Plein-Air Painting in Umbria, Spring 2023

The weather has been very off and on this spring here in Umbria. We have had some really grey, wet, and windy days...too many of them to get out and paint plein-air. 

We try and get out between storms, though. Johnny has been painting in the local fields, when the weather is on our side. When it's a good day, he'll stop 3-4 times along a dirt road and get to work.

Taking advantage of o nice day.

Painting a scene nearby.

The finished piece.

Heading along another dirt road, for another painting. I usually take walks or bring a book to read. I try to take photos and videos to give you an idea of the process. It's a pleasure to be out in the country side on a nice day, for sure.

A very peaceful spot to enjoy.

I believe Johnny looks for a spot that has structures. He really likes to paint the local farm houses.

Beyond the too huge property in the foreground, there is an old church on the hill.
This is the subject he will paint.

We always look for a place to pull over so tractors can go by.

We walk by this church sometimes, and Johnny's fantasy is to have it as a studio someday. It's good to dream!

One more stop on this day, one more little gem...

 

As I write this, the weather has turned for the better, so I'm hoping we will have a few mor outings before heading back to California later this month.

Stay tuned, and if you are interested in the work, you can contact Johnny by email:

johnnyapodaca@me.com

Painting On Isola Polvese, May 2023

 

We are so fortunate to live here half the year in Umbria near a big lake, Lago Trasimeno... We love having this water element in our lives here, much like living near the Pacific Ocean in California. 

Johnny likes comeing out to one or two of the islands to paint, and we've been lucky with good weather this week.

Though the skies started out cloudy, it got better and better as the day went on...

Always nice to paint with a castle in the background, right?

Always dealing with hauling and setting up "the stuff" to paint.

Settling in to work.

Laying in the lines...

A wonderful view of a little village,
"Monte del Lago" , in the distance.

Done.

We walked all around the island, stopping for a glass of wine and a pic-nic...

Below, Johnny working on a second painting for the day...

He really got the sky just right.

Below, in the studio...several of the plein-air paintings done so far...

If you want to see more about our trip to Isola Polvese, check this link, below:

https://livepronto.blogspot.com/2023/05/a-day-on-island.html

Work Continues. Umbria, Spring 2023

 

Johnny has been working both in the studio and in the field. The weather has been up and down, so when we have a nice day of sun without winds, he'll usually take advantage and do some plein-air work.

This past week, he spent quite a bit of time drawing, as well. He'll do drawings on site, make notes about light and color, then add watercolor or gouache later at home, or sitting in one piazza or another.

The painting below was done late afternoon one day this week. Johnny walked out into the field below the village, set up his kit and did his thing.

I love to watch the process...it always starts out so loose.
This is oil on wooden panel. Wooden panels were bought in Rome.

Trying to get it done before the clouds change the beautiful light.
Always a problem!

The late afternoon sun brings out shapes and shadows.

Painting fast, with purpose.

Almost finished.

A very short video of the scene.

On another sunny day, we drove to a favorite spot for some drawing. Johnnyn has painted here several times over the years. These old 'ruins' are wonderful subjects.

It's all about shape and light.

Later, he sets up in the very quiet piazza to add color to this piece. It changes quite a bit, as you'll see in these photos.

Note the notes...

Not there yet...

This little piece goes through a total color change, and he removes the background hills, too. 

He wants a simple, but bold graphic design. He's been doing several of these simplified compositions, playing with color and design. 

2023...Time For The Next Chapter

As many of you know, we have closed our "brick and mortar" gallery in Carmel. We had planned for some time to retire the gallery. It was a wonderful chapter in our lives, and we're so happy to have experienced it. We can't thank you all for your friendship and support over the years! I (Janelle here) will really miss being in the gallery and spending time with so many of you on a regular basis...it was a true pleasure that I will treasure.

Johnny will continue to paint, of course. He is planning to do more plein-air paintings while we are in Italy, and we will be promoting and selling these pieces through this blog and our normal website. He will continue to show his work at Carmel Art Association, as well.

He will be painting his larger abstracts that will now be represented by Westbrook Modern in Carmel. Johnny is proud to be showing his work in this wonderful gallery.

We wanted to start the year with a look back at the time we've spent traveling to Umbria, Italy, and all the work that has come home from there...over a decade of painting and being inspired by this magical place has been a joy, a dream and a love and will continue to be a major part of our lives. Johnny has said it over and over...he will never get tired of painting this beautiful landscape.

It's tough work. He hauls so much equiptment with him when he's out painting, but that is the painter's happy chore.

He may not work everyday, but he's always looking, looking, looking...

 

Painting in a pal's garden....

Or even in the snow!

Johnny always carries a few sketch pads of various sizes. Some are just for sketching a moment, others are for drawing to add color to later ...

We often drive out into the farmlands and countryside to find a spot to pull the car over for a work session.

Taking our daily walks is always inspiring.

There are so many memories in these paintings, and the paintings have found their way all over the world. It's quite moving to think about, you know?

The Italian studio will also be a busy place. We plan to ship back many larger works on canvas, as we've been doing now for years. Johnny loves his studio in Umbria!

So, let's stay in touch. Plan to check out the blog from time to time, and keep an eye out for emails that will be featuring the pieces that will soon be available. We're heading back to Umbria soon, so stay tuned!

Gallery Apodaca 

Westbrook Modern Gallery

Carmel Art Association