Work Continues: Umbria, 2021

Janelle & I have been busy with olive picking and general house keeping, but the work is still happening.

Weather has been an issue, as well. We had terrible cold winds for about 10 days, making plein-air painting near impossible, but I was able to get out and do some work in the fields...

I love my new pochade box!

 

I'm happy with the studio work I've done so far. 

We went to Florence to see a couple of exhibitions, and to buy more studio supplies. It's good to have what I need.

Working larger scale is always a good challenge.

Last week I tried painting on the studio floor.

Don't mind the studio slippers, please.
Keeps the rest of the house floors clean.

Painting in this way... It creates it's own opportunities, but it's own struggles.

I did enjoy it. The painting is still in progress.

"Europa", still a work in progress.

Challenges And Opportunities

  As an artist, I've always enjoyed showing the process of my painting experience.

  In this blog post, we take it down to the bare bones.

  The reason why... in this studio, away from my home studio in California, I've had to improvise.

  This has brought a welcoming experience of just tacking the canvas to the wall, and painting it that way. Painting it as it is.

  I guess I think of this as my 'rustic studio', here in Italy. 

  Every experience brings challenges and opportunities, so I'm very excited to show and describe the process here, on this blog. 

The doorway to the studio.

A cramped studio. You work with what you have available.
No complaints.

A group of finished canvases to be shipped back to the gallery.

Trying to keep the plaster walls and tile floors as clean as I can.

My studio floor.

  These paintings will all be exhibited in our gallery in Carmel, California later this year.
  I'm looking forward to the show.

Busy In The Studio 2019

  Johnny has finished twelve canvases so far during this trip to Umbria, and he's not done yet.

   He is learning how to create larger works in his studio here, as opposed to his usual smaller 'plein-air' paintings he has done in the past.

  Working here on a larger scale has been a goal for many years. Now that we have this apartment, with a dedicated studio space, his dream of doing large paintings here has been realized.

  The studio is proving to be a launching point to the future of unlimited possibilities.

  As we wait to ship these canvases back to the gallery in California, we can enjoy them here...

  We look forward to an upcoming show of the beautiful works soon!
  Stay tuned...

Raw Canvas

  Just following the ancient tradition of many artists before me.

  I'm proud and honored to be a part of this tradition...but this is what all artists have to do. It's our roots.

  I purchased a length of raw cotton canvas in Deruta this week.  Unprimed cotton. No english spoken, so it was a very fun challenge.

  

  Back at my studio, I spent the morning applying gesso to the canvas. I'll need to do a second coat tomorrow.

  We'll see how this canvas develops over the next several days.

  Stay tuned.

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".