In Buonconvento, Italy

Well I made to Italy yesterday after a very full day of travel and hanging around airports. All flights were on time or slightly ahead of schedule including the Air France through North West Air to Paris. This flight was interesting about an hour from Paris when a very noise vibration seemed to come from the right engine of the Boeing 777 200. Scared the hell out of me but I tried not to show it as did everyone else. We went lower and the thicker air seemed to do the trick and we arrived 15 ahead of schedule. I like 4 engines better than 2! From Paris to Florence in a 4 engine something and I was asleep most of the way. Florence Airport to train station via cab for 21 euros a distance of about 5 crooked miles through town, than on to a train to Siena, which left an hour early, than a connection to Buonconvento after an hour wait. Got in to town about 4 pm, jet lagged, tired, nervious, hungry. I walked to the hotel Gilbellino about a block away by asking directions in very broke Italian and following hand signs. Checked in with Federina with whom I had been emailing with. The room is small but nice with 2 small single beds, a small shower stall with moving partisons and the heat on. I am hot and the air conditioning systems are not on since is still spring and people are cold here. I like it. I got a shower, made contact with Maddine Insalaco and Jone Vinson, whom live about 200 yards down the street, and they suggested a good local ristorante l Pogglioli (I think that is how its spelled). Sea food is in town and had a spigettie with sea food sauce, non tomato, tuscany style and a tub of minestroni soup 20 euros. Could not finish half of it. Way too much for me. Went back to room, figured out how to us 220 v with laptop and connect to the Internet and did some emails home.

Today I have been out and about fighting jet lag with a nice little walk up a country gravel road and took pictures of the country side. Beautiful in an orderly way. I surprised a ring neck pheasent out of the brush. I didn't know Italy had them. Had a wonder lunch of flat noodles with articoke hearts, mushrooms, and diced tomatoes for 6 euros. Back in room catching up on email and will up load some pics I took of the land and a art exhibit at the Museco d'Arte Sacra della Val d' Arbia just down the street.

This work is 14th century, egg tempera on wood panel. The Humility of Mary breast feeding Jesus with two saints watching. Breast feeding is very common in public in Italy and for some reason no one gets upset by it as the nut cases do in the USA.

This is Buoncovento's city hall. 16th century on the Via Casia from Rome to France.

Athens Paint Out

The big paintout happened. The weather looked like it was going to be bad but it stopped raining, the wind dropped and 33 artists from all over Ohio, Indiana, and West Virgina came and painted. It was the best paintout OPAS has held since the September Competition last year. I painted a grove of Cherry Trees and others did the same or other landmarks around Athens, Ohio.

Two in one day and other things

Well i did two 9 x12's today of the same subject from the same vantage point. It a crabapple tree that is leafing out with small red flowers. I did the first one at 10 am and the second at 4:40 pm and what a difference the light made on the leaves. I will post a picture later. Experiments in brush strokes and colors.

The big one Red Sun: Blue Snow is will hang in the gift shop at Acenet in Athens, Ohio till June. It is also for sale on the Art of Ohio web site http://www.artofohio.com/home.php?cat=310 along with two others: Jeff's World (shown here) and New Philli Sunrise.

Prepairing for the Italian adventure. Packing and stuffing and reducing weight.

First plein air this year

St Patrick's Day. Its a beautiful day and I went out this morning to paint a view near by. The sun was very bright and I did not bring my umbrella. Big mistake. No matter how I turned the easel I was always in the sun and my values went to hell in a hand basket. A real scrapper. Too bad. A lesson learned. Hopefully tomorrow I will remember my lesson and produce something better.

Red Sun Blue Snow

The big painting is finished as far as I am concerned. The ultramarine shadows and cad red spot of a Sun plus a little cad yellow pale mixed with white on the left hand hill set it off. I added a glaze of pale yellow/white with liquin to make a fog mist effect half way up the trees. Had to wait for the paining to dry first.

Trip to Italy

I am planning to attend a couple of workshops in Italy run by Maddine Insalaco and Joe Vinson of Etruscan Places. Its in Tuscany near Siena: Buonconvento and Montalcino. They are a week each but I will be there a month. I want to visit Florence and paint around and bring back some good work. I will be there from May 7 to June 8, 2009. I may Internet and blog from an Internet cafe or coffee house. My computer is staying home. Traveling light and I will disposes of whatever is unnecessary to bring home to save space and weight for paintings clothing included. More info at www.landscapepaintings.com

Rapids on the Hocking

I did this painting 11 x 14 on canvas panel late summer 2008 while holding a conversation with a gentleman who was waiting for the American Legion bar to open across the street. It is a good example of the left brain not knowing what the right brain is doing. The bar opened just as I finished.