Work Continues: Umbria 2016

  Janelle writing today…

  Johnny and I have been out in the countryside most days the past week. We are taking advantage of the nice weather that has come this way.

  I enjoy watching the setting up, beginning sketch-in, and then I will wander away and come back to see what has developed.

I love this stage….loose!

  As the weeks have gone buy, Johnny is more than a little tired of me constantly shoving a camera into his 'space', but I feel it's an important part of my job here….documentation of the process.

Nearby Panicale.

The skyline of Panicale begins to form.

  I will always be close by, but do enjoy walking or sitting and reading while he paints. These are luxurious times for me, as I don't have this kind of downtime back home.

  For Johnny, the work comes first, and there is only a short time left before he needs to stop painting in oils, so these pieces will dry before we leave.

Work comes first.

Done.

  On this morning, he was able to stay in one place to paint two pieces. This is always good. 

  As much as we both enjoy cruising around the area, it's always nice to be close to home.

The usual set up, with a chair for me to read, and enjoy the view….

  Painting number two begins...

A favorite building nearby.

  With discarded cardboard boxes from Linda's market, Johnny constructs these 'holding' carriers for wet paintings. There are string dividers to keep the work from touching each other. The box itself is just small enough to squeeze the panels in, so they won't move around. Pretty cool.

  I am helping water a friend's garden nearby, so while I water and do some weeding, Johnny sets up to paint the beautiful views.

It's a very special place….

Wonderful colors….

  On another day, we set up on the road that we take for one of our morning walks. There are incredible views over the valley and lake, below...

We are high enough to be in the pines here.

  The locals are still burning the olive cuttings in the mornings, which adds a haze all around. Later in the afternoons, the air clears and the views are crisper…but the softness with the smoke is dreamy….

The classic view of Casiglione del Lago, a castle town
that juts out into the lake.

  Another spot, more work.

  This time near the neighboring village, Paciano.

Loose, loose, loose…
I am always amazed to watch the changes...

Soft colors.

  He just keeps adding layers and layers, but stays very loose.

Adding depth.

  While this painting took shape, I walked around Paciano to take lots of pictures of the beautiful wisteria for my blog, which I work on every few days.

  I was gone for quite awhile, came back, and found that this painting was gone. Completely wiped out.

  This happens, and it always upsets me, but when it isn't working for Johnny, it gets wiped.

  The panel was used again, for a painting that he is very happy with. The paint that is left on the panel, after it has been wiped out, just adds more interest to whatever gets painted on top.

  As Johnny often says:

 "There are no mistakes".