurt either.  9x12 oil on multimedia artboard.

Bravo

The narrow street that goes through these two building is Rue de la Loge.  This is where it intersects with Rue de la Croix.  I walked this way almost every day, on my way to paint, always looking up at the intersection of rooflines and sky.  The color always amazed me.  This painting I did from a tiny spot in a small parking lot at the corner of Rue des Serruriers, a block up.  I preferred the view with the blue sky form cutting down more between the buildings, but for that I would have had to set up in the middle of the street. Not recommended.  At some point, I sensed someone behind me looking on.  When I looked at him, he said "Bravo".  It was great fun painting in Nice old town.  12x9 oil on multimedia artboard.

The Stimulating Backyard

This drawing is an experiment.  When I made it this morning sitting on a deck looking at a typical backyard in a suburban neighborhood in Framingham, MA, I liked what I saw, the white house, garage, and shed, bright in the sunlight, trees, gray, in early April without leaves, a large pine, a dark screen of black branches, etc.  It might look better in color, but all I had was a pencil and a sketchbook.  The experiment is testing my view that art is where you find it, and make it, in response to what you see, especially to the mundane.  I do love visiting exotic places (like Nice) but most of us don't live there, and Nice is probably not exotic to most people who have lived there all their lives.  I think an ordinary backyard can be visually exciting, whether in Nice or Framingham.  Maybe I haven't convinced you with this drawing.  But it's something I think about all the time.

A Passion in Nice

This is the first of four paintings I did at Place Sainte-Claire in Nice old town.  The view between buildings was magnificent and the laundry was always hanging out.  At one point, a lady asked if she could look at my painting  (I was surprised that most people asked if they could look).   She turned to me and said (in French), "I can see it's a passion for you!"   9x12 oil on multimedia artboard.

Assimilation in Nice Old Town

This view in Nice old town I found where the Montee Menica Rondelly, a steep set of switch backing steps, meets Montee du Chateau, an uphill road where cars are not allowed.  Actually the view is on Allee Francois Aragon, just below the entrance to the cemetery at that intersection.  As I said earlier, I'm noting these facts while I can still remember them.  On the other hand, the geometry of urban scenes pushes me in the direction of abstraction.  Assimilating long views also has that tendency.  9x12 oil on multimedia artboard.

A Sweeping View

When I was setting up for this painting halfway up the steps on Montee Menica Rondelly above Place Sainte-Claire in Nice old town, a street sweeper watched me closely.  He was interested in my equipment.  He was also interested in what I found paintable in an environment he saw every day.  We spoke briefly and wished each other well.  9x12 oil on multimedia artboard.

Looking Back in the Canyon

One of my favorite painting sites in Nice old town was what I think is called Place Sainte-Claire at the end of Rue de la Providence.  To get there quickly I climbed I steep narrow staircase at the top of Rue de Sainte-Claire.  The staircase is located in the "canyon" between an old, yet-to-be-renovated convent and a tall tenement building.  This is the view at the top of the staircase looking back. 12x9 oil on multimedia artboard.

From the Top of the Stairs

One of the paintings that I did from the top of Rue Rossetti at the height of Escalier Jules Eynaudi in Nice old town.  The staircase is quite wide so there's plenty of room for a painter. 9x12 oil on multimedia artboard.

Shadow in Nice

A view down Rue Sainte-Claire from Rue des Serruriers in Nice old town.  I thought I'd better record the exact location of where I painted this one while I still can remember.  I usually don't paint too many verticals but was compelled to in this location.  I also found the building shadow compelling.  12x9 oil on multimedia artboard.

Painting in Nice

If you don't follow my Facebook or Instagram accounts, you probably will have noticed that I haven't posted on this blog since late February.  I haven't been idle.  Here's a photo of the 32 paintings I did while visiting Nice, France.