Pitches made for painting

From Catherine S (2nd)

I love the colours, soft and gentle, allowing my eye to slowly explore.
I am interested that the predominant colours are subdued yet the picture is very bright. I would normally not be drawn to a painting without more vibrant colours yet I don’t find the colours depressing – quite the opposite – uplifting! It has a wonderful warmth to it.

I can’t believe that I would choose it over and above such paintings as “Bog Pool with Lilies”, “Green on Pool” or “Derelict House – Mount Usher Gardens”, all of which have rich and strong colours.

There is a lot that is undefined in the painting and I come back to it again and again to explore because of this lack of definition. I recognise so much in it that is so typically French. How can I say that when things are not clearly defined? I think it is the atmosphere created so wonderfully. Perhaps the fact that I am familiar with small French villages makes the undefined very defined in my mind.

Is the blue square o the wall a street name, and what could the name be? What kind of scooter is outside a house, or is it a little shop? Is it perhaps a motorbike? Where do those steps go? My eye is drawn upwards to imagine what the final step leads to. What kind of tree is it that gives such valuable shade on such a hot day? How do I know it is a hot day? Perhaps from the dark shadows from strong sun so familiar in France. Is there someone sitting at the table under the umbrella? I can’t quite decide but keep looking. Perhaps there nobody around because it is siesta time. The shadows are getting long so siesta time should be over. I love the suggestion of flowers hanging from a window or a balcony – all a little hazy like the heat of the afternoon.

I have lots of questions that draw me back to this painting and I know I would get endless value from it if it were hanging on my wall, so I am putting in my pitch for this one!