This morning I took a break to explore the city. I found the cemetery, met an old Signore and his rooster and two dogs, came across a few of the other artists along the way, and was given a tour of the local “5 in 1” shop’s inventory garage. I ventured past the city walls, and as I was hiking my way back up the hill I came across this charming fence.
I’m starting to truly love it here, even though tomorrow I’m going leave to Parma to visit my friends and host family. On Saturday I’m taking a train from Parma to Venice for the Biennale – which will be inspiring for my art here, I think. So I definitely consider it an enrichment trip :).
This afternoon I painted in my studio and made some progress on my self-portrait. I need to add the reflections in once this first layer dries. I exaggerated the eyes and tried to just play with the paint a little more than I usually do. I was talking with an Australian artist this morning and she gave me this advice,
“You should try to do something in your art that you normally wouldn’t do.”
So I did, I was having fun and not thinking, and this is how it turned out.
Tonight as we ate dinner on the Terrazza, there were fireworks in the distance that showered a sense of nostalgia over me. Everybody I know knows that I’m an Italophile, but as I spend time in this beautiful country, I realize just how deep my love runs. Sometimes I think I belong here or that I was an Italian in a past life. I feel a sweet sadness and a joy all at once as I walk down the streets and feel the experience of this lovely place. There’s a familiarity and a sense of home that I rarely even feel on the soil of my own country. I truly feel comfortable in this country, the culture, the people, the way of life....everything is so sensational.
Also, remember I was saying I can feel a presence in my studio? Well, I think I found the culprit.
I won’t be updating while I’m traveling, so stay tuned and A Presto!
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