They are here to play another round of petanque.  When I noticed these men gathering at a park in Arles in the south of France, I knew I had to find a bench to watch them play.

I like watching petanque games because the rules are simple and because the players' movements are very unique.  Carefully measuring a distance to a target, bending their knees, squatting and letting the metal ball fly up in the air...  That's all there is to it, really, but every simple movement counts to win.

I was keeping a safe distance from the court, but I wanted to be a part of the game, at least in this painting.  So I moved the horizon line slightly higher and made the balls line up semi-vertically as if I was standing on the other side of the court.

Sitting under plane trees and sketching these men with cicadas as background music -- Ah, it is the summertime in Provence!


Petanque IV

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Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 7.5 x 9.5 in (19 x 24 cm)
Mat Size: 11 x 14 in (Mat color: off-white)
Purchase: Sold


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