Childhood in Casignano

Dear Art Lover,

     Many years ago, I got to stay in a friend’s home in a magical place called Casignano.  It is in Tuscany, on the outskirts of Firenze.  I got to be friends with the farming family there.  As I write, the patriarch Renato is 94 years old.  When I first met him, he told me of being a little boy in the same house during the American arrival to help Italians liberate Firenze during WWII.  American soldiers stayed in his home, hiding out in the hills surrounding Firenze until the moment was right.  For this experience [and perhaps others afterwards], Renato has a good feeling about Americans.  I only lived as their neighbor for a few months in total over two years (having returned to the States between times), but my friendship with this family came about quickly and has lasted.

     I recently completed a pastel sketch of some of the dancing olive trees in Casignano.  During one of “our” olive harvest times, I saw little Marco, grandson of Renato, running down the hill and just goofing off while the rest of us picked olives.  I have always relished this memory because childhood has a freedom we rarely experience in later years.

 

“Childhood in Casignano, Italy”

12 x 18 inches    $650

Pastel drawing on UArt sanded paper

Copyright 2017 Kelly Borsheim

     If you like pastels, check out more of them here:

http://www.borsheimarts.com/pastels.htm

     For years I have returned to Casignano for the “raccolta delle olive” (olive harvest) each November.  Renato’s wife Giuliana cooks up a huge lunch for all of the workers, mostly family.  Natalino is one of Renato’s brothers and I have seen him year after year.  He is even in a previous blog post, as you may see in this image below.  Natalino is a name many Italians born on or near Christmas receive.  [Natale = Italian for ‘Christmas’ and the suffix “-ino” means “little.”]

      This past November, I could not get down there for the harvest.  I have a new home in the country some distance away from them and a new pair of brothers to help.  However, I was able to get down to Casignano after dark for dinner last November.  Like most families, this one had members coming and going and I did not get to see everyone for long or some at all.

    A couple of days ago, my friends posted on Facebook that Natalino has died.  So, I dedicate this blog post to him.  He was a “bravo uomo,” a good man and a kind man.

     For my fellow nature lover, I would like to share a few snapshots I took while on [the dog] “Gregory Duty” this past Thursday as my landlord volunteered for ambulance duty.  In Italia, this group of mostly volunteers is called the Misericordia.  Can you tell how I love the bees?  More images are on my Facebook page.

Happy birthday to my artist friend Hélène Delmaire!

Peace,

Kelly

P.S.  Subscribe to the art newsletter here (it is FREE):  http://www.borsheimarts.com/contact.htm

Gregory is curious.

See the bee approaching this wildflower?

Wedding Couple Portrait Painting

Dear Art Lover,

Wedding portrait painting Detail Groom

     So, back in October or November, I posted some images and gave you a description of a challenging project that I had to do. It was requested that I paint a portrait of a couple who are getting married next month. The bride's favorite color is hot pink. The groom wanted his favorite sports teams of the Denver Broncos included (colors are bright orange and navy blue, with a horse symbol) and a crucifix, not just a cross. She wanted the painting done in the style of Seurat... lots of dots and a high key painting (meaning few real dark tones). And of course, none of the photos that I received were the favorite of both of them in the same shot and I could not work from life with the ocean between us. 

     I have received permission from the couple to share the images here of the finished portrait. Meet my sister Danielle and her future husband Joe. So, this past weekend was Danielle's Bridal Shower. Because I was told back in December that I required surgery on my knee [with a six-month recovery time], I had given up the plan to attend the wedding in the US. So back in early January 2017, I shipped the painting secretly to our mother. It was still wet, but I had to go all the way to Firenze, Italia, anyway to ship another painting that I had sold. The packaging was great [Thanks, MBE-Firenze] and the painting arrived safely to the US and surprisingly stayed a secret! Recently, our mother (an artist as well) stretched the painting for me and the groom's grandmother bought the frame. Two of these images are from the shower this past weekend. The others I took here in Italy before shipping the art.  

     I should note that I did not pull off the Seurat look.  Part of that is because a portrait artist has to learn to read feedback from the commissioning client.  People do not always say exactly what you need to hear to do what the speaker wants.  My feel on the feedback that I got was that more realism was desired than what I see in Seurat.  Also, the original comment was, “I really love the lady with the big butt by Monet.”  I could not think of or find a big butt by Monet, but of course, I remember the famous profile of the woman in the park wearing a Victorian-style dress with the added butt poof.  Hahah.  So, I read my sister’s comment as that she likes the high-key color palette and that she enjoys seeing choppy paint strokes.  And I am very happy that she and her future husband love the painting.

     Also... the doctors gave me alternative therapies, so I am preparing to attend my sister's wedding after all. Sweet reunion with my family!

Wedding Portrait Painting, Detail Bride

Art Workshop in Tuscany

    On another note:  Are you interested in traveling to Tuscany, Italy, to take some art lessons?  I have been asked to teach again and we thought this time to try it in the hills, close to my home.  If we get enough feedback, we might try for a workshop in September or October.  I have taught all sorts of things including pastels, charcoal drawing, still life painting, portraits, anatomy, stone carving, and more.  The landscape is lovely here and one idea is to do more of an artist’s retreat.. More painting time, afternoon critiques.. But even if I teach full-time, we are thinking of a small group.. six maximum?  I am open to shaping the class to what YOU want to work on, so please send me your desires about what you want to learn about art.  The location is between Firenze (Florence) and Lucca / Pisa.  If you see my posts on Facebook, you may have a better idea of the landscape and beauty to which I am referring.

Art workshop in Tuscany Italy - send your requests for what to learn

     If you like, please have a look at some of my sculpture online here:

http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture.htm

Peace,

Kelly

P.S.  Subscribe to the art newsletter here (it is FREE):  http://www.borsheimarts.com/contact.htm

Painting Work in Progress

Dear Art Lover,

     In case you think that I forgot that this is supposed to be a blog about art, I have not.  It is just that I am working on various projects, setting aside them for a variety of reasons and I do not know how to share all that with you.  So, here is a partial for a silly project that I started.  It is a collaboration with another artist.. basically a painting he did that he wanted to put in the trash and I asked if I could take it.  I originally thought that once he got moved into his new life or maybe even a few more years into his art career, he might wish that he had some of his earlier works.  

     But as the piece stared at me in one of my studios, I woke up with an idea and started painting.  He is aware of this now and so, I am painting a little more.  Hahah.  A taste:

Painting collaboration work-in-progress

     I am looking forward with joy and trepidation for my almost two-months in the US.  I know that I will not be able to see all whom I would love to see, but am doing the best that I can.  I have much to do there.

     If you like, please have a look at some of my sculpture online here:

http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture.htm

Happy birthday, cousin George and friend Melanie!

Peace,

Kelly

P.S.  Subscribe to the art newsletter here (it is FREE):  http://www.borsheimarts.com/contact.htm