Mont Ventoux at Dawn #126

22/05/2013 by John | Leave a comment

Mont Ventoux at Dawn, John O’Grady, 2013
Oil on Panel, 6″x 6″

Click here to buy this painting

The highest mountain in Provence is a majestic sight. Famous with cycling
enthusiasts for its gruelling climbs, the Mont Ventoux will see the Tour de France
return this year in mid July.

The white top would suggest there is still snow on its slopes but what the locals
call ‘eternal snow’ is limestone that reflects the light.

In the painting, the bobble at the top is the mast house.
You can drive up for spectacular views though I tried to convey in this work
how impressive it is from the valley. Mist and clouds give the viewer a game of
hide and seek that reveals different part of the mountain and different light patterns.

Please share

Posted in Landscape Paintings - Provence Tagged Blue painting, Clouds, dawn, Mont Ventoux, Original Art, Painting of Provence, Tour de France |

Spring Vines, Suze, Provence #125

21/05/2013 by John | 4 Comments

Spring Vines, Suze, ©John O’Grady, 2013
Oil on Panel, 6″x 6″

Click here to buy this Painting

There are vineyards all around the village of Suze la Rousse.
In fact, the village is so deeply steeped in wine making, they have transformed
a medieval castle dating from the 12th Century into a state of the art university of wine.

It has rained a lot here recently and the vine leaves are now showing. In tis area, the earth is
sand-like and changes from a light stone colour to a dark orange shade.

This painting is inspired by an old farm house outside the village on the road to St Paul 3 Chateaux.
There was an interplay between rain clouds and the wind that created moving patches a light on the vines.

Please share