Perhaps my favorite

The beautiful groomed grounds of the Tuscany estate include classical statuary and pottery, artfully placed. There are are scented gardens, acres of organic vegetables, flower gardens and just beautiful private areas to sit and enjoy nature.

I passed this fellow daily and he needed to be celebrated with paint. The lush and plentiful blue green bushes on the path are lavender, they line every walk, discouraging bugs and keeping the organic grounds gloriously scented. 

Sometimes the paths are also lined with Rosemary which also discourages unwanted flying critters. 

 

What are You Looking At? 12x16 oil on linen c. 2024

Additions to the Relais collections

These two stayed in Italy in the collection of Relais Borgo Santo Pietro. The painting is Casa Linda, one of the residence villas, the grand piano drawing is one place my art was displayed, note the tripod! 

Other art work went to new homes in various locations, from china to Azerbaijan to California. Meeting visitors from Saudi Arabia, Australia, Germany, England was a bonus during my residency, and English was a universal language. Good thing as my Italian is rudimentary and my French is too. 

My month was financed by Borgo Santa Pietro, including an apartment and meals, studio space and supplies. I brought my own prepared linen and brushes because I'm partial to the smooth surface I can create with an oil ground. But the estate also provides a driver to Siena to purchase any supplies the artist and Artist House requires.
Guests can choose to take a 'class' which was a nice distraction for me. I enjoy meeting people from all over the world and the classes were infrequent.
I left these two paintings in "payment" and thanks to my generous hosts.

Artista in residence

That's me, the Artista, at my studio and a view of the inside with some of the October paintings.

4 more pen drawings from Italy

Just outside Borgo Santo Pietro is a tiny town of Palazzetto, with one little bar/deli/coffeeshop. Apparently the pizza is very good but I just wanted coffee and some time to watch the traffic which was a few cars and a bicycle.
The next three pictures are back inside Borgo. I am so fortunate to have had this experience, a month to paint with no other responsibilities. I never tired of drawing and painting a month in Italy, surrounded by the Tuscan hills and friendly people.

Views from the Borgo Santo Pietro artists studio

Heaven. When you don't have to go anywhere to find something inspiring. There's a covered canopy and couches outside the studio and next to the lily pond lake. Creating these urban sketches are a nice distraction between painting times. Sometimes you have to put the paintbrush down and just draw. They are about 6"x8", drawn with archival ink and colors are watercolor.