Auvers-sur-Oise Street Scene

Auvers-sur-Oise, 24x24, oil on board

Here is a new piece I have been working on in conjunction with a few other "local tone" paintings.  I started this painting when I started "Tomales Bay." I like to work on a few paintings at the same time, and to have them similar in approach. There is a third painting on my easel that I started about the same time and it is mostly local tone with just a sliver of light coming in, which turns it into Light and Shadow. It is now at the point where I need to give it a rest and come back to it with a fresh vision. It is a complex piece overall. 

The town of Auvers is best known for the final resting place of Vincent Van Gogh and his brother Theo. This is the town where Vincent was living in order to be under the care of Dr. Gachet. It is less than an hour's train ride outside of Paris. I highly recommend it as a side day trip when you visit Paris if you can build in the time. There is the most intriguing "Impressionist" Museum at the chateau. However, there is nary a painting to be seen in it. It is one of the most memorable museums I have ever been to. We had a delicious lunch at the cafe there as well. I read some reviews on this museum that people thought it pricey and too much multi-media, so I guess, to each his own, eh? We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The town itself is very walkable, and you will see reproductions posted of Vincent's paintings before the scene of what he painted. This town was a popular spot for other Impressionist painters who came here to paint along the Oise River. There is a river walk that we did not have time to do while we were there. There is a map that pinpoints spots along the river where other well known paintings were painted from. Pissaro, Monet and Renoir among the artists.

We were there in October and it was very quiet and almost sleepy. We only saw a handful at most of other tourists. This was almost 7 years ago - but I still have not come across anyone who has been there.