Field Work

  Once again we find ourselves in the beautiful Umbrian countryside. Everything a landscape artist would want, for his whole life.

The work begins in earnest.

  Once again…the challenge. I need to create a living, working design, full of color, and yet..respecting the two dimensional aspect of the picture plane. This means no arial perspective. The design, it needs to be flat. This is my modern take.

  Whether I succeed or not…well, the viewer decides.

  The trick is to just paint the picture. My experience should guide me. My philosophy is ingrained. I need to trust my instincts. This is what I tell any student I have.

Every artist should embrace the colors on his/her own palette

Work quickly.

  Luckily Janelle & I are able to enjoy some sunny, relaxing time in a friends garden here in Umbria.  

It's a relaxed work day in the garden.

 A different day, a beautiful small church I've painted before.

I can't resist the poetry of this place.

  Here is a small sample of completed works from this years trip, so far. 

  I've been painting both 6x6 inch panels, as well as 8x8 inch panels this year. I'm not working with gouache on paper this time around. 

  There are a few larger canvases, too. There should be about 35-40 pieces in total. 

  

  

 "Chapel, Missiano"  8X8 inch

"The Egg Barn" 6X6 inch

"Farmhouse Near Missiano" 6X6 inch

"Panicale"  6X6

   It's such a privilege to be here painting in these ancient fields, at these ancient walls, with my modern style. One foot in the past, and one foot in the future. I am doing right for my painters self. 

  Certainly I'm not the first painter to feel these feelings, particularly here in Umbria, the green heart of Italy.

  Inspiration, challenge, and hard work. 

  It's not easy, but it is a joy.

 


  This field work will never end.