Public Art Stone Sculpture Designs

Dear Art Lover,

     This past Sunday, March 19, was Father’s Day in Italy.  I spent the day with a bunch of local sculptors I know.  We met up at Cava Nardini (the Nardini Quarry) in Vellano, Italy.  I was not told what the meeting was about, but went along for the social event and also in the hopes of keeping connected with what is going on.  It turns out that it was originally thought that this proposed project would need to be completed by May and since I will be in the US, I would not be able to participate.  Now we know we have until September, so I am spending this week coming up with a design for the specs of the public art project in Tuscany.  The mayor or his team will have a look and decide which proposals they will like to realize.  If mine is chosen, then I know what I will be working on in June!  

Cava Nardini Vellano Valleriana Tuscany Italy Sculptors Discuss Designs

Metal ropes hung outside Cava Nardini, Vellano

Boys and Toys and distant snow-capped mountains

     It was a cool and overcast day, but fun.  After our gathering in the quarry, we went into the town of Vellano where I took some of these close-up and scenic shots before we enjoyed a huge and lively lunch at Trattoria Manero.  My friend Kumiko and I are the only non-Italians at the table and I swear hanging out with these guys made us laugh and laugh, especially when the older guys give the younger ones their words of wisdom about life.  Lots of hand gestures in the conversations and I really believe we had the liveliest table in the whole place!

Sculptors 3-hour lunch at Trattoria Manero, Vellano, Italy

     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 SPRING!

Peace,

Kelly

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

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