Costa Rica inspires vibrant artwork!

The colors are so saturated in the jungles, mountains and beaches of Costa Rica...we explored far and wide and stayed in 5 different areas of the country.  Of course, I took my watercolor materials but I had to squeeze in time to paint!  I did...here are a few of the pieces I made there. 

Hanging out at the Beach - WC

Feeding bright birds - WC

I took boatloads of photos so I hope to make more paintings too.  We travelled with friends who also enjoy exploring the unique places of new territory, fun to find new adventures.  We just barely made it home before the COVID-19 crisis....so very glad we did.  Yikes!

Painting in Tuscany - such fun!

We just returned from a lovely trip to Umbria and Tuscany where we traveled by plane, train, bike and bus from Paris to Umbria to Siena (!) to Trequanda and Florence - what fun.  We first biked UP and down the huge hills with friends, fueled by croissants and lots of cappuccinos.  The food is so good that we were glad we were exerting ourselves with biking daily!

Then we finished up with a week at the Fattoria Del Colle, an agritourismo spot that produces exquisite wines.  The wined tasting was such fun, we learned a lot about the Donatella C. Colombini vineyard and Wine production.  Donatella started her wine business in 1988 on family lands owned since 1592.  When she sought a vintner/wine to oversee and produce her wines from the Wine Schools of Siena, they said they had none available, all the men had been hired already.  Donnatella thought about that, called back and asked if they had any women?  They replied that yes, they did have women available...so she hired a woman and now produces wine with all women in the production areas.  Men do help in other capacities though : )...overseeing the vineyard and olive groves, etc. - a very fun place to stay, dine on wonderful food, sample wines.  I sold a painting to a couple visiting who saw me at work!  First International sale of artwork - happy happy joy joy -

Oh - and I was part of a Art Workshop there : ).  We painted daily with Yuki Hall and Diana Mara along with lots or touring to various towns and cities nearby.  Siena and Florence caputured our hearts.  Dan and I walked daily through the countryside and I made a few paintings, took way too many photos and will make more paintings, hopefully in time for the Open Studio Tour on Oct. 19 and 20!  I will have guest artist Pam Geisel with her Art Quilts. 

Please come visit my studio and the others in Yellow Springs!  It is a fun way to see how artists work and maybe pick up a painting or piece of artwork that captures your heart...

https://ysopenstudios.ysartscouncil.org

we got to bike in Paris and Italy!

Lovely countryside

First Painting in Italy - the Tuscan fields and mountains -

Open Studio and Piqua Arts Council Exhibition

Busy, busy - I have 2 pieces in the new show, ‘Piqua Fine Art Exhibition’.  It is at the Apple Tree Gallery, 405 Main St in Piqua, Sept.6-27.  I’ll see it tonight...can’t wait!  If you are a plein-air painter, they are holding the ‘Arts and Ale Festival’ with a Plein Air Paint-out and Wet Paint Sale Sept 21.

Also coming up is the Open Studios Tour in Yellow Springs on Oct. 19 and 20 from 11-5 Saturday and Sunday.  My studio is on the tour with a plentitude of colorful watercolors.  I try to paint daily so I will have plenty of new work for you to see.  Also featured at my studio will be Pam Geisel who makes beautiful art quilts.  Here’s the link for the full info and map - Yellow Springs Open Studio Tour

And - ohboyohboyohboy!  I’m heading to Italy to paint with Yuki Hall in Tuscany and make new painting friends.  My husband is coming along too so we’ll be sure to check out the olive oil, cheeses, breads, wines, etc.  Here is ‘Vibrant Eggs’ in watercolor and fluid acrylic.  It was on display in the recent Tecumseh Land Trust exhibit.

Paint-Out in Yellow Springs OPAS - June 22!

I've organized a Plein Air Paint-Out here in Yellow Springs for all interested in joining us.  I attended the Ohio Plein-Air Annual meeting in April and they encouraged all of us to host (particularly someone in YS - hint - hint).  I found a friend to co-host it with me, Yuki Hall, a wonderful watercolorist whose work I adore.

All are invited to come on Saturday, June 22 between 9am-1pm.  We'll meet at the big stone church on Main St - First Presbyterian (314 Xenia Ave.) between 9-10 for snacks, reconnoitering, etc. then head out to paint the town.  I'll close up the church (plenty of spots for bathrooms in town) and we'll meet up again at 12:30 to share paintings/talk.  I'll close up the church again...folks are welcome to paint on their own, etc. : ).

Plenty of spots to paint - downtown, Antioch College, Glen Helen, along the Little Miami River, the Riding Center, etc.  Lots of barns in the area if you like farm scenes...come one come all

BTW, the town holds an Art Stroll Friday, June 21 from 6-9pm with gallery receptions, etc.  I'll be at Village Artisans Gallery for our reception of 'Pollinators', corner of Dayton and Corry Streets. please visit us!

Monarch to Be - Giclee print

Painting: A way of connecting with 'the Potency of Life'

I'm reading The Library Book by Susan Orlean...a wonderful book about the huge fire at the Los Angeles Public Library in 1987 that devastated the collection, the back story, reflection of books, etc.

Here's a quote from her chapter of how difficult it is to set about to light a book on fire.  She wanted to see how it would feel to do so since the fire was believed to be arson.  Susan can't throw a book away because 'books have souls ... feels like a thing alive in this moment, alive on a continuum, from the moment the thoughts about it first percolated in the writer's mind to the moment it sprang off the printing press - a lifeline tha continues as someone sits with it and marvels over it...'

Susan continues 'Once words and thoughts are poured into them, books are no longer just paper and ink and glue: They take on a kind of human vitality.  She quotes Milton regarding this quality: books take on the 'the potency of life'.

Actually - sometimes, I feel like that about a painting....sometimes I feel I come close to making a painting that has this quality - the potency of life - that speaks to more than a good likeness or a good rendition of light coming through a woodland.  I hope that I can do this more - impart life into works of art...spark a delight or bring a memory of place or thing or person to life in art.