In Italy 2014

Sunday, 22 March 2015

Studio days...

Pictures taken and shared on Facebook by Kristin Steiner

So my nerves were still edgy and I was really struggling to settle them.

Our Classroom is in the monastery, upstairs... good lighting and just such a beautiful peaceful place to work. We started each session with Misty doing demonstrations. She's truly incredible to watch teach in person.

I have taken quite a few of Misty's online classes but this is the second time I have got to sit under her teaching, in person. And it really is special and such a privilege. That together with sitting along side other incredible artists who I love and admire.

Misty's demonstration

My take on it...

Misty started our time color. Wow this wasn't easy stuff.

She taught about mixing colors, complimentary colors and working on solid backgrounds.

This is my take on the grey backgound.

I brought this reference with me from home. I have drawn her before in graphite many years ago but I always wanted to paint her. I never in my widest dreams would I ever have thought I would get to paint her in Italy. Understanding color is not easy for me. I didn't study art and I see with Corks studying art now through the years - how color and understanding it is engrained all the way through.

It's something I want to and need to grow in and I've known this for sometime.

Misty's photo...

The view from Misty's desk. Isn't her desk incredible. Beautiful Lorraine and Robin and I admiring Renee's superb work. Camilla listening to us chat. Annie admiring John's beautiful piece.

The painting at the top of Misty's desk - the guy with the red coat... Blue and OrangyRed - Complimentary colors. And a Red background... (I hope I remember that correctly).

My take on that demonstration... I loved this color palette a lot.

Blue backgrounds...

She's really remarkable, right!

Having incredible fun in Misty's Office...

Seeing that come to life... WOW!!

Profiles and monochromatic...

Everything Misty did this week was to lead us to our final piece... a Icon.

We had to draw one out in Graphite, free and intuitive and add elements that we had seen from our surrounds. Then an accurate measured up piece. I wasn't completely happy with mine, I would like to still go back and finish that assignment.

Then there was this assignment was to take 4 magazine elements that Misty gave us.

She then showed us how she does this and how she puts a piece together.

It was tough going but an incredible way to learn put compositions together.

It is definitely something I would like to grow into and practice more. This was a completely new concept for me. We scribbled away in our Fabriano journals that Misty gave us.

I used stabilo and water here to try and put ideas together.

I found the studio time very tough this time...

I know it was my own fears. At times, my hands couldn't stop shaking and I didn't know why I was in such a state. It was upsetting me. The only conclusion I could come up with was that I usually paint in the privacy of my own space. So I make my mistakes in private and without anyone seeing and I guess there is security in that. I was completely out of my comfort zones.

And my abilities were being challenged. As much as this was uncomfortable and my fear was tangible - I know it's out of these places that we grow the most. Which is ultimately why I was here.... right.

It was only when I got home did I realise that something had actually shifted in me and the place you could see it was in my work... and that shocked me. I couldn't understand how come... After much reflection and talking it out... I ultimately believe...

Showing up each day in spite of our fears = change.

It also made me realise that I need to work more with other artists so that I can not get complacent in my comfort zones. I've already made two painting sessions out of town with two fellow artists for the year ahead.

Great lessons learnt over these two days.... physically, mentally and emotionally.

Monday after lunch and afternoon adventuring...

I took this picture at the top of the clock tower...

After our studio time and our daily courtyard lunch, we headed for our Duomo tour.

It's really a remarkable experience, to me one of the highlights of the trip.

And I found this experience was way more moving than the last...

Walking into the Duomo this time, there was music playing and a choir boy was singing.

It was really the most beautiful sounds and getting to hear Kristin sharing the history with that in the background.

...goosebumps and tears.

It was one of the most moving chapel moments I have ever had.

For all of us who chose to go in were deeply moved...

At dinner, when we spoke of it, Veronica and Dot were moved to tears.

Tender moments.

They were busy restoring the Duomo this trip, which made it tricky getting a good picture

but it does make my heart so happy that they keep it beautiful and restorative.

When we walked into the Duomo, I managed to capture this picture, before I discovered we weren't allowed to take pictures. It's so sad to me that we can't because it would be so remarkable to capture the sheer size and magnitude of this magnificent place.

I love the lines and details... breathtaking.

After this incredible tour, we continued to tour the village and have some down time. Some of us went shopping and later we all joined back up for wine tasting, olive oil tasting among other wonderful eats. It really was a feast!!! I don't drink because my body can't handle it and generally don't like the taste and if I ever do have a tiny bit of wine, I only do that at home and with Digz. It's not something I want to do in a foreign land in case it has an adverse affect on me. It's too scary for me. So I didn't wine taste but I did olive oil taste and I did have a beautiful feast. The food and pairings were incredible. Renee and I couldn't stop eating the tomatoes and to me the artichokes and garlic were absolutely incredible.

The atmosphere was perfect and everyone was absolutely raving.

I think this day was one of my favourite days... Oh wait, I think I might say that at end of each beautiful, incredible day!

Thursday, 22 January 2015

Love at first sight...

This has to be the most incredible door knocker I have ever seen - I fell instantly in love.

I went on a mission this year to find as many different door knockers I could find... because they all seem to tell their own story and are all so interesting.

The other thing that makes them such conversational pieces is that the doors open up onto the roads so you don't see many doors without them. Where I come from you have to get through high walls and gates before you would see anyone's door knocker.

I hope that one day I will be able to find one as beautiful as this. She captivated my heart. I'm planning on doing a series in drawing or painting of all the different door knockers I found. Even if just for me.

Monday... first day in class

I woke up early again. Sleep has been eluding me.

I was feeling so nervous about being in class.

I headed down to get a small coffee and for a walk around the Monastery gardens.

To sit quietly and draw a little. Take pictures and just collect myself.

After breakfast - we headed into the Studio.

Sweet Lorraine and Renee kept a seat for me next to them... this helped my nerves a little.

We all headed up to distribute our gifts for each other.

This is what my beautiful desk looked like.

I'm blown away by everyones generosity to each other

Such beauty.

Our first mandate and assignment was to take our Journals and head out into the streets and sketch what we saw.... what??? Oh my goodness my nerves.

My hands couldn't stop shaking... not sure why I was so nervous.

I love what I found...

I felt so overwhelmed at first that I wouldn't be able to find anything, let alone sketch anything - sometimes I hate what fear places in us. But once I calmed myself down, I found such beauty and I loved this assignment most of all. I know this is something I want to grow in - being able to capture moments through sketch that can be later turned into paintings. It's a skill all on it's own.