More Work...

I have been making art most days here, which is a good thing. It takes me awhile to get situated, but this trip I started working right away.

I'm either in the studio, working on larger canvases, or out plein-air painting when the weather is nice.

I've also been enjoying pencil drawing, which I later add color to. I'm working with gouache on the drawings.

This past week has been sunny and warm, so painting outdoors has been perfect.

Oil on panel, working in the fields below town.

I changed the sky after this shot, but the trees stayed the same.

Working in the studio-

In process.

Am I finished?

The drawings are done while I am out walking with Janelle, or when we stop to just enjoy a view. 

Later, I fill in the color-usually with a glass of wine near by in the piazza.

We took a trip on the train to Florence this past week. I needed canvas, paint and other supplies. We were also excited to see a large exhibition of Donatello sculptures, which was inspiring. 

 

I only pulled my mask down for 2 seconds, honest.

I feel like I'm already working better and more than our trip here in autumn 2021. I look forward to seeing what comes out next.

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.

Painting Near Montefalco

Janelle and I took a little road trip last weekend, and I spotted an area I wanted to check out to paint.

We pulled down a side road and I set up to do a small plein-air oil. 

The light was good, still morning time.

I try to keep my painting gear in the trunk, so if I see an area that interests me, I'm ready. It's a lot of stuff to haul around, but that's part of the job.

I always start by laying in some lines and color, and then go from there.

Janelle takes a few photos, maybe a video...then she'll go walking or read a book. I just zone in on the work.

If I can find a good spot to pull the car over, it's great. If not, I have a kit I can carry out to the fields, or where ever.I like to find some shade for myself, ideally, but I always have my hat.

I'm working with this new Sienna pochade box, and really liking it. I bought it back home, and brought it in my luggage here, to Italy. I'll leave it here in my studio.

It's been slow getting started but I have a few small paintings done, and a couple of large studio pieces. 

So far, so good...

 

Work Begins In Umbria

Slowly getting back in the work mode here in Italy.

It has been almost two years since I've painted plein-air, and I've finally been out in the fields doing some small oil on panel pieces.

Also working in the studio on larger oil on canvas paintings.

I started with just a few small sketches, to loosen up.

I had to get shopping for canvas and more paint. It took a while just to get my plein-air 'kit' together and the studio set up.

One of two rolls of canvas I've finally got back to the studio!

We had a trip to Florence, where we made a visit to the Uffizzi...that got my juices flowing.

I've done a few small landscapes and have two big studio paintings in the works, so I'm getting it together.

I feel so lucky to have so much to be inspired by here.

In the studio

I bought one roll of prepped canvas, meaning it's already gessoed, and one roll of raw linen that I'm prepping myself.

Two completely different surfaces to work with in the studio.

It's always nice to just stop and sketch. I add color later on, with notes I've made while I draw.

 

I'll keep posting here, as well as on Instagram:

#galleryapodaca

#johnnymapodaca

Paintings From The Umbrian Studio: Fall 2019

  These paintings reflect the development of my work this year, this autumn, direct from my studio in Umbria.

  I am saying "development" because these artworks are seen by me as a process of my instinctual sense of this particular environment.

  This is Umbria being expressed through me. My Umbria.

Oil on canvas
approximately 16 x 16"

Oil on canvas
approximately 24 x 24"

Oil on canvas
approximately 60 x 48"

Oil on canvas
approximately 60 x 60"

Oil on canvas
approximately 65 x 65"

Oil on canvas
approximately 45 x 36"

Oil on canvas
approximately 48 x 60"

Oil on canvas
approximately 38 x 66"

Oil on canvas
approximately 48 x  36"

Oil on canvas
approximately 48 x 60"

 I'm always intrigued by the poetic beauty of the farmhouses in this magical place... Here are the two from this session:

Oil on canvas
approximately 24 x  50"

Oil on canvas
approximately 48 x 52"

  Though I try very hard to get the color correct for this blog, these photos were taken in simple studio light, and are not exact. The sizes may have some variance, as well.
  This is not a perfect system here.

  The canvases have been rolled and shipped back to California, and will be exhibited at Gallery Apodaca soon.
  For more information, please refer to the gallery website.