Petite Painting: The Secret Corner

 We were cocooned in an idyllic setting in Aix en-Provence. Our home was expansive, inviting, light filled and slightly quaint. The landscaping was our favorite part of the home with its towering shade-sharing trees, untamed wild gray-green foliage, rough hewed rock walls and uneven sandstone patio with the prerequisite large table for alfresco dining. This was a vacation made in heaven!

It was difficult to pull ourselves away from our charming Provence home, but we had come for adventure: following the footsteps of van Gogh, Cezanne, visiting quaint villages, ancient ruins, wandering winding paths looking for the most charming patisserie with the best croissants. 

One day we explored a small hill top village not found on the Ten Best Things to See and Do in Aix en-Provence list. Today I can't recall the name of the village, but I will never forget the impression it had on me.

 Nestled high on a red sandstone hillside was a quaint village-sleepy and quiet; complete with steep winding stairways, open cemetery with a vista of the valley below; crooked alleys filled with charming homes with their cubby hole patios. 

Walking around a tallish building, we happened upon a  charming secluded nook: window boxes over flowing, ancient stone walls, table draped in a turquoise Provencal print cloth with fresh flowers in a clay vase.The seclusion was defined by the thick tree vines, topped with lacy leaves, light peeking through the foliage, falling upon the rough stone walls and uneven brick floor. A secret wooden door was more than tempting to open. 

I photographed it as discretely as possible. Since returning to the states I have painted it several times. The original painting was a watercolor. It was with delight to paint this new version in oil. The process brought back such beautiful memories.