Painting in San Casciano dei Bagni

  It's always a pleasure and a joy to have the opportunity to watch Johnny paint while we are in Italy. He takes it seriously, and considers it his job. Me, well I just try to capture what I can without being a bother to him. I like to take the little videos and photos. I have my own blog Live Pronto, which gives me a fabulous creative outlet.

  I bugged him to start this blog, and he has been enjoying it, and enjoying seeing all the "hits" it has been getting. Many from Italy, actually, as well as here in the states. Today, I've decided to write a post on his site. Johnny is busy these days, back in the studio after getting so inspired on our trip. But, hey, I still have photos and videos to share.

  While staying in Umbria, we took a day trip into nearby Tuscany to visit San Casciano dei Bagni, a town we had heard about. My folks stayed there a few years ago, and it sounded beautiful. It was so close, too. We stopped along the way a couple of times, enjoying the countryside. 

  The town itself is small and perfect, like so many of the hill towns in this area seem to be.

San Casciano dei Bagni, from just outside the walls.

Near one of the main entrances into town. Beautiful Spring color.

Banksia Rose in full glory.

  I keep being asked "Janelle, what do you do while Johnny is painting?"
  For the most part, I take walks around the area, enjoying the loveliness...or I find a market and grab a little treat to bring back to Johnny to share. I often bring a book to just sit and read.
  But I really like going out on my own and taking pictures.
 

I love these light fixtures.

San Casciano has several steep streets. Good for walking off
the wonderful baked goods I found.

    So, before taking off on my little walk-about, I took time to get some shots of Johnny setting up to do one of his gouache paintings. We had found this great little spot away from everything, but with a bench and a view. Perfect!

Getting it together to paint.

Adding color to the palette.

   Before taking off, I shot a short video. The weather was overcast that day, and even sprinkled a little.

  After a visit to the really good bakery, the fruit and veg market and a fantastic little clothing store, I wandered back to see where Johnny was in his painting.

Still working.

A nice view over the hills.

Not done yet.

  Glad he hadn't finished, because I wanted to get another video shot. I'm not certain he enjoys this, but he is always patient with me while I shoot these little videos.

Adding the last touches. 

  I really thought this one turned out nice, and it's fun to have it documented, too. I will pop in here through the next several months, adding more to Johnny's blog. I'm sure he will, too. 

  We'll let everyone know when we are ready to have this year's show of the Italian paintings. Look for it later this summer, I think. We are working on another little book to have of the show, and taking time to get things framed, etc. All worth the wait! 

The inspiration, and the final painting, below.

  

  I love this series of gouache paintings he has done this year, and we can't wait to see them framed and on the walls here at the gallery. Stay tuned.....

Gouache Works

  This year I am working on small gouache on paper. I guess you can consider gouache as an opaque water color, to put it simply. I do manipulate the medium a little bit by dragging a tool across the image. It gives me a soft quality I like.

  I have completed about twenty, and these will be the basis of a book we plan to have available through the gallery. Below, there are examples of some of these paintings. They are small images, measuring about 3X3 inches each. 

  The paintings are intimate gestures of our stay in Umbria this year. These small pieces will develop into larger canvases back home, in the studio. It's all about inspiration on many different levels and layers.

  

Painting near Missiano. 

A simple set up to paint with gouache.

My palette.

 Here are the examples of some of the pieces. I hope you like them.

Make-Do Studio

  Janelle and I have had the luxury of driving around in a new (rented) Fiat Cinque Cento, the car everyone back home loves to see driving around town.. the only drawback for me is the trunk storage size. But, we manage to get all our supplies in there. We enjoy throwing in a picnic and heading out to the countryside for a painting opportunity to show up.

  

  

My rolling studio.

  Later at the house, there is plenty of room to stretch out on the big dining table. I can work on notebooks, watercolors and a series of small scale gouaches I am really happy with. More on those later. 

  Below I am painting in my beautiful outdoor studio I refer to as "The Turret". It is simply a vista/rest  spot just outside of the walls of Panicale. There are trees for shade and benches to place materials on, and it offers magnificent views. All an artist can ask for.

Painting at the Turret.

The scattered tools of my outdoor studio.

 

  Here is a makeshift solution I came up with at the house we are staying in. I need a place to set the paintings aside while they dry, so the smell of the paint isn't an issue for Janelle in the house. This works well and I'm really happy with it. You can see it's just a storage unit on the side of the house.

  But inside, it holds treasures! And I like the charm of the "stuff" of the garden all around.

The rolled up green thing is synthetic "grass"...something I can lay down to protect
the patio or floor of the house while I am painting.

  There is a shelf that is perfect for my home made drying rack which holds the works on paper. Also, I am storing assorted paint brushes and supplies I've bought here in Italy.

Another shot of my "Studio".

Small, but mighty. And mighty useful.

Paintings on paper set up to dry.

    While we have asked everyone we've met about renting a small garage, or outbuilding for a proper studio next year. But this year my little makeshift studio was a good friend. Next year, who knows?

Some Works On Paper

  Working on paper offers it's own challenges and rewards. It was something I had decided to do long before we left. It was a way to travel lighter, while also being able to paint more and larger pieces. Last years paintings were all 8 inch by 8 inch, oil on panel.

  Painting outdoors is difficult enough, and then you compound your troubles with painting in a foreign country, especially with oil paints. All the hassles of airport security, etc, and buying supplies here; oil paint, turpentine, medium...which is how I have chosen to do it.

  I wasn't used to painting on paper with oil, but you learn as you go. The secret is to just let the paint do the talking, and every artist paints the best they can, up to that point. 

  These are some of my offerings, and I look forward to studying them at home. These are just a springboard to larger canvases,like a sketch, but they are fully resolved. I value the spontaneity of the painting moment. For me that is the richness that I appreciate the most... the un-self consciousness of the painting experience. "Free", to just let the paint do the talking.

  I'm looking forward to seeing these framed, and hanging in the gallery. There are a lot more to show, and I'll be posting more photos as time goes by...

From The Panicale Walls

Road To Casalini

Across The Lago To Cortona

Afternoon At Lago Trasimeno

Sweet Umbria 

Umbrian Spring

Shadows Near Casalini

Abstract In The Olive Grove

Mongiovino View

Strada Capuccini

Chiesa Vecchia

Ready For The Photo Shoot...

Panicale Skyline 2012

Catching A Moment

View From Isola Maggiore Toward Castiglione Del Lago

Casa Vecchia, Isola Maggiore