Mary Ann Boysen, watercolorist,
for more information, call : 440-667-7276


See the Arles Market scenes with fruits and vegetables below

for more paintings of France and Provence go to Acrylic Paintings and France

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Watercolor onCanvas
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LESSONS IN WATERCOLOR

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on R-tistx Board & Claybord®

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Page of Links

 

 

 

Abbaye du Senanque in Spring
image: 16" x 20"
Surface: R-tistx Board

The lavender fields here are truly beautiful in the morning sun with shadows across the landscape from the surrounding mountains. This was painted in a very transparent watercolor method, with only the background trees and mountain being more opaque for contrast. This has been glazed to protect it from UV rays, and framed in a gold plein air frame.


St. Paul de Mausole, St. Remy
(the asylum where Van Gogh spent his last years)SOLD

This is a beautiful structure with lavender fields behind it. The walkway to the building is lined with trees and just outside the walls is an orchard of Olive trees. The interior has a courtyard and the light passes through the openings spilling light on the walks.


Côte d'Azur Harbour Boats
image: 8" x 10"
painted on R-tistx Board

The Mediterranean is truly blue, and at sunset on a clear day, the water reflects the crisp blue of the sky. These boats are in the harbourtown of Sausset les Pins, near Marseilles.

SOLD


A Square in Aix en Provence
image: 16" x 20"
painted on Rtistx Board
A video of this painting in progress
is on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/maboysen


La Mule Blanche
image:11" x 14"
a watercolor on 200#Waterford 100% rag paper

This charming restaurant is on a side street in Arles, France. The colorful umbrellas caught my eye and created colorul reflected light around the patio.


French Lace
image: 8" x 8"
painted on R-tistx Board

In a very tiny ancient town in Provence, I spotted this little window. It was on the north side of the building, so I threw some shadows across the painting to create interest.
The texture of the stone surface was achieved by spattering, then squirting water to blend the spatter a bit. The R-tisx board makes the washes very smooth, so extra effort was taken to create the textured surface.

 


The Intruders
11" x 14"

Just a few sunflowers grow in the lavender field at VanGogh's asylum near St. Remy

I am certain that Van Gogh enjoyed the lavender beneath his window near the center of the Asylum in the back.
Surface: Watercolor Canvas

SOLD

L'Abbaye de Senanque
en plein air
11" x 14"

This is a closer view of the Abbaye. The rows of lavender cannot be seen from this angle, but the color is still a nice compliment to the grey stone of the abbey.
Surface: Watercolor Canvas


Le Pont du Gard
en plein air

This Roman acqueduct and bridge looms over the landscape and is overwhelming in size. I couldn't get far enough away from it to paint the entire bridge, but keep coming back....I plan to do some more from my photos.
Surface: Watercolor Canvas SOLD


Van Gogh's Lavender
en plein air

This view is from the back of the asylum where Van Gogh stayed for psychiatric evaluation.
Surface: Watercolor Canvas

SOLD


Sunflowers among the Lavender

These few sunflowers are growing among the lavender behind the Asylum where Van Gogh was incarcerated. They add a nice contrast to the colors of the field.

Surface: Watercolor Canvas

SOLD


Lavender beside the Road

As we parked our car to see the famous windmill
dedicated to the famous French author, Alphonse Daudet, we were surprised to see this beautiful display planted just beside the road. Like the poppies in Tuscany, it grows everywhere!
Surface: 200# Waterford paper

SOLD


The Coliseum in Arles, France
en plein air

This reconstruction was just around the corner from our Hotel Calendal. We painted on one of the narrow streets nearby and were lucky that no cars came by. We would have had to move!

Restaurants are everywhere and have outdoor tables with awnings or umbrellas. Everything was very colorful.
Surface: Watercolor Canvas

SOLD


 

Provence
Market Scenes

While staying in Arles, I arose very early in order to capture the strong morning light in the market. Early shoppers were already in the streets, and the merchants were still unloading, setting up their exhibits, and pricing their wares.

Title: Early Morning at the Market
Size: 8" x 10"
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Textured Claybord®


This is painted on smooth clayboard. The smooth surface gives a shine to the subject more easily than on paper or textured surfaces. It took a bit longer than I had expected to get the shapes and rhythm and contrast to my liking.

Title: Cerises
Size: 8" x 10"
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Smooth Claybord®


Strawberries are always a favorite subject of mine to paint. They have texture, color....and fragrance! I only wish I could paint the fragrance.

Title: Fraises
Size: 5' x 7"

Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Textured Claybord®


Also painted on Clayboard, this onion display represented peaceful movement and just called me to paint it. The surface allowed for softness in the shaded areas and was perfect for this painting.

Title: L'oignons Vert
Size: 5" x 7"
Medium: watercolor
Surface: Textured Claybord®

 


Lavender, lavender, everywhere in Provence! The fields were in full bloom, and lavender was being sold in the marketplace. The fragrance was intoxicating.

Title: Lavande
Size: 5" x 7"
Medium: watercolor
Surface: Smooth Claybord®


Watermelons are the same all over the world. The French also have seedless melons. The marketplace has an artistic flair for selling, as they carve them into beautiful shapes for the customers to see....and drool over!

The watercolor canvas on which this is painted allowed the texture of the watermelon to be evident in the painting.

Title: Les Pasteques
Size: 20" x 20"
Medium: watercolor
Surface: Watercolor canvas


This vender is preparing her signs for the market day. The early morning light created a dramatic scene. Her display contained green beans (haricots vert)

Title: Le Vendeur
Size: 5" x 7"
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Textured Clayboard

SOLD


Green grapes in the early morning light show dramatic contrast in color and light. These, too, attracted my attention as their position shows movement in a static environment.

Title: Les Raisins
Size: 8" x 10"
Medium: watercolor
Surface: Smooth Clayboard®


Colorful straw hats embellish the market scene in France. With the brilliant sunlight, each shopper needs one!

Title: Chapeaux de Paille
Size: 9 " x 12"
Medium: watercolor
Surface: Watercolor Canvas

SOLD


Lemons, lemons, lemons....a bright color in the early morning sun.

Title: Les Citrons
Size: 5 " x 7 "
Medium: watercolor
Surface: Textured Claybord®


Garlic also makes an interesting display at the market,...not with its color, but its shape and subtle color.

Title: L'Ail
Size: 5" x 7"
Medium: watercolor
Surface: Smooth Claybord®

 


This was painted on smooth Claybord because I thought that the smooth skin of the tomatoes would be enhanced by this surface, and I was right. The paint just glided on. Sometimes, the smooth surface makes it difficult to control the watercolor, but it takes practice to handle this situation. I love a challenge, and this is the second time I tried this painting on this surface.....the second being much better than the first.

Title: Les Tomates
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Smooth Claybord®


To help the "feel" of the peach skin, I used Textured Claybord on these peaches. It is truly amazing how the use of a particular surface or the use of a particular pigment can match the object that is painted. The textured claybord is much like working on watercolor paper, as color is more difficult to lift...yet it lifts more easily than on watercolor paper.

Title: Les Pêches
Size: 5" x 7"
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Textured Claybord®

 
 

Once again, because of the shiny surface of the green peppers, I used Smooth Claybord. The paint just slides around, so getting the correct value in the right place is a challenge.

Title: Les Poivrons Vert
Size: 5" x 7"
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Smooth Claybord®

 
 

Having arrived at the market very early, before the hoards of shoppers, I was able to photograph the fruits and vegetables without obstruction. Soon the shoppers came with their bags, carts, and other means of toting their purchases.

Title: "Merci, Madame "
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Smooth Claybord®

 
 

Yet another bin of delicious vegetables at the Arles market.

Title: Chou-fleur et Poivrons Rouge
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Textured Claybord®

SOLD

 

 
 

I liked the strong light cast across this display of onions and sweet peas.

Title: Les Oignons et Pois de Senteur
Size: 8" x 10"
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Watercolor Canvas

 

 
 

While in Provence, there were sunflowers in bloom at the edge of some lavender fields, as if their seeds had been dropped there by birds.

Title: Sunny Delight II
Size: 10" x 10"
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Smooth Claybord®

 
 

Market Day in Arles was spread down the main street and around the corner. People and vendors come from all over Provence, and the characters have incredible faces; some handsome, some weathered and worn. I found this young man to be quite handsome and was eager to paint the reflected light on his face from all the warm tones surrounding him.

Title: "Ils sont Beaux, mes Ananas"
Size: 10" x 10"
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Textured Claybord

SOLD

 


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