This next artwork was created as my way of easing into en plein air painting. This is the unforgettable view from my bedroom window in the countryside outside of Florence, Italy. Landscape artists tend to tell me that they do not understand how I can go life drawing since the figure is so complicated. But as an artist who started with the human figure, landscape painting has always seemed intimidating to me. There is so much information!
So, I sort of cheated, I guess. Instead of being out in the open air, I set up my easel inside the house next to the bedroom window. Each night (that I was home), I drew for about an hour or so. At first, I thought I would just make a square composition because that was all that I could see from one vantage point. But later, I decided that I liked having more on the right, with the distant hills and more olive trees in the foreground.
I feel lucky to be here. And I am enjoying my love affair with pastels. And, of course, with Tuscany.
“Tuscan Vista”
46 x 64 cm (18 x 25")
pastel painting on dark green Firenze paper
copyright 2010 Kelly Borsheim
$1800 + $20 shipping (+6.75% sales tax for Texas-based destinations)
