Viviers – Rhône-Alpes
Belle maison avec jardin

The green gate is sandwiched between the theater and a nondescript corner that leads up the hill through the old town. Butterflies flit through the garden of shadows, the house being swallowed in wisteria. Hammocks, the indicator of afternoons with bubbles and wine. Barking dogs, music, and stories. Silver bangles ‘well behaved women, seldom make history’, percussion to the wind blowing through the leaves. Soul, from the small fishpond fountain. Beautifully crafted tatin, works of art from the patisserie. A kitten for entertainment.

Lunch, brochettes ou boef, at the restaurant on the square.

The house is a ramshackle collection of rooms, in the process of refurbishment and restoration. The shutters are that particular distress of green that comes from eons of painting trashed by summer sun. The hinges, great chunks of iron.

Hesta, has joined us and after another plat du jour (Parma ham and melon, followed by chicken with gorgonzola cheese), this time at Ginger, we walked up through the winding streets of the city. Every corner another photo, another painting.

Patisserie, charcoal and acrylic on paper. I didn’t have anything to seal the charcoal, leading to dirty colors. My worst.

Morning walk down to the river and across the bridge, to find the spot where Signac painted his pictures of Viviers. The trees have grown, making it difficult to get his clear view of the bridge and the cathedral on the hill. Still, the sun turned the stone into shades of gold, church bells filled the air and even the bridge murmured as we walked across it. More than enough for a painting!

A walk up the twisting alleys of the old city to the cathedral. Bored cats watching our progress. Squares, white walls topped by the blue sky, an invitation to stop for a glass of wine.

Vue de Viviers
Charcoal and Acrylic on Paper
23cmx29cm