Winter travel in Italy

 I just returned from a winter trip to Italy, which is why you haven't seen any new paintings in Feb.   My friend Julie and I flew into Florence and out of Venice.  We had a wonderful time and saw some things that most travelers to Italy will never get to see.

David.....with no one around him.  That is actually my finger and a bit of my coat in the photo.  Cameras are not allowed, so I had to be surreptitious.

 This is Siena, in Tuscany, in the snow.  We were lucky that we missed the actual snow storm.  We met a couple that had gotten trapped in Rome by their first snowfall in 36 years.

Carnival in Venice.  A much more genteel affair than raucous Mardi Gras. Again, we luckily missed the icing over of the Venetian canals.












Sales signs in Italian shops.  I am guessing that summer travelers never see 70% off sales in Tuscany.








It was a wonderful trip.  I was happy to go and happy to return home.  I am looking forward to productive time in my studio and will have a new painting to show you soon.

High Wire

This is one my latest creations. I call him "High Wire". Of course, my friend Irma had me turn him on end and calls him "Pole Dancer". Either way, I think he's fun and a dancer, no matter which way you look at him.

Elaine

I just finished this beauty.  My friend, Cis, gave me some photos of succulents that she saw on her African trip.  I just loved the elegance and grace of this particular one and had to capture it on canvas.

Experiments

 

These are the same canvas.  The one on the left is the abstract that I created in my class this week.  The one on the right is the cactus that I painted on top of it today.  My reason for taking the class was to understand abstracts better so that I could have more interesting backgrounds in my paintings.  The class was great and I learned a lot, which I put to use today.  I am quite pleased with the results.   Thanks Dena and Jo for all the great lessons.

Natalie

"Natalie" was a wonderful experiment with light.  I am particularly pleased with the soft yellow greens in this painting.  

I am looking forward to a class that I will taking next week on abstract painting.  It is being taught locally by two of my favorite abstract artists.  I am looking forward to having something fun to show you from that class.

Shades of Mardi Gras

Marie, 20"x24"

I recently finished this painting.  I was experimenting with background techniques taught by Vie Dunn-Harr.  I am quite pleased with the outcome and just love the colors.

Reds and Greens

I just finished this painting.  I must have been channeling Christmas, given all the reds and greens in the painting.  It's a new color combination for me and I am quite pleased with it.