Baby Olives Independence Motorcycle

Dear Art Lover,

     Tuscany got no rain this spring, never good for anyone’s spring, is it?  So last week’s rains and temperature drop were a welcome surprise.  I took the opportunity to photograph not only the lovely clouds around my home in the hills, but also the few baby olives we have this year.  I asked my landlord recently if he talks to his plants.  He shook his head.  I smiled and said, “no worries, I can talk plenty.” Hahah.. Sadly, it is true.  Will it help the babies grow to be beautiful olives?  Tough year, this one.

   To those in the US, happy Independence Day.  Nothing says independence as nudity and motorcycles, right?  Enjoy… and feel free to make an offer on this charcoal drawing, “Hellcat at the Pitti.”  He will ship from Hickory, North Carolina, zip code 28601.  He is framed in Museum Glass [really good non-reflective glass], an acid-free mat, and good quality black wood frame [see photo here].  If you prefer to frame him yourself, send me your offer for the 18 x 25-inches charcoal drawing alone.

http://www.borsheimarts.com/charcoal-drawing/2010/hellcat.htm

     

     Cast off and four months to go before the docs allow me to try to carve stone again.  I hope that I have the patience to heal slowly and properly this time.

Peace, 

Kelly Borsheim, artist

Independence Day for Italy

Cari Amici,
Oggi (Today) is Independence Day in Italia. But I am not feeling it. Nor will I get to see how the Italians celebrate. For weeks now I have had a tosse (cough), but in the last few days, I have “progressed.” Each morning I start the heater in the studio and prepare to create my latest charcoal drawing from a male model, but I cannot seem to make it through the three-hour session without needing to curl up on the couch. Now, the chills have set in and I am feeling a bit devastated because the weather has been incredibly lovely for the first time this week.

So, today, while I recoup, I leave you with these images that I took last week. I was wandering al centro in a wee bit of rain and returned to this alley that houses Florence’s only round tower. Or at least that is what I overheard a tour guide say while I contemplated my next image. She also said that this tower housed women prisoners (I forget the crimes they allegedly committed) and that the tower is sometimes referred to as the Straw Tower because the women slept on straw.

The Byzantine Tower of Pagliazza hails from the 6th century while the neighboring Medieval Church of San Michele in Palchetto is a 12th century addition. Today, you too, may have the experience of sleeping in Florence’s round tower, but since the building is now part of a 4-star hotel, you might be disappointed that you would not be sleeping on straw. (Mi dispiace.) Named after Florence’s most famous architect, The Hotel Brunelleschi houses 96 rooms, some overlooking his Duomo.

And adesso, I crawl back under the covers . . .

Hotel Brunelleschi Firenze, Via De Calzaioli, Piazza Santa Elisabetta, 3, 50122 Firenze, Italia; Tel. +(011 39 05527370; Web site: www.hotelbrunelleschi.it