Just as Van Gogh went from Arles to Saint Remy, so did we. He spent much of his time there at an asylum at the Monastery Saint-Paul-de-Mausole. We met up with our friends from Mukilteo in Saint Rémy, one of their favorite places – for good reason.

We walked the 1km road from Saint Remy to the monastery, stopping at the markers along the way that marked paintings he did while in the area. All of this exposure to Van Gogh was both instructional and inspirational. I did this painting from a view just outside the entrance to the Monastery.

Van Gogh was enthralled with the variety of colors that olive trees take, depending on the light at the moment. He said they go from pale gray to blues and greens – so true.

On our first morning in Saint Remy I discovered the Grand Cafe Riché, where I had coffee all three mornings while we were there. Here is the view looking north.

The next two morning I sat in the same chair but looked in different directions. A cypress tree, so captivating to Van Gogh, was a logical choice, then, the next day, just a few meters away, a plane tree.

Our friends left for L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue on Sunday, we followed them on Tuesday. We have been here a few times, so it was quite easy for me to find a cafe I was familiar with. It is a popular spot with both locals and tourists. The servers have to translate the English-German-Italian-French language requests – I am quite impressed with how well they do the translating and with the patience they have.

In Saint Remy I got a 20x30cm sketchbook, a large size for me, so I gave it another go on my first morning here.

Though much of L’Isle has heavy tourist traffic, there are quiet places. I found this green door this morning.

Encouraging people to give sketching a try, or to do more of it, comes from the tremendous joy that something as simple as my fountain pen and a sketch book brings me. Even today when someone asks me if I am an artist, I pause, then I remind myself that, Yes!, I am an artist. Of course I want my sketches to look good, and like it when others like them as well, yet it is the process itself that is the most gratifying.

Just using my pen and little sketch book is a pleasant time.