30 Paintings in 30 Days #17 Castillion Window - Provence

Castillion Window - Provence

#17 ~  30 paintings in 30 days

A small village in the Gard region of Provence. Off the beaten track. 

I sit in an ancient doorway painting intently, observing the little window facing me. Of course, little did I know that, behind the reflection,  the owner of the house, was staring intently back, wondering who, and what...
And so it was that I met an elderly, yet elegant, Belgian man who had owned the house for many years. He loved the painting, which provided enough street cred for an invitation into his home. 

"Bien Sur, of course, I'd love to see inside your medieval house". I grabbed Lizz as you know what they say about going alone into total strangers' homes...

It turned out to be a treasured memory. We got to see the foundations which were Roman, and preserved, albeit where the sheep were held in the winter, which was the custom about two thousand years ago.

We toured the kitchen and the admired the oven/heating system/hole in the wall, medieval high-tech. We climbed ancient stone slabs, the stairway built up and around a tiny internal courtyard to the "balcony" for watching the sun set while toasting a glass to the gods. 
Definitely keeping this on the retreat itinerary for 2016.

Acrylic on mounted watercolor paper. 6" x 6"

As with all my 30 in 30 paintings, buy through DailyPaintWorks for the duration of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.