Thursday, January 31, 2008

Trinity


Trinity
day 1
(unfinished)
20x24
acrylic on canvas
Another misty view from the villa. A trinity of blue canvas chairs beckon me.
An array of rusted colors become the backdrop to a play I want to see again and again. When I close my eyes it's as if I never left Tuscany.
This I dream as I look out my studio window to the grey wool scarf wrapped firmly around the neck of Germany.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Still Life with Mandolino

Still Life
with
Mandolino
20 x 24
acrylic on canvas

It is finally finished!




Monday, January 28, 2008

Day 4

Still Life with
Mandolino
Day 4
( unfinished)
20 x24
acrylic on canvas

Friday, January 25, 2008

Mandolino day 3


Still life
with
Mandolino
Day 3
(unfinished)
20 x 24
acrylic on canvas
Have a great weekend!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

No fringe benefits

Still Life with Mandolino
Day 2
(unfinished)
20 x24
acrylic on canvas

You can see where I gave up on the fringe right below the saucer. My A.D.D. was really kicking in and I was having trouble matching the bottom of the fringe to the top. It looks like hanging fettuccine now. Better luck tomorrow.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Still life with mandolino

Still life with mandolino
Day 1
(unfinished)
20 x 24
acrylic on canvas
Something very odd happened today in Möttlingen, Germany. Something that doesn't happened too often. The sun came out!
I have various still lifes set up throughout my house and this one was catching that rare sunlight just beautifully. Realizing the brevity of this event, I decided to take a few photos to work from.
The mandolin or mandolino in Italian was displayed in our house when I was growing up. I was always fascinated by it's watermelon-like shape and smooth surface, but wasn't allowed to play it. Nobody played the mandolin in our family and I never knew why we had it. It continues to bewilder me now in my own home.
When people come over they always ask if one of us plays the mandolin. This only makes us question why we even own such a strange instrument.
But, things changed today for the mandolin and he has the sun to thank for it.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

From the Villa


From the Villa
16 x20
acrylic on canvas

Friday, January 18, 2008

View from the villa


View from the villa
Day 1
(unfinished)
16 x 20
acrylic on canvas
Katherine and I took a cheap flight to Pisa and rented a car. We had a rough start because I couldn't find reverse in a Fiat.
There was a German man in the parking lot and I had him just point the car in the direction we needed to go.
There was no turning back, so we didn't need to worry about reverse. We were on our way.
My bragging rights for driving on the Autobahn were quickly replaced with those of the Autostrassa.
Our cooking class was about 2 hours away in a town called Merctale.
I learned to drive on Central Expressway in Dallas, so I am skilled in the avoidance of a turn signal. I also have adapted some very bad habits from driving on the Autobahn. This Autostrassa was a piece of cake.
My adrenaline rush began to dissipate when we arrived in the little town of Merctale. At this point our GPS system signed off and we had to follow a map given by our teacher. The kind of map that required you to turn or go straight according to landmarks, such as rusty signs with missing letters in a language hard to pronounce.
The villa was located on top of a very steep hill on a gravel road no wider than our little Fiat. It was difficult to keep it in first gear while crossing my fingers for fear that someone would be coming down.
In the hurry to see the inside of the big villa, we overlooked the view from the front terrace. This is the first beautiful view we saw and it brought tears to our eyes.
The first of many beautiful views we were to see that memorable week back in November of 2006.
The time we went to a cooking school in Tuscany.
Clouds masked the Umbrian valley down below like the froth on my cappuccino
as I slowly drank it all in...............

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Bramasole

Bramasole
Frances Mayes'
house
20 x 24
acrylic
on canvas

I am unable to contain my excitement and don't want to appear childish, but I just cannot help myself. Guess who complimented my painting today? The ultimate brush with fame.
The internet is an amazing thing.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Frances Mayes' house day 3


Frances Mayes'
house
Day 3
(unfinished)
20 x24
acrylic
on canvas

Monday, January 14, 2008

Frances Mayes' house day 2


Frances Mayes'
house
Day 2
(unfinished)
20 x 24
acrylic on canvas

Friday, January 11, 2008

Frances Mayes' house



Frances Mayes'
house
in Cortona
Day 1 initial sketch( unfinished)
20 x 24
acrylic on canvas

I was a little skeptical about choosing this subject, but I decided to go ahead with it anyway. When I was in Cortona I was so excited to see the villa that she and her husband restored. The villa, the home in her wonderful book, 'Under the Tuscan Sun'. It was also the inspiration for the movie with the same title. Her husband was outside when we drove by providing us a little brush of fame, once removed. Hopefully you will share in my excitement when this painting is finished.

Have a good weekend!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

The Guide and the Guidebook


I read an interesting story about a man who was driving southwards from Siena.
Finding it difficult to thoroughly enjoy the beautiful countryside, he decides to pull over. Reaching for his map, he is overcome by the landscape with it various hues of ochre, gold, and green. To his surprise, he discovers he is not far from St. Antimo Abbey. He had read about it in his guidebook. So off he went along the winding road.
In the distance he sees a religious brother who, to his surprise is actually hitchhiking. He offers him a ride when they find out they are both going to the abbey.
The man tells the brother how excited he is to see the beautiful abbey and to hear the Gregorian Chants. He had read about this in his guidebook.
He is quite embarrassed to find out that the brother lives at the abbey and decides to keep quiet the rest of the journey.
When they finally arrive, the brother offers the man something that cannot be found in any guidebook; the opportunity not only to look and to hear, but to observe and to listen. The chance to get to know and to venerate the Abbey of Sant'Antimo.
As I am getting older, I realize the importance of true observance. It is more than just looking. Sometimes listening is harder than hearing, but at least I try.
I somehow discovered these rules on my own. I didn't have to pick up a hitchhiking monk on the side of the road.
I was guided, though and continue to follow the same guidebook.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Day 3


St. Antimo Abbey Day 3 (unfinished)
acrylic on canvas
20 x 24
Okay-I still need one more day.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Day 2

St. Antimo Abbey
Day2 (unfinished)
acrylic on canvas
2007
I am planning one more day on this.
There is still so much more to do.

Monday, January 7, 2008

St.Antimo Abbey






St. Antimo Abbey


Day 1 (unfinished)


20 x 24


acrylic on canvas




It has been a year since I attended the cooking class in Tuscany, yet each day I cling to the memories like grapes to the vine.


Of all the wonderful places I have seen, Tuscany holds my heart and I am not alone.


This is St. Antimo Abbey near Montalcino in the Italian province of Siena.


We were fortunate enough to arrive in time to hear the friars sing Gregorian chants. I was able to capture this picture, which I think is so pretty. I am sure you will agree. The stone walls provided excellent acoustics.
I bet that's what heaven sounds like.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Finished painting




Monterosso

20 x 24

Acrylic on canvas

2007


Have a great weekend!













Thursday, January 3, 2008

Monterosso


Day 1 on this painting (unfinished)
20 x24
Monterosso
John and I went to Monterosso on our honeymoon. Monterosso is the first of the 5 (cinque) coastal villages in Cinque Terre located in the province of La Spezia in the Linguria region of Italy.
This statue was right in front of the little bed and breakfast where we stayed. There were orange and lemon trees throughout this little fishing village. I will never forget the sounds of frogs lullabying us to sleep at night. It was so romantic.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Tradition Tradition


Some traditions you never question. You just participate in them because it's something that you've always done. Growing up my dad would make me eat at least a few of these wretched tasting legumes on New Year's Day; somehow it was for good luck.
I have always considered myself pretty lucky, but I don't think it has anything to do with this ridiculous tradition.
Like I have mentioned before in previous posts, I am ever so fascinated learning and taking part in German traditions. This country is so rich in tradition, I always feel a little ashamed about my American ones or lack there-of. The black-eyed pea one is a good example.
Silvester, the German new year is named after St. Silvester. It is a festive time spent with family and friends. This is very similar to way we celebrate, except the champagne toast at midnight is followed by your own personal firework display. Our backyard was a total war zone. Let it be known that 50 euros can buy quite a bit of ammo. I am still questioning the combination of alcohol and lighting fireworks. Luckily, I still have all my friends in 2008. Though it was close.......
Another tradition on Silvester is the practice of melting small pieces of lead in a spoon over a candle flame. This is called Bleigiessen. The heated pieces harden when dropped into cold water. You then try to determine the shape. The shape of the lead will tell the future of the following year.
John's looked like a seed, which meant all his wishes would be fulfilled. Mine looked like a staff and meant my life will turn around. Not too sure my life needs to turn around. I think my life is going great in the direction it's going.
"It's just a silly piece of lead anyways," she said as she reluctantly ate a few black-eyed peas.