Portrait Painting

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

One of my errands today was to go to Zecchi’s Art Supply store and buy some tela (canvas) for my portrait commissions this month. I ended up toting the roll of unstretched canvas under my arm as I rode my bike – first to the studio for some life drawing and then to my friend Rita’s home for dinner and around midnight back to my home.

It was kinda fun to ride around central Florence, Italy, with an extremely long roll of canvas. I felt like a jouster. I feel like a real artist!

If you would like to get in on the fun, check out my portrait special this month to celebrate eight years of making art full-time:

From your photographs or from life, when possible:
You may choose:
Half life-size or smaller in pencil: $300 per head/person
Life-size (approx.) in charcoal: $500 per head/person
Life-size oil painting – monochromatic (sepia): $700 per head/person
If you prefer color, a life-size pastel drawing: $600 per head/person, life-size
Plus, FREE SHIPPING from Florence, Italy.

Contact me for details (just respond to this blog or visit my site).
Please let me know if this is a gift or if you are having another deadline (such as an anniversary party or wedding) so that I can make sure you receive your original art on time. All submitted photographs must be accompanied by permission from the copyright holder for a one-time use to create a painting from the photograph. And of course, if you were here in Florence, Italy, I would love to make a drawing of you from life.

Thank you for your continued interest and support.

Painting of Venice Italy

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

In the constant tug-of-war between land and sea, Venice, Italy, can be glorious. I have only been there twice, but each time was a different experience. The watery city is full of wonky mathematics that I find abundantly charming. Nothing seems quite right, the city itself is in motion.

The persistent struggle with the sea is opposite of the seemingly carefree life that most visitors see. I watched the gondoliers steer their gondole among canals that twist and turn and connect most everything. The gentile curves of these Italian boats remind me of the many bridges, turned upside down.

I created this painting “Shadows of Venice” to share with you the yin-yang of the Venetian play of light. In addition, the line following the curve of the gondola silhouette and moving into the curve of the bridge in front of it reminds me of a sine wave.

I hope you like the slightly loose brush strokes in the art, the drama of the shadows against a bright sunny day, and the tranquillity of this scene. Imagine yourself coasting along in the gondola and feel relaxed.

This original oil painting of Venice, Italy, is painted on primed wood and measures 18 x 24 cm (approximately 9.5 x 7 inches). Her price is $250 with free shipping from Florence, Italy, to you wherever you are. Payment plans and checks are also accepted if you prefer those to using the PayPal clickable button here.

I also wanted to thank those who wrote to me about the loss of my bicycle seat (which Doria told me is called a sella (‘saddle’ as if a bike were a horse) and then Luca corrected to sellino, which means ‘little saddle.’). I returned to Dario who runs the bicycle shop at Via Dei Macci, 63r. He set me up quite rapidly, changed out the lever mechanism to deter theft, and afterwards I bought a small lock to give extra protection from future thefts.

This is the third time I have been to Dario’s shop. He came recommended by my friend Elisabeth. One time I helped my friend Skye bring her bike in after she had an accident with a motorcycle the night before. She was OK, but her back tire was crunched horribly. Dario was thorough and fast and Skye was happy with the price. I am happy to have found him because I was not amused with the business tactics of the first bike repair shop I gave my money to.

Buonasera!