French Window Dressings

My favorite images of the French Riviera turned out to be from a small inland village rather than from the famous coastline (in terms of what was available through Google Street View, that is). I've always liked the irregularity and coziness of old towns with narrow streets, and the contrast of monochromatic buildings with bright colorful shutters.

This month, the Virtual Paintout goes to New Zealand.

Old Town Shutters, oil on canvas panel, 8x10 inches.
©2011 Amy Tennant

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

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

It's a Tomato

I guess it isn't the most ambitious of compositions, but here is a tomato. I harbored it for a day as my model but now we can chop it up and put it in our salad. I think somehow it sensed that was coming...

The Tomato, oil on canvas panel, 5x7 inches.
©2011 Amy Tennant

Virtual Japan #3

This will be my last entry for the Virtual Paintout this month, featuring Japan. I did two other small paintings that I will post here after adding a few touch-ups. Looking forward to finding out what next month's location will be.

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

Backyard Ladybug

This guy was hanging out in our backyard having a pleasant snack until we started pestering him by snapping photos with the macro lens. As he maneuvered to escape the intrusion he only managed to move into better lighting. I've since cleared out his perch to make room for the garden bed, so he'll have to find modeling work in another yard for a while.

Backyard Ladybug, oil on canvas panel, 6x6 inches.
©2011 Amy Tennant

Field of Poppy

I just learned that there is such a thing as a pink California Poppy. I have seen pale yellow ones and dark red ones, but I've never seen a pink one. I discovered them while buying my vegetable seeds from Renee's Garden Seeds. I think I'll be planting some in the fall, along with some of the other colors they seem to have come up with, like magenta and buttercream.

Field of Poppy, oil on canvas panel, 6x6 inches.
©2011 Amy Tennant