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Journey Through Cannes and Le Cannet: Art, Culture, and Transport Tips. Exploring Art and Cuisine in Provence’s Charming Towns. Part 4.

ArtTravel

Urban sketching. Travel, Architecture and Art

Le Cannet: Home of the Bonnard Museum and Artfully Avoiding Cannes’ Crowds!

And then on another direction, the second trip was separate. It was a one-day independent journey from Antibes to Cannes and Le Cannet.

Provence is famous for its art museums in every small town or village. Le Cannet is a small suburb of Cannes. In North America this suburb would be part of a big city, for example Greater Toronto or Greater Vancouver.

The Central Train Station in Cannes is located in the heart of the city. To get there, take the bus #  Bus Palm Express n°1. Within 10 minutes, you will reach Le Cannet famous museum Bonnard.  Location: 16 boulevard Sadi Carnot, 06110 Le Cannet

House-museum artist Bonnard. Bonnard lived in Le Cannet for 25 years and created his Provencal paintings, saturated with sunlight, light and air.  We were waiting for an exhibition that just opened during our vacation in Antibes. The temporary exhibition of collection Nahmad (De L’Impressionisme À Bonnard et Picasso) showcased the Impressionist artists. It organically blended into the permanent collection of Bonnard museum.

Cannes’ famous Red Carpet

We made a delightful pit stop in the glamorous city of Cannes on our journey back to Antibes. The famous film festival is very common!

We were all set to strut our stuff on Cannes’ famous Red Carpet. We perfected our best “I just won an Oscar” walk. It was finished with invisible awards and imaginary paparazzi trailing our every move!

Metal plaque with handprints and signature, set into the ground, showcasing the date '17/05/03'.
Hand prints of a celebrity set into the pavement, commemorating their visit to the Cannes Film Festival.

In my picture, the celebrities’ prints shoot up to the sky. They resemble a really ambitious road vying for a spot in a cloud competition!

Watercolor sketch of Cannes featuring a train, handprints, and beach scenes.
A watercolor sketch capturing the scenic views of Cannes, featuring a charming train and vibrant beach landscape.

Transportation: Our Hilarious Misadventures and Tips for Traveling in Provence

Embarking on my inaugural journey through the enchanting region of Provence was a delightful escapade fraught with unexpected adventures. The warmth and hospitality of the local residents, as well as fellow travelers, provided comfort during moments of disorientation in this picturesque landscape. My encounters with the complexities of train travel, compounded by my limited proficiency in the French language, led to a series of amusing misadventures, including missed connections and unforeseen challenges.

Yet, amidst the chaos, I discovered clever local transportation tips that may serve to conserve both time and money for future travelers. Intriguingly, these transportation mishaps ultimately enriched my experience, transforming potential frustrations into cherished memories that added a unique charm to my journey. :)

The topography of the area is a mountainous terrain. If you do not want to rent a car in a foreign country, there are a few alternatives to driving.

The first choice is the train. They are convenient, quick, comfortable, inexpensive, and all trains have an efficient schedules with small gaps in between 2 trains. For example, from Nice to Grasse the train’s cost was 10 Euros (2019). But, this choice has a disadvantage that you rarely can get to see small towns by trains.

 The second choice is the bus. The advantage of buses is their routes reach even the smallest mountain towns. This is the cheapest choice. The inconvenience is that sometimes you have to take a transfer between inter regional buses and local city’s buses. Most importantly, the bus trip will be longer than any train.

The third option is like a hybrid of the first two—or you can just go with a travel company. Do you want to hop between a bunch of quirky little mountain towns in just 1-2 days? Let the pros handle it. Those local or international tour operators are like your cool travel buddies. They are always ready for an adventure. (And they know where to find the best snacks). And hey, there’s something for you at the end of this post. You’ll find a link to Viator. It’s your ticket to hilarity wrapped in sightseeing!

I absolutely adore my one-day trips to the French Riviera—it’s like speed-dating with beautiful landscapes! I dash around, sketching everything from tiny crannies to towering giants. I try to look like a sophisticated artist, not just some tourist with a fancy pencil and watercolor palette and brush:)

Join me on this thrilling adventure. Every moment holds the potential to uplift your spirit. It can bring joy to your life!

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent Watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:)

You are welcome to visit my personal website pages. There, you can find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings. You can buy canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Links. Transportation

How to get from Antibes to Le Mougins. Take Train to Cannes, then bus to Mougins. Lines 25-27. Cannes – Ranguin <> Gare Routière des Messugues <> Collège Eganaude – Sophia Antipolis, par Mougins

How to get from Antibes to Le Cannet . Take train Antibes to Cannes, bus #1 and 4(?), 15 min =10 stops to Musee Bonnard, Bus Palm’Express n°1, arrêt « Mairie du Cannet

Town of Grasse. http://www.ville-grasse.fr/

Moulin d’Opio http://www.moulin-dopio.com/olives/en/. Address 2, route de Châteauneuf, OPIO

Mougins museum https://mouginsmusee.com/en

Tourrettes-sur-Loup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourrettes-sur-Loup

Town Gordon https://www.provenceweb.fr/e/alpmarit/gourdon/gourdon.htm

http://www.cannes.com/en/festival-de-cannes/the-festival-in-pictures

https://www.viator.com/French-Riviera/d179-ttd

Le Cannet museum http://www.museebonnard.fr/

https://www.viator.com

Exploring Tourettes-sur-Loup: A Legend of Queen Victoria. Exploring Art and Cuisine in Provence’s Charming Towns. Part 3.

Art workshops, Artist, ArtTravel, France, Uncategorized, Urban sketching, Voyage
Tourettes-sur-loup and its legends

This was amazing little town with an unusual legend.

Just imaging, you are jauntily wandering through the medieval streets. Also trying not to trip over the cobblestones that probably date back to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Meanwhile, admiring the stone facades that looked like they had more stories than my grandma. Actually, this is my story that happens with everyone while traveling in a medieval town, right?:)

And then OMG, the flowers! They were so fragrant that I half expected them to start singing show tunes! It was truly an unexpected adventure in one of the prettiest settlements in France. The buildings are old, but the charm is timeless! :)

As promised, about the local legend. It says that the English Queen Victoria was riding on a donkey with her staff to the town. After this uneasy journey, she tired and ordered a road to be built to this tallest town. Thank you! the English Queen Victoria wanted everyone to see the beauties of this place. And it was completed, so now you can enjoy them too. The main square of the town is named after the Queen, with no doubt. Everybody loves this legend.

Watercolor painting of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, featuring a scenic view with an ice cream cone and a small bowl of fruits, capturing the charm of Provence.
A charming watercolor sketch of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, showcasing the town’s vibrant ice cream and flower motifs characteristic of Provence.

Another Legend about Ice cream while you are exploring the town.

Ice cream transcends the realm of mere treats; it embodies the town’s most cherished secret. Yes, I found it while eating the violet rich ice cream.

As she dances around you, the air fills with the delightful aroma of freshly churned ice cream. It draws forth smiles and laughter from everyone nearby. A simple shout turns into a memorable experience that sugary dreams are made of! Even years later, I still remember this taste and scent.

As you walk around town, you will notice violets everywhere. They are painted on the asphalt and in the ice cream. Violet ice cream was a pleasant discovery for me. It’s worth coming to this mountainous town just for its sake!

The Wobbly Wonders of Cascades du Saut du Loup: Where Waterfalls Take a Dive!

The next stop was the stunning Mountain waterfalls known as Cascades du Saut du Loup. The name comes from the French language. It translates to the mouth of the wolf. I found it’s quite scary name.

This evokes an air of mystery and intrigue surrounding this natural wonder. As we approached the cascades, the sound of rushing water grew louder, filling the air with a sense of anticipation.

The scene was surrounded by lush greenery and rocky cliffs. It was breathtaking, with glistening water tumbling down the steep slopes. This created a mesmerizing spectacle. This hidden gem is more than just a beautiful sight. It holds an important place in local folklore. Tales of wolves and their enchanting habitat add to the allure of this captivating location. I think that every waterfalls has its own legends, do you agree with it?

I don’t know what mouth of a wolf it is. Now this is my secret. I personally saw a huge muzzle of an orangutan in the rocks. Everyone in our group was laughing from my imagination:)

Gourdon vs. Gordes:

As we continued our travel, the next stop was Gordon. It is the highest town of our trip. Its magnificent castle is perched 750 meters above sea level on rocks.

Watercolor painting of Gourdon Castle in Provence, surrounded by lush greenery and mountains.
Watercolor sketch of Gourdon Castle in Provence, showcasing the lush landscapes of the region.

A little comment about the tour. Part of our goal for this trip was to see Provencal lavender fields. Our tour operator was also our driver and a cheerful guide.

Meanwhile, he piped up from the passenger seat, “Well, there’s a little hitch in our giddy-up!” Apparently, it would take another hour to reach the lavender fields from this town. Perfect! This was just enough time for him to regale her with his latest theory. He believed a goat named Jean-Claude should have been our co-pilot.

“Just think about it,” he said with a grin. “He’d be the best navigator. Frankly, I’d trust a goat over a GPS any day!” As they continued their winding journey, the fragrant scent of lavender teased their senses. It promised that the true adventure was only just beginning.

Gourdon and Gordes are two different cities. Ops, my bad, I did not see on this day any lavenders’ fields. So, please take my advice, enjoy your day , even you were expecting other views.

Both cities are nestled in the picturesque hills of Provence. Yet, they are distinct places rich in their own unique charm and character.

The tour company made a comical error. They mixed them up. This led to a day filled with unexpected adventures and humorous anecdotes. As the day unfolded, we constantly wondered how the mix-up could have happened. This curiosity gave us an amusing reason to return. We wanted to explore the beautiful regions more thoroughly.

It became our running joke throughout this long day. The joke lightened the mood and brought us closer together. This happened as we navigated the winding roads. We were diligently searching for the iconic lavender bushes. We were also looking for even small patches of planted lavender. Provence is so famous for this.

Every time we stumbled upon anything resembling those fragrant fields, we kept saying, “Well, here’s lavender!” We burst into laughter. What could have been an inconvenience turned into a delightful memory. It’s a memory that we’ll cherish for years to come.

The Lavender Showdown – Who Will Win the Name Game?

The locals told us that in earlier years the lavender fields really bloomed vibrantly around the town. This created a stunning visual spectacle. It attracted visitors from far and wide.

The intoxicating fragrance of the lavender filled the air, making it a beloved destination for tourists and locals alike. One unfortunate year, a particularly harsh cold winter struck. The lavender bushes not survive the frigid temperatures that followed. The once-thriving fields, which had been a source of pride and beauty for the community, fell silent and barren.

After that, despite the people’s longing for the return of the lavender, they were not planted again. This decision left a void in the landscape deeply felt by everyone. It’s truly a pity to witness such a loss of natural beauty and charm.

Watercolor sketch depicting the picturesque landscapes of Gourdon, France, including lavender, buildings, and greenery.
A watercolor sketch depicting the scenic beauty of Gourdon, France, showcasing its charming architecture and lavender foliage.

The mountain road is serpentine. It leads to mountain towns Gourdon and Tourrettes-sur-Loup. We passed through the medieval town. In the sky, we saw a cloud “goose”.

I will continue to post about one-day trips in Nice. Next up is Cannes and Le Cannet. I visited the famous museum of artist Bonnard. After all, who doesn’t want to admire the works of someone who painted like they were on a permanent vacation? More art, less sanity!

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:)

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Links

Tourrettes-sur-Loup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourrettes-sur-Loup

Town Gordon https://www.provenceweb.fr/e/alpmarit/gourdon/gourdon.htm

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent Watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

A Sketching Adventure: Mougins’ Artistic Heritage. Exploring Art and Cuisine in Provence’s Charming Towns. Part 2. 

Art workshops, Artist, ArtTravel, France, Urban sketching, Voyage

A Sketching Journey Through Provence’s Artistic Towns. Urban sketching. Travel, Architecture and Art

Everything is in one bottle of flavor that brings together the image of a city or place.

Mougins: Where Art Galleries Outnumber Residents!

The next town we visited was Mougins, is a city of art galleries and artist’ workshops. On a small plaza, I saw a mysterious lady in a beautiful hat near the city’s legendary museum.

Watercolor painting of a woman sitting under a tree, wearing a hat and a dress, in a warm, sunlit environment.
This is a serene sketch capturing a mysterious lady in a beautiful hat. It is set against the charming backdrop of Mougins. This town is known for its vibrant art scene.
The Art of Not Getting Bored at Mougins Museum!

The city has a famous Mougins Museum of Classical Art. It is a private museum. The entrance costs 14 Euros (2019). It’s worth it. Address: 32 Rue Commandeur, Mougins. The Mougins museum has the world’s largest private collection of antic helmets.  I never would have thought that there was such a variety of helmets.

A watercolor sketch depicting various ancient helmets displayed at the Mougins Museum of Classical Art, showcasing a mix of colors and artistic elements.
A watercolor sketch of ancient helmets displayed at the Mougins Museum of Classical Art.

In the museum, the lighting was dark so my sketches show the overall impressions of the gloom.  I like to watch museums’ visitors; it shows the general impression of direction of exhibits in museum. We visited the museum on Monday when there were no visitors so the whole museum was ours. I was surprised to see such a rich collection outside the Louvre or British Museums.

One of my artistic goals is to paint the combination of houses, people, cafe, streets, landscapes, food, Provencal ice creams.

Watercolor sketch depicting a scene from Mougins, featuring a streetlamp, a small table with a flower pot, and sunlit surroundings.
Watercolor sketch depicting the charm of Mougins, Côte d’Azur, showcasing a cafe scene and the essence of local artistry.

On the way to the city, our tour operator mentioned an interesting annual festival. It is called the ‘International Gastronomy Festival of Mougins’ or ‘Les Étoiles de Mougins’.

The festival used to be an event that brought lots of tourists and media attention to the town of Mougins.

Effective this year, the decision was made to hold the festival in other cities around the world. Mougins’ Michelin chefs will be sent to the festival to show the culinary art of the city’s chefs. So, understandably, the residents of the city are disappointed and would like to return the tourists to their city. To get here, you can take a train/bus from Antibes or Nice. At the end of this post, I will give instructions on how to get to this town.

A watercolor sketch depicting a stone gate and greenery, surrounded by warm light and soft colors, capturing the essence of a Provencal landscape.
Watercolor sketch depicting the charming scenery of Moulin d’Opio, showcasing olive trees and lanterns, reminiscent of Van Gogh’s art.

Moulin d’Opio mill, with its olive grove

Our next visit was a small place at Moulin d’Opio mill, with its olive grove and a small store. When you visit this place, you will instantly remember Van Gogh’s painting.   The owners are the fifth generation of this family. They were telling us how olive oil has been produced for many centuries. We tested different varieties of olives, French oil, tapenade on toast, and drinks.

Watercolor sketch depicting a staircase surrounded by trees, evoking the charm of rustic architecture in a warm, sunlit setting.
Watercolor sketch depicting a charming scene from Moulin d’Opio, highlighting the olive trees and quaint architecture of the area.

I would never have thought that I would try olive oil on its own. It was an interesting experiment.

Watercolor sketch depicting olive oil, olives, and a macaron on a table with an olive grove in the background.
A watercolor illustration depicting olive oil, olives, and a traditional Provencal setting, reflecting the culinary heritage of the region.
Watercolor sketch depicting olive oil and olives set against a rustic backdrop of the Moulin d'Opio, showcasing elements of Provence's landscape.
A watercolor sketch depicting olive oil tasting and the scenic landscape of Le Moulin d’Opio in Côte d’Azur.

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent Watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:)

You are welcome to visit my personal website pages. There, you can find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings. You can buy canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Links. Transportation

How to get from Antibes to Le Mougins. Take Train to Cannes, then bus to Mougins. Lines 25-27. Cannes – Ranguin <> Gare Routière des Messugues <> Collège Eganaude – Sophia Antipolis, par Mougins

How to get from Antibes to Le Cannet . Take train Antibes to Cannes, bus #1 and 4(?), 15 min =10 stops to Musee Bonnard, Bus Palm’Express n°1, arrêt « Mairie du Cannet

Town of Grasse. http://www.ville-grasse.fr/

Moulin d’Opio http://www.moulin-dopio.com/olives/en/. Address 2, route de Châteauneuf, OPIO

Mougins museum https://mouginsmusee.com/en

Tourrettes-sur-Loup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourrettes-sur-Loup

Town Gordon https://www.provenceweb.fr/e/alpmarit/gourdon/gourdon.htm

http://www.cannes.com/en/festival-de-cannes/the-festival-in-pictures

https://www.viator.com/French-Riviera/d179-ttd

Le Cannet museum http://www.museebonnard.fr/

https://www.viator.com

A Sketching Journey Through Provence’s Artistic Towns. Urban sketching. Exploring Art and Cuisine in Provence’s Charming Towns. Part 1.

Art workshops, Artist, ArtTravel, France, sea, Uncategorized, Urban sketching, Voyage

Travel, Architecture and Art

How to bring more joy to your vacation in the south of France

In this post I would like to talk about some one-day trips from Antibes or Nice. For me, sitting in one place and swimming in the sea is fine for a couple of days. I enjoy sunny beaches and cuisine, but then I need more. Provencal cities are very close to each other. They are rich in history, art, and architecture. It would be a “crime” not to visit some of the local small towns in the neighborhood.

A watercolor sketch depicting a colorful display of Provencal ceramic tableware, with a stone archway framing the vibrant plates and bowls arranged on shelves.
Vibrant Provencal ceramic tableware showcasing the rich colors of handmade plates from the South of France.

Exploring Art and Cuisine in Provence’s Charming Towns. Nice, France, one-day trips in Provence.

Provencal ceramic tableware with sun-drenched harmony of Provence in single handmade plates with vibrant colors found in the South of France and Italy

Hand-drawn map depicting travel routes and notable locations in Provence, including Grasse, Gourdon, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Mougins, Le Cannet, and Antibes, with watercolor illustrations.
Illustration of the beautiful towns and landmarks around Provence, highlighting key locations like Grasse, Gourdon, and Tourrettes-sur-Loup.

Our Provencal Itinerary. This trip began in Nice and continued through Grasse, Mougins, and Moulins d’Opio. We also explored Waterfalle sur Loup, Tourrettes du Loup, and Gourdon.

We always travel by train or bus… but this time we decided to save our time and traveled with a tour operator.

Sketch of the Gare de Nice Ville train station, showcasing its architectural features and people.
The recently renovated Gare de Nice Ville, a welcoming gateway to the beautiful city of Nice.

Vibrant Provencal Experiences: From Grasse to Nice. Blue train brings people to Mediterranean Sea every day

Old Train station in Nice was recently renovated. It seems to be inviting visitors to join one of the most beautiful cities. Nice is conveniently located near the sea.

Our tour started from Nice. You can be picked up from your hotel by the tour operator. In our case we lived in Antibes. As a choice, a driver pick you up from your city, with an extra cost. We decided to take a train from Antibes to Nice. The journey took just 10 -15 minutes. It cost 4 Euros. It was another reason to visit Nice.

A watercolour sketch of a modern train at a railway station, featuring architectural details like arched ceilings, alongside a green plant and a bench.
Illustration of a train station in Nice, capturing the blend of modern transportation and picturesque surroundings.

Grasse, the capital of perfumery

The 1st stop was in Grasse, the capital of perfumery. According to the legend of the 17th century, the city had many leather shops. The skin was soaked with flower essences to remove an unpleasant odour. Louis XIII and his beautiful wife, Anna of Austria, shared valuable secrets.

She was a Spanish-born queen. Thanks to them, some Spanish and Arab techniques for perfumed skins were revealed. So perfumes came to us from the city of Grasse. You want to visit Parfumerie Fragonard.

A watercolor painting depicting a vibrant street scene with colorful umbrellas and buildings, capturing the warm hues of a sunny atmosphere.
Watercolor painting depicting the vibrant atmosphere of a Provencal town, capturing colorful rooftops and the scenic beauty of the region.

The whole city is covered in flowers; a local perfume factory acquaints visitors with its spirits. During our last visit to Grasse several years ago, we walked several times through the local central square. We admired the views of the mountains from a huge cliff near the town hall.

It was blooming with floral aromas, the local fountain freshened the air with water. And only then I realized that the fountain was spraying perfumed water.

Perfume factory in Grasse

Sketch of our excursions perfume factory and olive store at Le Moulin D’Opio, Opio. Legendary Fragonard was the mayor of the city. The city has the Fragonard Museum is located at: 14 rue Jean Ossola, Hotel de Villeneuve, Grasse

A watercolor sketch depicting the interior of a perfumery in Grasse, France, featuring colorful bottles and a vibrant tablecloth.
This watercolor sketch depicts the perfume factory and olive store at Le Moulin d’Opio in Grasse, France. It showcases vibrant colors and local products.

Some interesting facts about Fragonard: he was the artist and pioneer of the Rococo style. There is a famous painting “The Swing” by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Fragonard was a distant relative of my beloved impressionist artist Bertha Morisot. We visited museum D’Orsay in Paris this year, Morisot’s personal exhibition in the museum. Stay tuned for more information on it in my future posts.

More intriguing tales and delightful doodles are on their way—consider this your friendly heads-up before the next artistic adventure hits!

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent Watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:)

You are welcome to visit my personal website pages. There, you can find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings. You can buy canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Links. Transportation

How to get from Antibes to Le Mougins. Take Train to Cannes, then bus to Mougins. Lines 25-27. Cannes – Ranguin <> Gare Routière des Messugues <> Collège Eganaude – Sophia Antipolis, par Mougins

How to get from Antibes to Le Cannet . Take train Antibes to Cannes, bus #1 and 4(?), 15 min =10 stops to Musee Bonnard, Bus Palm’Express n°1, arrêt « Mairie du Cannet

Town of Grasse. http://www.ville-grasse.fr/

Moulin d’Opio http://www.moulin-dopio.com/olives/en/. Address 2, route de Châteauneuf, OPIO

Mougins museum https://mouginsmusee.com/en

Tourrettes-sur-Loup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourrettes-sur-Loup

Town Gordon https://www.provenceweb.fr/e/alpmarit/gourdon/gourdon.htm

http://www.cannes.com/en/festival-de-cannes/the-festival-in-pictures

https://www.viator.com/French-Riviera/d179-ttd

Le Cannet museum http://www.museebonnard.fr/

https://www.viator.com

Lemons, tea, aromas and Italy. Still life and Urban sketching. Part 5.

ArtTravel

#lemon #art #travel #Italy (aka my holy trinity of happiness)

Yellow, sour, fragrant… and absolutely the diva of the citrus world. In tea with sugar? *Chef’s kiss.* It’s pleasant. Also full of vitamins (or so I tell myself between paintings). And its name is LEMON! Perhaps each of us, both adults and children, knows this bright, yellow citrus fruit—unless you’ve been living under a Mediterranean rock your whole life.

Still life. Still delicious. Still not edible.

It was in Italy (the land of carbs, art, and lemons galore) where my family dragged me around the Italian “boot” from top to toe several years ago. Because nothing says “family vacation” like touring every inch of a country! The painting happened in the south of Italy, in one of those charming little towns where time moves slower and espresso is cheaper than water. Naturally.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but this lemon was painted in one. (Lies. It took three.)

Our next stop was the north of Italy, literally the “top of the boot” (geography humor—I’m here all week). Lemon trees were EVERYWHERE on the Borromean islands, like someone’s obsessed Pinterest board came to life. The backdrop? Mountains. Swiss mountains. Beautiful, indifferent, Swiss mountains that made the lemons look even more golden and smug.

Lemon trees: nature’s way of saying ‘you’re in Italy now, calm down.’

The lemons were HUGE. Like, absurdly huge. And their aroma? Everywhere. It was less “fresh citrus scent” and more “olfactory assault in the best way possible.” I still remember the weight of those yellow orbs in my hand—fruit so heavy it could double as a gym weight. Nature’s dumbbell.

Shall we have tea with lemon now? Or should we just sit and contemplate the sheer absurdity of how a little yellow fruit has consumed my entire artistic existence?

Tea. Lemon. Existential peace. You know the vibe.

According to legend (and I’m not making this up, mythology nerds), the aromatic fruits the color of the sun were gifted to Hera’s wedding when she married Zeus. Because if Zeus’s new wife wanted to stay young and beautiful forever, obviously you give her lemons. Logic. The ancient Greeks apparently believed: “Its aroma amuses the mind, the peel and grains are good for the heart, the flesh is excellent food, and the juice quenches thirst.” Basically, lemons are fruit’s overachiever. They’re doing cardio, aesthetics therapy, AND hydration all at once.

All paintings belong to the author. Seriously, don’t copy them. I’m watching. (Jk, but also—don’t.)

Tools used for my paintings: Watercolour brands Van Gogh and Cotman (because why choose when you can be indecisive?). Derwent watercolour pencils for when I need surgical precision on my lemon chaos. Paper from Canson Mix Media albums (28×35 cm / 11×14 in.) and Canson Watercolour albums (25×35 cm / 11×15 in.)—basically, I invested in better paper than I invest in my actual life stability.

Bon voyage! Until the next travel adventure (hopefully with fewer lemons and more personal growth, but let’s be realistic). Stay healthy, stay hydrated, and may your tea always have the perfect squeeze of lemon.

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Thank you for your response. ✨