If only I could paint

Ok, I'm having a little trouble letting go of my France trip.

Months before I went to France and purely by coincidence,

I bought a book about the life of Vincent Van Gogh.

I have no idea why,needed a change from my usual political or sports related subjects,

 but I'm glad I did, for a few reasons.

First, the short time he was on this earth, he lived quite an interesting

if troubled life.

I mean, the guy did cut off his ear in a drunkin rage,

and then shot himself in the stomach years later,

so to say he was troubled is not a stretch.

Second, I never imagined I would be remotely interested

in the story of a well known artist.

But I couldn't put the book down.

So what a surprise it was for me

to find out that some of the towns we were visiting on our trip in France

were the same towns that Van Gogh meandered about in and painted some of his most famous work.

Our last day in France we headed north and spent a day

in the town of Auvers, which is just a half a wine bottle away from Paris,

(if I were allowed to drink and drive.)

This happened to be the place where Vincent Van Gogh

took his own life.

The painting below is titled

"Church at Auvers.

..and he set up his easel ......

right about here.

Let me tell you

I loved the fact that I got to stand in just about the exact location

that Mr. Van Gogh did when he painted this church.

The painting below is titled

"Village scene, Auvers."

...and yes,

Vincent stood right around here those many years ago.

The steps, that are so obvious in his painting
are obscured by the green growth.

As I walked down this alley
I pictured Van Gogh, doing the same thing,
while carrying his easel, paints and probably a bottle of Provence's rose.

The "Auvers Town Hall",

hasn't changed much

since he squeezed out paint onto his pallet.

Below is the rooming house where he died.

In a small room upstairs

he lay in bed, mortally wounded from a self inflicted gun shot,

for days before dying.

We visited his room,

it's part of a museum tour.

There was a definite energy shift

when you entered.

I didn't take photos.

Didn't seem right.

Vincent Van Gogh died an unknown artist,

having only sold a painting or two during his life.

He didn't paint for money.

He painted because he was an artist.

Below, is the spot where he painted one of his most famous works.

"Wheat field with Crows"

Some suggest it was his last painting.

He died broke.

"Wheat field with crows" recently sold at auction for

83 million dollars.