Still Painting Italy

Just finished another version of the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence, Italy. I have the opportunity to have a show downtown on Second Saturday in September and was wondering what would be the best things to hang. I consulted my art buddies and they told me that a good show has a theme. So.............guess what theme I am about to choose? Italy (surprise!). What do you think about showing watercolors of Italy in Sacramento? Will anyone be interested? I don't want to be a snooty artist who prefers to paint European subjects, however, I do find the subject matter in Tuscany so different then the suburbs where I live that I am compelled to paint it. What do you think?

What you should know about my past.....

I think it is time to come clean. Most of you know me as a watercolor teacher who likes to paint old houses, bicycles and flower boxes. However, I think you should know about my past life. Upon graduating college (you can guess the year), I decided I wanted to be a children's book illustator. For the next 20 years I taught varying subjects in the public schools and worked at writing and illustrating children's books. I have published several drawings over the years and have a large file of wonderful rejection letters from the books I wrote and illustrated. Some publishers told me to wait and they would pair me with the right author when they found them. Others told me my work was too original and others told me they liked my work but had something else they had to publish first. So, after 20 years I quit trying to illustrate children's books. And you know that expression, "When one door closes, another one opens?" That is exactly what happened! Now I am happily teaching wonderful students both locally and abroad plus selling my work. So, never give up, just re-position yourself, okay?

What's New at My House this Summer

Many of you know I have a lovely, teen-age daughter. Here is a picture of my daughter and I. The reason I am giving her some medicine is that she had her snakebite piercings done yesterday. All is well and we are having a fun summer.

Watercolor of a Tuscan Arch

This is an arch in the wall that surrounds the hilltop village of Cortona where I am lucky enough to get to teach a workshop every year. When I start to think about a logo for the year's workshop, I try to come up with a subject that represents Cortona and Italy to me. This year, I feel confident enough to take on painting the quintessential arch. I love those photos I see of beautiful Tuscan scenery seen thru the frame of an arch. So here is my humble attempt at a Tuscan arch. Maybe I will try again tomorrow, thinking maybe the buildings inside the city should be a cool color and the scenery outside of the arch might be bright, sunlit colors. What do you think?