The Salon

The Chateau in Burgundy was called Le Pinacle. It is where I stayed on three different painting trips to France. This room, the salon, was quite beautiful. The second time I went, I took some piano music. On the first trip, I did not expect to have an opportunity to play the piano. One day, early morning, the light was just right and it certainly deserved a photograph. I blocked it in on canvas with diluted oil paint, just an initial underpainting, and finished it at home a month later. The times at the Chateau were experiences that I treasure. I came home with a lot of small plein air paintings and material for larger works. There were 10 or 12 of us in the group. My bedroom was on the 3rd floor, very small, maid's quarters back in the day. The view out to a neighboring village was truly breath-taking, especially in the evening. Burgundy, France is an enchanting little spot on the planet.