The painting here was done en plein air near Jegun, France, in the Gers region of southwest France, looking up at a chateau from just in front of a field of sunflowers. The spent russet flowers were all pointing characteristically east, but the backsides of the heads (facing me) still provided a color statement of fairly bright, warm golds & yellows, set against the earthier tones above.

Summer gives way to the fall harvest here, with busy vineyards, the last of tomatoes and many fresh farm products showing there own colors with the season. This is the most rural farm region in France, with hardy people who manage the land taking in harvests and celebrating “the good life”.

It is also the site where I am planning to teach another art workshop next September (2010), just prior to the scheduled painting workshop I will teach in Croatia in October of next year, as well.