Serata Italiana

 Serata Italiana

10 x 8, Pastel

It is hard to believe that it has been almost 10 years since I was blessed to get to go to Italy on a painting excursion! That was a magical 10 days, a once in a lifetime experience! To get to travel to Italy and then to get to paint was a delight. At the time I only painted in watercolor, not pastel, my preferred medium now. The pastels I have created have mostly been of the people I encountered and a few of Orvieto alleyways.

This painting is from the first evening in Citta della Pieve and is the entrance to the pizzeria at the Hotel Vanucci. I just loved the light and the cast shadow created by the lamp and vines. It is available at the Gallerie at Gruene.

Gertrude

Gertrude

6"x 6", pastel

For the past couple of months I have been working on a commission, a rather large commission, 4ft x 4ft. It has really been a fun painting to create. But no matter how much fun they are, commissions carry a good deal of stress along with them, at least for me they do. You see on other paintings, I just have to satisfy me and if I am lucky some one will like it enough to take it home with them!!! But a commission requires that you paint to the satisfaction of the buyer.

Today was the day that the big reveal was going to happen. So, to de-stress, I decided to paint this little chicken!! Years ago a neighbor tried their hand at raising chickens, just a few. They would let them roam the 'hood during the day and cage them at night. They often visited our yard and I took the opportunity of photograph them. This was the perfect painting to de-stress, loved her disgruntled expression!!!