Travel Thoughts

I’m going to be travelling so I won’t be able to update this blog for a couple of weeks. Travels are great for collecting ideas and photos for my oil paintings. I know I’ll see too much in too short of time but some of the places on my itinerary will be the Dolomites area of Northern Italy. There is a strong Germanic influence in that region. I will be staying in Ortisei, the Italian name for Saint Ullrich for a few days. From there we drive south to Tuscany. I’m looking forward to strolling through Cortona, made famous by the book “Under the Tuscan Sun”, revisit Pienza the Renaissance town which has been the backdrop of several movies, such as “Romeo and Juliet” and “Gladiator” and of course, who can ignore Sienna and the famous circular piazza. But the biggest treat is just driving through Tuscany with it’s rolling hills and beautiful farm houses. After a few days there we head further south and end up in Pescara, my husband’s home town.Known for its long beaches, sun worshipers and bathers come to Pescara to spend their summer days to bronze their bodies and splash along the water’s edge. The city sits in the middle of the boot that is Italy, on the Adriatic Sea. Although Pescara’s history is very old the city is rather new and contemporary compared to other Italian cities. Turn of the century high-rises, balustrade balconies on beach house villas, Art-Deco homes nestles among more modern apartment buildings and hotels. The city is eclectic. I’ll walk along Corso Umberto Boulevard, starting at the train station to walk the few city blocks to the Lungo Mare, the beach. The best time to go is in the early evening when the stores have re-opened. The early evening window shoppers come out in pairs and do their due passi stroll up and down the Corso. While I love stopping to look in designer boutiques, cafes, art galleries, my attention is usually held by impromptu soccer matches that start up in the piazza among local children, groups of old men standing about discussing things old men do in any country, co-eds who giggle and strut and general people-watching.

Oil Painting of Siamese Cat

Bella's Shadow
Oil on Gessoed massonite board, 5 " x 5"
Siamese cats make beautiful subjects for painting. Bella is a fellow artist friend's cat who keeps us company whenever we get together to paint at her house.

Pienza Poppies and More Pienza Poppies

The hills of Tuscany near Pienza when the red poppies fill the fields with their happy colors.

These paintings are 5 " x 5" oil on gessoed masonite board.

These two little paintings will be available on Ebay next month.

Busy Weekend

The weekend went by ever so fast! I had to go and retrieve my painting, Mist 2, from the OMOT Art Show. And my Ebay listings went so well, I was busy packing and sending. I hope to get some more paintings listed on Ebay in the coming weeks. Michela came to visit from Southern California so we spent our time shopping and talking. I did get to spend some time painting today and finished a small painting of a cat. I'll post it tomorrow after I get a photo of it.

Mist 2

I'm excited to announce that my painting, Mist 2, placed Third Place in the "Works on Canvas" Category at the American Airlines OMOT Art Show today.

Schoolhouse of Sanhetun, China

A few weeks ago I saw a Chinese movie called The Road Home. The movie which takes place in the small rural village of Sanhetun in Northern China featured beautiful scenes and landscapes. This small painting, 5 x 5 inches, is based on the schoolhouse which is featured in the movie.

I give the movie two thumbs up.

Geraniums - SOLD

Geraniums remind me of Spain. Years and years ago I had an opportunity to live in Southern Spain where geraniums decorated every window box, patio, hanging pots, planters...

This one with the pink blooms is titled "Geraniums". It is sold.

This one on the left with mostly red blooms is called "Potted Geraniums". This painting has sold.

Daisy Too - SOLD

I love Flowers. Especially close-up. This is a small painting, 5 inches by 5 inches and is my close-up.

This painting has sold.

Calm

Finished this painting yesterday. It is similar to my earlier painting titled Mist, which I had done last month. All the rains we had in Spring and Early Summer gave us lot of gray and misty days and I suppose I was influenced by the colors that were around me. This painting is a smaller size at 14 x 11 inches. I've named it "Calm" - I was thinking that if it were gray and misty the winds might be quiet.

Flowers For a Summer’s Day

Last week I met Nancy Medina at Sandella’s Café to switch out some paintings. We both exhibit our artwork there. Although I took away some of my paintings from the walls, I did add two small 5 x 5 inch paintings which I’ve titled Pretty in Pink and Pretty in Pink 2.

These are also on my website.

Thought you'd enjoy this....

Doors of Pescasseroli

This is a small painting (5" x 5") of a doorway in Pescaserroli Italy. I used Michela's photo as a reference.

Michela tells me that this is actually a Hotel and the roses were magnificent.