Studio Work, Umbria 2022

As the world spins

It's a new season painting in the Italian studio.

I am soaking up as much inspiration as I can,

 while trying to express my feelings in color and form.

As usual, my goal is the search for beauty. 

(which is not a difficult chore here in Umbria)

Beauty has been a constant theme and a personal exploration

that has driven me for many years.

When we first arrive to our place here, 

I inspect the studio and make a list of what supplies I will need to start painting.

Janelle and I then make a train trip to Florence to purchase everything needed to begin work. There are a couple of good art supply stores in Florence that I like.

There are also other shops I visit for supplies, including a small but wonderful place in Cortona, 

and also a classic one in Rome.

Once I have most of what I need, the work begins.

Usually the first large canvas is an immediate response to the landscape around me.

 There is a percolation of feelings that I have to distill and formulate.

It's a dance of feelings. The act of painting. A sensitive dance.

Sometimes you step on your partner's toes...but you keep on dancing to the music.

The studio work will turn more abstract ...

Inspired by the tension of the ongoing drought here in our area.

 

Ok, now it's time to start painting on

the biggest canvas.

Three coats of gesso on raw canvas.

One has to remember that I was formally trained in the abstract expressionist tradition.

I will work on large and smaller canvases in the studio, 

as well as going out and painting the landscape 'en plein air', when the weather is nice.

I enjoy my work, and the challenge that it brings.

Artist at work. 

Some smaller works on canvas, in response to the landscape around me.

Many are in response to walks and drives around our immediate area.

The large canvas, almost finished.

I will be proud to show this in our gallery in California 

when we return.