Thursday, March 28, 2024

Painting In A Favorite Spot. Pastel & Oil Work





I return again and again to this particular spot to paint. This area is a balance between nature and man's interjection. The curve of the road...the trees that change from season to season. The colors are always shifting. I endeavor to try to embrace the moment.
And, most importantly, there is a nice pull out to set up my painting gear off the road.

This trip, I am working with some small pastel pieces. These will be "sketches" for larger studio works. On this day, I did one pastel, and followed with one small oil on canvas.
It was a nice spring day.



Pastel on paper










Setting up my kit to oil










 

Janelle usually takes photos, then she'll head out for a walk.

We'll be watching the leaves all come out on the various trees and shrubs over the next couple of weeks, so I'll most likely return for the different view.


A perfect spot to paint, and not too many cars come by.





Just keeping it loose here.








Waiting for Janelle to return to get a nice last photo before I put it all away.



Two completely different takes on the same scene.
I'm happy with these.


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Saturday, March 23, 2024

Painting Again In Umbria...First Time Out, 2024


It's always hard to get started painting, but I have to start somewhere.
Between getting the studio in shape and making certain I have my supplies in order, it takes time.

Then there is the weather element. It's been cold, wet and windy, like it can be in March.
This week, we have seen the start of Primavera, and it has given me some sunny and almost warm days.
I finally got out to do some plein-air work.

There is always so much stuff to haul around. I often just stay by the car, but on this first time out, we hiked a fair distance with all the supplies one needs to get the job done.




 


I set up to paint, Janelle takes photos, then she settles in with a book.



 It's a lot to organize and keep together.









So lucky and grateful to have this ongoing opportunity to work here in Umbria.












Just some of the stuff...

I still need to get more painting supplies, so we will be heading to Florence soon. I plan to do some more painting while we are there.

Getting the first piece done. It's always a relief. I hope I can get out again asap.


















Not bad. Nice and loose. I'm pleased.





Sunday, November 12, 2023

A Stop In Montepulciano To Paint


Last weekend, we had a sunny bit of weather, so we decided to take a drive into the Val D'Orcia. 

This is an area of Tuscany that is famous for several hill towns and gorgeous views. We try to drive over at least once every trip. It's about 45 minutes, and the drive drive through the countryside is beautiful.

We always take time to walk through Montepulciano...it was one of the first places we stayed in Italy almost 20 years ago, and it holds a special place in our hearts. 

Johnny wanted to paint in the main square, and it was a perfect day to do it, as there were hardly any people around. The upside to being here off season!




Johnny looks so tiny standing next to this old building.
I like to get a shot just as he's setting up to paint.

















The subject today.


As always, I took a nice walk while he worked, and came back to see what I had missed...

















Almost finished....











 


One of the many paintings that will be exhibited here next year.



I'm working on a post on my other site, Live Pronto, about the day in Val D'Orcia...it was a good adventure on a lovely November day!

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Painting The Village


The weather is really changing with the season...we've had lots of strong winds, on and off rainstorms and the days just got an hour shorter... But we're still happy to be here, for sure.

Last week, before the time change, Johnny set up to paint the village from the field below the place we stay. It was a nice enough day to paint plein-air, so he took advantage, knowing we would be getting some nasty weather soon. It gets really muddy here when it rains, and there's no way he could set up in that situation.



Just below the house...you can see Lago Trasimeno
in the distance.









The first bits coming together...







I always enjoy watching the work come together from the start when it's just sketched in.


Adding color to the sky.




Very loose and fast.


The color combination of the blue sky and orange/brown village is lovely. Then you get the various greens of the surrounding woods and olive groves.







Almost finished.




He may do some studio touching up...we'll see!


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Monday, October 23, 2023

Painting a Favorite "Lady of the Field"



There is a particular old ruin nearby that Johnny has painted before, and wanted to paint again this trip.

Back a week or so ago, we headed out mid morning. The weather was really perfect, and he was happy to set up and get started-





I took this from the passenger seat...just because.



There are several old ruins out in this area. It's easy to find a spot to pull over along the dirt road and get started.


Fields are freshly turned now.






It's a nice subject to paint.










We would like to know what this ruin was, way back when.






Not a bad spot to work.








While Johnny painted, I took a nice walk all around that ruin. By the time I returned, he was almost finished with the small piece.


























 

If you want to read about my walk around the ruin, check it out here.