Framed oil painting

24 x 20 (image size) oil on canvas

My inspiration for this painting came from my friend Josiah who captured this scene while touring the French countryside. He spends a good amount of time in France as he has a home in picturesque Beaune. He has an excellent eye and was able to position the bell tower in the center of the picture, with strong diagonals leading to it, which draws your attention to the Alps and the heavenly sky above.  Bonneval-sur-Arc is a village that has been carefully preserved and is centered around the church with its Savoyard style steeple and separated by narrow lanes. It is a top winter ski resort and hiking destination.  I was intrigued by its medieval history and the strong architectural details of stone and heavy wood. I worked with a palette knife to create the rough stonework and carried the texture throughout the painting. I loved the strength of the composition and imagining what life in this unique town must have been like throughout the centuries.