Provence Lavender

Provence Lavender

Those of you who follow my blogs know that I sold a painting of lavender fields during my time away on vacation. You also know that my wife Irene remembered only the other day there that I had borrowed it and sold it.

Well yesterday I decided to try and make amends. But what I could not do was do the same painting. That would not be, in my opinion honest to the person who is now the owner of the original. I did however want to try and keep it close. The way to do this was to adjust the colours used. We know that with just a slight change of the colours used we can change the whole mood and feeling of a painting.

This was where today’s other blog came from. I was thinking of this and the story popped back into my head and brought a smile to my face. I know I am a bit off the wall but yesterday as I painted I was talking to my colours. I told them the story I have shared this morning.

Well the painting was completed, and I had a lovely day doing it. On completion I put it where Irene would see it as she arrived home from work. She came home, and said not a word. She must have noticed it I thought. I will say nothing and just get on with cooking the evening meal.

As we sat down to eat she commented at last. I quote. “I see you have got my painting back. Did the person who bought it decide they did not like it?”

So much for making it a bit different from the other one., and here I was foolishly believing she liked it enough to have noticed.

Well it is good that our art not only conveys things to others but has the ability to keep us firmly rooted in reality.

I can assure you it may be based on the same scene but I did use a different palette.

This blog is linked to my other. Colours

Lavender Fields Sketch

Lavender Fields Sketch.

The truth had to come out. My wife knew I had borrowed the painting off the kitchen wall to fill a gap while I was on holiday. I am sure I told you before that the painting sold. I had forgotten to mention this to Irene. I thought least said and all that. No I was being a coward that is the truth. I thought if I said nothing she might forget and say nothing.

Last night at evening meal she was looking at the kitchen wall. I could feel it coming. When are you going to get back my painting of the lavender fields?

There was no getting out of it; I had to admit it had sold.

I could see she was not at all happy. It is unusual for her to get attached to any of my paintings, but it seems she had in this case.

So immediately after evening meal I got out my pencils and sketch pad. I went to my computer and looked again at the holiday pictures from France and made this sketch. Not the same as the one I sold but of the same scene with a slightly different way of seeing it.

All of my painting is about feeling, never about reproduction. When I look at the sketch I can remember being in the place and the smell.

So I have a sketch maybe before my anniversary I will be able to convert it into a painting and have it back on that kitchen wall. But then again I do have a space on a wall in one of the inns waiting to be filled.

This blog is linked to my other.  The Extra Five Minutes

Lavender Fields

 Lavender Fields

 

This is the third of the paintings that sold during my time away. It seemed appropriate to use it today on my other blog. We live in a world of such beauty in nature and the people who surround. It is sad that there are so many who either seem not to care or are too involved in their own lives to notice.

What a joy it is to be able to share what we see and feel, even if it is not always as we would like to be able to.

This painting was inspired by an earlier visit to France. On my return I was showing friends some of my holiday pictures. One lady asked if I would paint one of the scenes of lavender fields. When my wife saw the painting she did not want me to sell it. I had promised and I did, but painted another similar for her.

Recently due to my accident I was unable to paint and needed a painting to hang on one of the gaps created by a sale. I borrowed this one. I then left to go on holiday and during my time away it sold.

I am not the most popular person around at present when my wife looks at the place where it hung. I really do hope the purchaser gets many happy thoughts from it.

I suppose I should make some effort to paint another lavender field soon.

This blog is linked to my other.  The Girl Who Could Not See