Transitioning, back home

Tuscany was an amazing inspiration for me, a place where all of your senses are stimulated morning to night. The people, the countryside, the food (new favorite cheese - pecorino) , and the wine (new favorite wine - Vernaccia di San Gimignano). I am still thinking about all of the vistas and fortunately have so many incredible photographs, a few of which I am sharing below. I hope to start painting from these next week but in the meantime I am back home catching up on life.

Trip highlights -

Castello di Tornano, Gaiole in Chianti

 Good Morning, done with blood oranges

"Plein Air" studio #1, looking toward Lecci in Chianti

wine tasting at the castle

entering Siena, walled medieval city that once rivaled with Florence (and I think it still does)

view looking out from San Gimignano, a small, walled medieval hill town known for it's many towers, and for it's white wine, Vernaccia. For me, being in San Gimignano provided the epitome of a lush, Tuscan Vista

"Plein Air" studio #2, Torrita di Siena

looking toward Torrita, another walled medieval town 

one of the many metal sculptures scattered throughout the property

On the way to Cortona

Wines from the Baracchi Vineyards, Cortona

Ben and Jerry's ice cream in Cortona, really?

By the end of the trip, flowers were blooming everywhere, the spring greens were even more lush than when we arrived

Vista from the Cortona city walls, an Etruscan city dating back to 200 B.C., which also flourished during the Renaissance

My decision when planning this trip was to focus on the landscape and countryside more than the architecture and art in the cities. The italian culture is one that has always fascinated me and being there was the gift of a lifetime.

Getting into the groove back at home meant dropping off two larger encaustic paintings to the local Swampscott Arts Association spring show:

"Summer Pathway"

"Spring Pathway"

I was also asked to exhibit at the Sovereign Bank in town, details will follow after we hang work tomorrow. Next week once I am more settled I will begin framing my plein air paintings done in Italy and then hope to get to work on some larger encaustic as well as watercolors, all inspired by my trip. Until then, Arrivederci!