What's This?

All, right almost, finished! Yeah!

I still have a bit to go, some outlining on the letters and fix a couple of blobs. Hope to deliver this tomorrow! Then I can get back to work on the trash can.

What's This?

mmmmm what is this big piece of white plywood in the driveway???? Stay tuned!

Trash Can Mural Project

Well, I decided I didn't like that smaller javalina, so I painted it out and started again. Coming out much better this time I think.

Still have some more to do on this guy but I'm off again tomorrow so will be able to do some more.

Trash Can Mural Project

I've done much more with the trashcan. I think I'm about done with it.

This is really a combination of my decorative style and my more realistic style. Tell me what you think! Your feedback helps me grow!

Trash Can Mural Project

The Miami Arts Commission is asking artists to paint on the trashcans for downtown Miami. Here is the beginning of mine. I've got a lot more done today, but here is the beginning.

More to come!

Life Drawing

Well, my time is nearly up. Tomorrow it is back on the plane to the US. I leave Ancona at 7am and arrive in Phoenix about 7 in the evening, but will have been traveling over 18 hours. Funny thing crossing the international date line.

We had a lovely Dutch model for our life drawing class, though my skill does not do her justice. I am happy with some of my drawings, but can see I definately need more practice.

Today has been a sort of lay about day. Getting things packed up and ready to go home. Sad to leave this lovely place, John and Jana have been so nice and Thomas, their helper has been great also. By Wednesday I will be back at work and all of this will be a dream....

What a lovely first week I've had here. I'm so relaxed I feel like a wet noodle. I've realized I don't have a single key about my person. At home I carry two large keyrings full and here I don't have a single one. My pockets are empty. And my cell phone doesn't work either.

The day goes by in a very leisurly fashion. Breakfast is pretty set, from 8-9 am, continental style, coffee, tea, juice, toast, cereal, yogurt, a soft boiled egg. Then on out to tour a local town, usually with a little break for coffee at mid-morning. John is a great tour guide, he knows all the best ice cream and coffee shops, as well as all sorts of local history. He has taken us to see some amazing art and architecture in the area.

Then painting or drawing until 1:00 when we go for lunch. Italian lunches may last a couple of hours and have several courses. We've been trying to have pizza and beer for lunch for several days but no luck. The locals tell us pizza is not for lunch, but for dinner. Here lunch is the big meal of the and dinner is more of a snack.

Then back to painting until late afternoon when we wend our way back through the mountains to The Retreat. Enough time for a 'lie down' as my new Australian friend Elise calls it, though if we are back early enough there will be cake and coffee. Then dinner at 7 or 7:30.

This little valley has a lot of agriculture, but not like in the US. Here every farmer has just a few acres, with corn, sunflowers or hay, a few grapevines and a garden patch. There is a co-op for wine making and one for olive pressing. At the local wine co-op you can take your own bottles and get your wine for about €1 a litre. That is something like about $6 a gallon. And very nice wine it is, served with lunch and dinner. To night's desert was a dish a bit like jello made with a sparkling wine and with fresh picked blackberries in the bottom of the glass.