This was my first assignment for Travel- to do a portrait of someone in our class (who was simultaneously drawing me) and incorporate an element of Lacosté in some unexpected way...and what first caught my attention about Lacosté were the limestone walls and buildings- I was so drawn to them for a reason I still can't explain, so I decided to make that my "Lacosté element". This is done in Charcoal pencils and a (fairly randomly chosen) colored pencil.
Sketches from Arles!! Can you guess the top?...It was a bit rushed, but on top is the Arena and the bottom is a sketch of some random ruins in the Theater. Apparently it was used as a dump of sorts where any ruins that people found were dumped there, and that's precisely what I drew...while sitting on another ruin!
This one's a bit hard to see..butI figure I'd just scan in everything from my sketchbook thus far. This is a sketch of the Cloisters of the Cathedral of St. Trophime- it's basically like an "atrium" in a Roman Villa, or a courtyard if you want to be modern about terms.
Les Alyscamps- the building there that was going to be a church but its construction was interrupted and never completed...it was eerily serene and beautiful.
Le Cafe La Nuit!!! The famous cafe that Van Gogh painted- MY interpretation...with all of the other banners and such that were up because it was the Friday before Easter.
...I'd rather not include this, but we had to do a purely line drawing of "something you wouldn't expect to see" in a nearby town called Gordes...I couldn't find much unexpected, but trash, stones, a cinder-block type thing, and plants all together in about a 2 ft. area seemed odd to me.
The second assignment for Gordes- line drawing with a hint of value...also to be something unexpected. I thought that was a mailbox for the longest time. (It's a birdhouse)
This is in Bonneiux! We were to draw (in purely line, once again) something in the immediate foreground, something further away from us, and something in between. This is the beautiful church as well as some crazy trees in Bonneiux.
The second drawing assignment for Bonneiux: To draw Lacosté, something closer, and something right in front of me using variation in line weight to create the illusion of space. I sound all technical and professional, heehee.
This was actually the first thing I sketched here in Lacosté- it's that gate I described a few blog entries back. This is what I turned into my first Vernissage (the art show) piece.
And here's what I did with it. Done in four colored pencils : )
The sketch for my second Vernissage piece. I've decided my theme is, basically, stone walls or constuctions with some element of the modern era and/or metal (the lamp post and the gate in the first one) with Nature overtaking it. It's cliche, yes, but I am SO drawn to the stonework here, and am very excited about the Vernissage now!
And the finished piece- done in the same four pencils...the colors are very wonky in both of these, I apologize for that...the scanner did something weird to all of my pieces.
Now for the real stuff! First, my hike over to Bonneiux- apart from my class. So there's the road that goes to Bonneiux- that's the way I first went with the big group...that took an hour and 20 minutes. I don't think so. Other people felt the same, and they found a shortcut, but it definitely is a hike...a challenging, real hike, not the "walking along a flat grass path through some nature" hike. (You know who you are if that's directed to you, hehe) : D
So I spoke with someone who had ventured over there at least 5 times, and they drew out a wonderful, adorable map for me! I followed it- this was on the way back, but it's a glimpse of the path that I had just panted up from. I thought it looked pretty...and I needed a breather.
My second trip there- I got a ride with my class this time. They have some of the most amazing doorways here! I want them! Particularly the one on the right!
Or this one. I'd be happy with this one too.
Lindsay saw this as we were exploring new areas of Bonneiux- I had to take a picture. It just looked so weird!
This was at the top of Bonneiux (literally, THE top)...it was so cute...
...I couldn't resist.
Any Latin speakers want to take a go at this? I tried, but sadly most of my Latin has left me.
I thought these trees were crazy! They were also at the top of the hill and must have been shaped by the wind and sun.
Just a pretty picture that I had to capture.
Next, Le Baux!This was at 9am on Friday morning right before departure for Le Baux.
It looked so beautiful and amazing!
While we were at Le Baux, we went to a Pringmaking shop and museum. These must have been some of the tools that were used in feudal times!!! (That's a guess, though)
Some of these prints...I can't imagine. this was about the size of my hand from palm to fingertip.
And a print from that...I personally think he looks like a combination of Sweeney Todd and Beethoven...what do you think?
They had actual Goya prints! Real Goya Prints!!!! 
...Many of you know that I dream of having a library in my house filled with books like this!
After the museum we were free to roam around- they had castle ruins at the top and we were allowed in for only 5 euro! They were doing a catapult demonstration right as we walked inside...and of course everything was in French, so Lindsay and I couldn't understand much of what they were saying. They came around asking for volunteers when they stopped at Lindsay and said something in French...it was pretty obvious she didn't understand, so they asked "You speak French?" she shook her head, and they said "Come!"...She fired the catapult!!! She's in the yellow jacket.
The gorgeous view from the ruins.
Me standing in a little alcove of the ruins...with the stunning view behind me.
This just looked awesome!
It was tempting to put ourselves in them...but there were other people around and we decided not to make a fool of ourselves. They're real, though!
This was at the top of the ruins- it was a very steep climb up crazy, warped stone stairs. Clearly this is what you're supposed to do to people once you get to the top!
A view of Le Baux from the top, and the mountains in the background.
The flag! Capture the flag and we win! The crest on the flag is the crest of Le Baux- it's a sun because the people who founded Le Baux in the 13th century thought that they were descended from the Magi Balthazar, and his "symbol" was the sun.
This was a "secret path" for certain travelers to get into the castle unseen...or something along those lines, I can't remember exactly, but it was cool nonetheless!
Gothic architecture! This seemed so in-tact in comparison to its surroundings.
...Messenger bird holes? Haha, I have no idea what these were for, but I thought I'd take a picture anyway. Does anyone know what they are? Please enlighten me!
A view from the cemetery a the top of Le Baux,
Next day trip! Abbaye De Sennanque!A view of the abbaye from above, on the way down.
This is the typical view you will see of the Abbaye on postcards...however, all of that "field" in front would be a vibrant purple of Lavender! Too bad that it won't be in bloom until the end of the summer.
This was built in the "perfect proportion"- the height vs. width of the arches and of the room that is supposed to be the most beautiful.
50 stonecutters helped to build it, and they would carve their "signature" in each stone they cut so they would get paid. This person with the "T" cut a lot right here!
In an abbaye there is to be no decoration other than the structure itself...and this replica statue of the virgin Mary.
A beautiful view! The three windows represent the holy trinity.
My favorite part, once again, the cloisters!
There's the bell tower. Now I, personally, think that the decoration of these pillars is beautiful and needs no other decoration!
Another view of the abbaye outside!
After the Abbaye we went to The village of Le Bories!This was a village, obviously, that was used until the last century! The style of structure has been around since the Neolithic era (wow!) and is built purely with stone on stone, no mortar!
I love those walls! The villagers harvested wheat, which they then made into bread, goats, pigs, but nothing that required grazing because there was no land to graze on. They also had silk worms, which is rare and very difficult to have! If there is a sudden loud noise (very loud) the worms will stop weaving for the rest of the season. Apparently, so it is said, because they were on a mountain they could see a storm coming. If they did, they would start to bang pots and pans, slowly getting louder, so that by the time the storm came the silk worms were used to it and didn't stop weaving. I don't know if that's true, but that's what my professor heard, and even if it's not it's a crazy story!
More pretty views.
And me sitting on a little stone bench with my scarf! (I bought it at the market in Apt!)
Well there you go! Some of my art, my two ventures to Bonneiux, and my two day trips! More next time!
