Painting a sunny villa in Antibes

 This villa in Antibes was sold by Christopher Davenport of Riviera Home Finders - and he commissioned me for a painting to offer to his clients... I worked from pictures that he sent me, I loved the house - and initially chose this viewpoint:

But Chris suggested the one with the great reflection in the pool, and he was right!

I added oleanders  in the foreground - to enhance the overall composition...

The shadow makes it a sunny picture in this stage - an effect that will be slightly less as soon as you give the house its colour - because the contrast is less strong:

- by exaggerating the shadows, the bright, South-French sun comes back...

It was such fun to do... and Chris tells me the clients were very happy with it...

Villa in Grasse

Gorgeous aquarelle watercolour by Cathie van der Stel

  

Cathie painted this house in the Peyloubet area in Grasse, for her friend Kristine who is immigrating to Australia and wanted a memory of the house where she & her family spent many happy years. She commissioned Cathie and they chose the pool area, because represented to her where they enjoyed their outdoor lifestyle. Kristine is not taking the statue with her to Australia, so that's also a memory, along with the pots, the garden she tended and the overall sunny atmosphere...