Beaumont de Ventoux Village

“In 1990–1991 we took our family to Europe and lived for a school year in Provence, France, in a remote valley hamlet called Les Alazard, nestled at the foot of Mount Ventoux. One of several small hamlets in a region farmed for generations, the landscape was dotted with vineyards, lavender fields, herbs de Provence, and, of course, bee hives. 
Fruit trees lined the fields—orchards of apricots, cherries, pears, and apples creating a symphony of colour from early spring to June. Century-old stone farmhouses, barns, fences, and pathways carried the warm patina of rock weathered by winter mistral winds and scorching summers.
This was a paradise of generational families, and we remain forever grateful for the way the community welcomed our young family into their homes. Our daughters were invited into the one-room village school, which became our bridge to belonging. Soon we felt at home—walking the paths, hearing local stories, helping tend bees, and joining family celebrations.
Our children, only eight and eleven at the time, blossomed in the warmth of the community. Sleepovers, birthday parties, and school plays filled their days. They experienced homes where grandparents lived alongside goats and chickens, and where children roamed woods and small basins freely.
Market days were lively community gatherings: local cheeses, barbecue chicken, the beloved pizza truck, and baskets overflowing with seasonal fruits and vegetables.
To this day, I am still stirred to paint this life, this landscape, and its quiet, enduring joie de vivre.”
 Jill

This mixed media original is painted on 300lb Hot Press Watercolour Paper. 15” x22”.
Framed as shown, shipped no glass.