Azure vs. Gray

This month the location for the Virtual Paintout is the Cote d'Azur, which is marginally compensating for the fact that it has been cold and dreary here for the past week. Then again, it is also reminding me of the day I visited Cannes during a fierce deluge (see below). I could have chosen that day to stay onboard my ship where it was warm and dry, but in order to say I'd been to Cannes I had to at least set foot on shore and buy a postcard. As I fought my way to the promenade, the rain drove through my clothes and sent a flash flood running down my legs and into my shoes. Not the kind of swimming I had in mind on the Riviera! But I hear it's sunny there sometimes...just like it shows in my postcard.

Promenade Chairs, oil on canvas panel, 6x6 inches.
©2011 Amy Tennant

My Visit to Cannes, 2009

Ghost Town

Just got back from a trip to the Eastern Sierra/Owens Valley. I've lived in California for most of my life but this was my first visit to Mono Lake, Bodie, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Alabama Hills, and Mt Whitney. Really spectacular scenery, lots of desert wildflowers in bloom, full sunshine the whole time, but it was still pre-season for some of the summer attractions. No access to the Devils Postpile near Mammoth Lakes, and we had to hike in a couple of miles to Bodie and the Bristlecone Pines due to the amount of snow still on the roads. Unfortunately there was too much snow on the trails for us to make it to the oldest trees. This painting was done from an image of the abandoned Tom Miller House in the ghost town of Bodie.

Silent Kitchen, oil on linen panel, 6x6 inches.
©2011 Amy Tennant