Gallery Opening!

Last night was our gallery opening. It was so wonderful to see all of our hard work all together in one gallery space and share our progress with the entire town. It was a really great night, and I am so thankful to have taken part in such a unique experience with such talented artists. We’ve become a little family over these past three weeks, and tonight is going to be hard to face. We’re having a farewell dinner tonight, so as Jill said, “We’ll have a woohoo and a boohoo.” So that’s it. The end of the residency has come and the beginning of new adventures has begun.

Rooftop Blues

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Today was officially the last day of painting in the studio. I just cleaned up my paint and bagged up my supplies, and I’m feeling really lonely and sad about having to leave this place. Although at first my studio creeped me out, it’s sort of become my own little home here in Montecastello di Vibio. I created so much art in this space and really reflected upon my experience here in this room. I’ve had the whole attic to myself, which has been really nice, but I was always afraid to go up to the roof (because there is a make-shift staircase that says “Dangerous” and a mini Alice in Wonderland door to surpass to reach the roof). Today I went to explore and found that it was one of the most peaceful places in the whole city, right here from my studio at the top of the world. I sat up there for about a half hour just feeling the breeze and taking pictures. I felt that it was my own little moment here, and that I don’t think I’ll invite anyone else up there just so it remains a sacred little place for me. Here are some panoramas of what was up there, but they don’t compare to the experience of actually being up there.


In life drawing I actually did two pieces (relatively fast pieces) but I’m pretty happy with how they turned out.

Mano (Hand), 16” x 20”, 9-21-11

Impressione, 16” x 20”, 9-21-11

Also, as my final painting I figured it would be appropriate to finish off the self portrait with the landscape. This is really my only attempt at a landscape – but it’s pretty obvious what I’m trying to say here.

Me Stessa, 20” x 16”, 9-21-11

And since my painting day has ended, this is my last piece entitled “Progress.” Goodbye, my palette friend, may you help other artists along their artistic journeys in the future :)

The Landscape Within

This morning drawing was canceled so I spent time on the classical-inspired piece and finished it! Here it is.

Il Cielo (The Sky), oil on canvas, 9-20-11

I thought a lot about my experience here today and am realizing that it’s coming to a close soon. Tomorrow will be my last day to paint something in order for it to dry on time to send the paintings home in the mail. We’re all starting to get nostalgic already, and we’ve decided that on Thursday morning we will all sit around and sketch each other and then have a group studio crawl for critiques. We are having our gallery opening on Thursday night, so it will be exciting to see the work that everybody has done!

Today we were at the cafe having our cappuccinos, and I came across a local who asked me what I paint here in Umbria. I told him I don't paint the panoramas and landscapes and he acted as if I told him I like to murder babies. I realized after witnessing his reaction that I really do enjoy the landscapes of Montecastello di Vibio, but in a different way than the landscape artists do. I find them overwhelmingly inspiring and I let their beauty penetrate my eyes. My heart then holds onto the sensation and impression that the landscape has left with me, and then they shine through in my work later. That's it.

This is a piece I started today. I need to finish the portrait part of it, but it’s halfway done. I think I can squeeze out one or two more paintings by end of tomorrow.

Me, Stessa, oil on canvas, ~20” x 16”

Tonight the other artists and I are going to have a ghetto dance party - we're going to channel the "RPpod" tonight and blast the music out of our laptop since there isn't a dance club in town....you make do with what you have :)

For now, I'll close with a picture of the sunset from my studio. If it's not obvious, I've been extremely inspired by the skies here in Umbria - so colorful, so expansive, so inspiring ;)

It's a Small World

A group of Israeli artists just arrived this weekend and there’s been a very strange group dynamic happening. First of all, the first group of artists that arrived with me have already began to leave (4 of them only did 2 weeks of the residency). This changed the group a bit, it actually made us more cohesive. Then, with the addition of the new group, our original group has become even more close (and I really love this but it will make it so hard to leave in a week!). As two separate groups, we eat at separate tables, tight in our groups, and we have a different program completely. Although I truly believe that the group is not necessarily the concentration of this residency, and I believe that it’s entirely personal for all of us, I think the group dynamics play a huge role in the outcome of our experience. At the end of the night, we all commune in the dining room and discuss our experiences and our days and our findings. I love being surrounded by artists who all have the inquisitive nature of life that I have, and to share our feelings and discuss things on such a deep level without really knowing each other all that well. Today after lunch I spoke to three of the Israeli artists for the first time. I found a kinship with one of them in particular – she had lived in Rome for 4 years and had to return to home for her own reasons. I felt so connected to someone who was from somewhere so foreign to me, and I truly felt the humanity within my body and felt the “compassion” that the Buddhist philosophies speak of. I felt connected to her, to everyone, and to my environment and experience. It was a true moment of grandeur within me. I call these moments little bits of enlightenment, because for a moment in space and time, you feel completely and utterly secure and grounded in your world. These are great moments, revelations, enlightenment, knowing, wisdom, whatever it is you want to call it, and I’m always thankful to notice them.

This morning I painted Andrea again. I really wanted to capture the strength of the back – the pillar of human strength. This is called Costruzione (Construction).

Costruzione (Construction), oil on canvas, ~14” x 19”

Here is a picture of some God Rays I saw up on the terrace, and whenever I see God Rays, I just can’t resist taking a picture!

Polka, Per Favore

Sunday, September 18, 2011

For being an uneventful town, I have to say that last night was a pretty awesome night. First of all, we went for a walk just to get out. We came across a chorus singing in the piazza, we got back stage to a private concert that was being held in the “smallest theater in the world,” and then we were serenaded by the same band later in the cafe piazza. It was fun. They were great, we had a good Saturday night, and now we can greet the week ahead of us with some inspiration.

Today I felt like painting in green and yellow, so I confronted the Twins with full force and finished them! I saw this sculpture at the top of a fountain in Perugia and fell in love with the strange connection of their arms. I see them as mirror images of one another, but they reflect each others opposite attributes. I think I should subtitle this “The Dorks.” :P

I Gemelli (The Twins), oil on canvas, 9-18-11

I’m taking my time with my classical piece, but I did manage to add some color to it today. I had to stare at it for a good 20 minutes before I had any ideas pop into my mind, but I think I have an idea of where this piece will take me :)

Il Cielo, oil on canvas

Tonight we wandered around some and we came across this restaurant that had live music (and the entire town was there). I have to say, when I first heard the live band (which had a large and small accordian as the main instruments on stage) I was relatively shocked at the lameness. BUT, a nice older gentleman asked me to dance and I got my Polka on...it was funny, and actually kind of fun, but I don’t think I’ll be dancing the polka again any time soon. It was a good night. :)

Letting Loose and Painting Away

Saturday, September 17, 2011

This is a quick color and light study of the stairs leading up to the school building.

La Luce (The Light), oil on canvas panel, ~6" x 8", 9-15-11

This morning I made a portrait of a lovely artist here. My goal was to be loose and free with the color to capture the character of the girl and her boots :)

Sarah, The Mountain Climber, oil on canvas panel, 14” x 11”, 9-17-2011

Image of the day (I was looking through a book and was just completely enthralled by this image):

Giovanni Bellini, The Dead Christ with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and Saint Mary Magdalene

Back Through Time

Friday, September 16, 2011

Assisi

Today we all took a road trip to Assisi and Perugia. Assisi was a marvel that seemed as though it was a fortification that just materialized out of the side of the mountain – bearing angles and arches that resembled a geometric abstraction of the natural landscape of the cliff it emerged from. We spent the morning in the Chiesa di San Francesco where the magic of Giotto surrounded us. Then amongst all the fame and glory of Giotto, at the back of the church, I discovered a local artist named Cesare Sermei. His fresco was full of grace, feeling, and emotion. I think I’ll have to be blasphemous to some and say that I enjoyed this single fresco more than any other image in the church.

Giudizio Universale, Cesare Sermei, Assisi

By the time we got to Perugia, I was sort of art-saturated. I went to see Perugino’s Collegio del Cambio – and all I needed was to see his self-portrait and his beautiful depictions of the Saints and the Sybils to be fully satisfied. After this, I took a stroll around the steep arched walkways, losing myself in the grandeur of a town that has seen more history than anything I can imagine. All the roads that went uphill led to the Duomo (the ascension to heaven was apparently considered in the architectural design of this beautiful city). What I loved most about Perugia was the atmosphere and its people; there were students, families, musicians, tourists, everybody. At one point, there was a drum group performing in the middle of the Piazza Duomo, and the energy I could feel reverberating throughout the air was as energizing as the beautiful cappuccino I had that morning. I truly enjoyed Perugia and I hope to return some day :)

Perugia

Outside My Window

Thursday, September 15, 2011

As I sit here typing, there are about 100 people just outside my window (I honestly think the entire town is out there just talking and eating). They have long tables lined up along the street and they’re all just joking and laughing and talking really loud. I just love hearing all the exaggerated mutterings of Italians having a good time :)

I finally finished my Bacco painting. He's painted from this creepy little statue that is sitting in the park down the street. The instant I saw him I knew I had to paint him because it felt like he was looking me directly in the eye and laughing at me. He’s creepy as all get out. He is my dedication to Bacchus – a portrait of the sculpture/deity who aided me in learning Italian years ago :D Thanks, Bacchus, for many a good time.

Bacco, oil on canvas, 11” x 14”, 9/15/11

Also, here is my newest piece. When I was at the Biennale in Venezia, I noticed a lot of contemporary painters are looking back at the classical images that have inspired them for years. I’ve never actually attempted a classical piece, so I decided now is as good a time as ever! This is going to be a very dramatic piece and I hope to pull it off.

Cielo (Sky) sketch

Va Bene Tutto!

I’m a little more than halfway through this artist residency now. I was weary of time’s passing so quickly, and aware that it would, so I really have been pushing myself to live in the moment as much as possible. I have to say that yesterday was the best day yet and I’m so thankful to have recognized and appreciated its beauty.

Last night a visiting artist named Lani Irwin came to show her slides and talk about her work. Her story was inspiring – she’s an American artist (along with her husband) who moved to Assisi, giving up the structured life of a tenured professor to make art in the enchanting hillsides of Umbria (wow, strikes a chord). The best part was this; she refuses to paint the landscapes. Now, with my struggle with landscapes and my confusion at why I don’t want to paint the beauty that lies before me, I realized that Lani’s frankness was exactly what I needed to hear to put my tension to rest. It was refreshing to see the work of an artist who had a similar relationship to her work as I feel I do (and a love for Italy that rivals my own). Sometimes we just need a kindred spirit to remind us that our feelings are legitimate and we should just let our nature be. :) Here's an example of her work:

Saved by a Rainy Day

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The canvases here in Italy are as smooth as slate – it’s amazing how sanded and wonderful the finish is. There’s no tooth at all, which allows the brush to glide over its surface without any interruptions. I just love it! This morning I painted from the figure once again. I felt more comfortable with it this time around so I decided to do a portrait of the model. This is a quick piece, but I’m trying not to be too nitpicky about detail, so I’m going to say it’s finished.

Andro, 20” x 16”, oil on canvas, 9-14-11

I had a glass (or two) of vino rosso at lunch because I need to enter the world of Bacchus for my next piece. He’s sitting up in my studio – still a work in progress.

Tonight there was the most ridiculous view – the sky was half sunny and half cloudy and there was a rainbow over the Tiber Valley. It was so beautiful – I could see the rainstorm approaching from afar and hear the rumbling of the distant thunder. The smell of rain in Umbria is so earthy and natural – it’s almost as if you can smell all the olive trees, wheat, and sunflowers at once in one highly-concentrated breeze.

Well today was an amazing day, and I have to say that I’ve truly enjoyed every minute of it. I’ll close tonight’s post with a quote about art that I thought was pretty inspiring. It comes from the book The Art Spirit, by Robert Henri:

“Contemplative appreciation of a trace; a picture, hearing music, observing a graceful gesture, may cause the spirit to flame up. We care for and treasure the traces of states of greater living, fuller functioning, because we want to live also, and they inspire to living. That is the value of ‘a work of art.’ The traces are inevitable. The living is the thing. The reason so many artists have lived to great age and have been so young at great age is that to such extent they have lived living, whereas most people live dying."

Laundry Day

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Today I woke up and was NOT in the mood to go to drawing, at ALL....but I forced myself and am glad I did. I don’t have any time to waste here, and I really will get everything out of this experience that I put into it! Here are some sketches from drawing today, I think it’s clear that I wasn’t in the mood to draw :P:

Charcoal on paper, 17” x 24”

This afternoon I did my laundry (finally). Not too shabby :P

During my long train ride to Parma this past weekend, I was looking out the train window and saw this bright orange field that had a thick layer of fog lying right above it. I thought the colors were so intense and surprising and it made me think of memory. Some memories lie in the fog, distant and bland, and then all of a sudden the brightest most intense memory will appear out of nowhere – brought on by forces unknown to our consciousness. With this piece I was trying to capture the impression that I had in that moment; the feeling of memory and the mind’s way of showing us little bits of color amidst all the haze of dormant memories.

Il Prato dei Ricordi (The Meadow of Memories), oil on canvas panel, 20” x 8”, 9/13/11

The river that emerges from the fog is time. It’s the stream that feeds the current mind and is constantly flowing and offering the day to day impressions that will eventually be tucked away behind the trees. I was trying to illustrate the idea that even though the memories may have been hidden in our subconcious, this river is always a source that is directly linked to the past.

Even though, at the end of the day, I feel that I really didn’t make anything of value today in the studio....at least I was in the studio, right? I didn’t slack off and I made an effort....that is all I can do.

Paint Paint Paint!

Monday, September 12, 2011

This morning there was figure drawing again. Here are some sketches from today’s session.

Our model is always male, which I don’t really mind since I’ve painted the female figure more. I was remembering my idea that all people are like landscapes to be explored, so here is my rendition of the Umbrian hillside.

Paesaggio (Landscape), 14" x 11", oil on canvas, 9/12/11

I finally finished the self portrait, too.

Riflessione (Reflection), 14” x 11”, oil on canvas, 9/12/11

Also, as I was leaving the studio, I saw the sun reflecting off of the piece I’m currently working on, and it just made it even more creepy than it already is.

Bacco (Bacchus) underpainting, 11” x 14”, oil on canvas

Oh, and I figure since I’m in Italy, all my work titles should be in Italian. For my non-Italian speaking friends, I’ll translate them into English in parentheses. That is all, no deep thoughts today, I was just a painting machine :).

L'Arte

Sunday, September 11, 2011


I just got back from a long journey from the northern tip of the boot to basically the southern tip. I think I’ve been on every form of public transportation available (including boats) and I am drained. Friday was spent in Parma – where I became extremely nostalgic about the days I used to live there. Being there again was surreal, even though I was just there two years ago. Parma is such a sweet town – it’s a beautiful little teacup town – frilly and polished and ready to please. Walking down the streets felt so natural and inviting, as it once did 7 years ago (oh my, time does fly!). I didn’t cry upon leaving this time, at least, which is saying a lot.

Saturday morning I took a train to Venezia to see the 2011 Biennale.

Although I’m not usually drawn to contemporary art pieces, I was pretty inspired by some. The juxtoposition of contemporary art exhibited in a building that’s older than life as we know it, was pretty intense. To mix it up more they threw in a couple of Tintoretto pieces in between the contemporary art rooms. It was powerful to see just how much art has changed; the subjects in the art, the execution of the concept, and the way the audience approaches and interacts with the art. There are a lot of differences, but there are also things that have not changed. When an audience views art, they are all searching for an experience within something that is abstract and visual. This is something that will never change just because we humans need to connect meaning to everything we experience.

There were so many different types of ideas exhibited at the Biennale that it really made me understand how important it is to consider the viewer while creating art. How much story and background to give? How might the viewer explore your piece? How much attention will the viewer give to your piece? Does your work make the viewer curious to search for a personal experience within your work? It was slightly overwhelming, and I don’t think I’ll ever be the type of artist who gets so technical about such details, but I think it’s important to at least think about these things. I’d like to think that art is an instinctual practice and the intuition we have as artists in relation to our audiences will shine through as long as we’re honest with ourselves. Human language and emotion is universal, right? But as I saw some of the greatest contemporary pieces all in one place, I started to think that perhaps these artists really thought about their audience and executed their ideas in a way that would insure a personal and thrilling experience for the viewers.

Although I was enthralled by pieces of every genre, since I’m a painter, here are the paintings that really stood out for me.

Passeggiata

Thursday, 9/8/2011

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!

Concept

9-7-11, Wednesday

This morning I painted directly from the figure for the first time ever. I was frightened and overwhelmed, but I came up with a sketch that I will finish later. My idea is that the human body, in essence, is a landscape, a cityscape, and a place to be explored. With my recent realization that painting physical environments bores me more than waiting in an elevator, I decided to use the figure drawing sessions to my advantage and try to merge my love of the figure with concepts of “place.” I’m sure all this concept doesn’t pour out of my paintings when you see them, but these are the ideas that keep me painting – subliminal, subconscious, or aesthetically – I hope they at least have a chance to shine through. This is just the underpainting:

Struttura, Oil on canvas, 14” x 11”, 9/7/2011

As I walked around today I had a moment: The carless cobblestone streets I walk down daily, the ancient looming buildings I gaze up at while passing, the views of an endless horizon that I wake up to everyday, all these amazing moments here are real. My nature is to mourn the slow demise of this beautiful experience, but my goal is to live in it, every second of it, and not look back or forward as long as I’m within the Medieval city walls of Montecastello di Vibio.

Same goes for my art. In a moment of my being discouraged by my lack of skill, Jonny mentioned to me that this isn’t only a trip to practice painting and get better, but it’s a voyage of self-examination. Within my art I’ve always set up limits within it that I didn’t even realize existed. I want to lift those limits I inflict on my creativity, and I want to explore what lies behind them in the darkness. I’m not promising myself that I’ll have a revelation, but I’m allowing the opportunity to come my way with open arms!

I’ve never had time before – there is always something more pressing to do, something that distracts me, and something that just sneaks up and steals all my time away from me. It’s been so long since I’ve had space in my head to look inward again...At first I was intimidated to look in, and I still am, but I think I’m going to enjoy digging deeper.

In the afternoon I decided I wanted to do a self-portrait. In the beginning my studio really creeped me out, so much that I moved my supplies downstairs in an attempt to move to another one. As I left my studio, I felt a sadness, like it was the wrong decision, so the next day I returned to the studio to claim it as my own once again. I chose to use the studio as a representation of myself – this abandoned space stretching across the top of the building silently, divided into different sections and hidden compartments, with some of the best views in town [joke];P. Right now this painting is pretty rough, I just started it today, but it will represent my internal self-examination. It’s me (even though it really doesn’t look like me) looking at the viewer indirectly, but through the glass behind me you can see the different sections of the studio getting darker as you go further in. The studio is my psyche, and in the glass, I’ll attempt to paint two reflections of myself – one that is looking away from the physical image of myself and into the darkest room of the studio. In the darkest room there will be an image of me staring directly out at the viewer from the darkness. I may not achieve this, but at least it’s an exercise that may help me out.

Me Stessa, Oil on canvas, 14” x 11”, 9/7/2011

Transitioning

This morning I went to the figure drawing session (it’s three days a week, and I will force myself to go to EVERY session). The model is amazing and I think I’m starting to warm up again. It’s been a long time since I’ve done figure drawing, so my goal is to get comfortable with drawing the body and practice the techniques and tricks the artists here have already shared with me. Here are some selected sketches from today’s session:

Charcoal on paper, 17” x 24”, 2011

Yesterday I did a cityscape Au Plein Air and realized that I really don’t like to do cityscapes. It was peaceful sitting outside looking at the beautiful view and painting, but for some reason, I didn’t feel a drive to paint or a connection to the image as I painted it. Last night as we ate dinner, I saw the light reflecting off of the building as bright yellowy orange against the deep blue sky – so I took a picture. Today I painted this, although I’m not completely convinced that I like cityscapes, I did have some fun with the clouds and the colors:

Benvenuta, Notte, Oil on canvas, 12” x 9”, 9/2011

I need something to draw me into a cityscape image. I will try to figure out what it is while I’m here, but in the meantime, I’ll continue practicing my figure drawing and think of other projects to keep me moving. I think that in order to be successful here in Umbria, I need to just do what I want...whatever passing idea, despite everything, is an opportunity to grow.

Artist Residency in Montecastello di Vibio Intro

9-4-11, SundayWell, I made it in one piece to Montecastello di Vibio! We’re all the way up on a hilltop, with a view that makes me feel like I’m on top of the entire world. The layout of the city is in a circle, with views all around and the buildings, walkways, and walls are all crafted in the classic Medieval style.

Steep, narrow walkways curve around brick buildings and colorful flowerpots like a stream moves around rocks. It’s very enchanting here, so I’m sure I have a great adventure ahead of me.

My studio is all the way at the top of the building, hidden away from the others and accessible only through a (very creepy) and steep staircase. I have the entire attic floor, which is divided into three and a half rooms. Today I went in just to get acquainted with the space and to let whatever energy is in there know that I’m going to be there for a bit, and I’d appreciate sharing the space :P I’m just being paranoid perhaps, but it did feel good to spend time in there, looking through all the windows to see the variety of views the studio has to offer, and to sit in silence, listening to nothing but the bell, people chatting below, and the occasional footsteps of passersby below.

There is a collection of artists’ palettes in my studio, which makes me feel more comforted. I just love seeing the colors other artists use to interpret their surroundings.

Since I’ve never done landscapes before, I decided I’d plunge in head first and confront the details that have been scaring me: Italian tiled rooftops and brick. The result was this overly-detailed drawing of the belltower from my studio window. Now that my feet are wet, I’m ready to make some art!