My Blank Canvas

Charcoal on Canvas- 36"x 48"

 My new canvas hanging on the wall in my studio, unfinished. Five months it has been waiting.  Everyday I look at it ,and study it, and I see all the colors and brush strokes. All the steps that I need to take to make it complete.

As spring brings warmer days, I want this scene to come to life.

Day Dreams

Italian Water scape  Oil on Canvas- 36"x 48"

My work has been challenging in the real world, and as a result, I think my paintings seem to reflect some of the challenges that I am facing and the hope of some relief at the end of the year.  I started and finished this painting to help me work through a difficult time.  

My dreams of traveling are mixed with a feelings of entrapment, 
but I know that this phase of living will have an end. I'm already planning travels and filling my thoughts with day dreams along the Cote d'Azur with sunshine, blue sky, wine and the Sea.  

In subject and composition, I have started a new painting with this same theme, but it is laid out with a different point perspective.  I am anxious to see the future that the finished piece will reveal to me. 

Dreams

Italian Water scape  Oil on Canvas- 22"x42"

A few weeks ago  a friend and I were talking about vacations. We discussed what the perfect vacation meant to each of us.   The perfect vacation to me is time away from my routine life, and painting...Spending a little time each day painting on a canvas or in other types of creative endeavors. 

I have traveled twice this summer to two separate inspiring locations... but since the logements were not my own, my creative time was limited by participating only as an observer.   I have a dream to find a space one day that I can make my own, and set up "shop".  Somewhere to escape for productive and frequent times away; regenerating my energy. 

A place where I can explore the landscapes around me and feel the energy of my neighbors and life on the street.  A place that I don't have to feel isolated, but a place where I can be productive and focused with mes oeuvres and still have an opportunity to step out and interact in the world around me.  This dream is very familiar to me because this dream was once a part of my life.  And now I seek this dream again. 

These words come to my mind "Seek and you will find", but I know also that "when you dream, you are already there." 

Painting Inspired

Oil on Canvas 32" x 40"

 I completed this painting after my trip to Italy.  I was a little hesitant to believe that this painting could be completed because the architect in me wanted to see a little more depth and realism for the architectural symbolism.  I was eager to start work on another idea, and I wanted to move forward.   I came to the conclusion that this painting represents a vision of a memory, like recalling a dream that is not so vivid after you awake.   I am working on another painting with the same theme and colors, and feel very inspired by the colors. 

I originally wanted this painting to be full of all my thoughts for Florence and of the architecture in Florence.  But from my perspective, it is apparent that I could not escape the beauty that I saw in Venice.  I am merging together all my thoughts and feelings into one painting, a dream and a memory. 

Going back to Italy

It has been too long since I have seen my blog and written in it.  Once this was a place for my personal therapy and for personal reflection, but then it became a place where I could only see what was missing in my life.  While feeling severely uninspired, this blog became a reminder of who I had been, and the parts of me that I felt were lost.   But finally, I was able to take a long awaited and much needed vacation for myself.  My dream for the last two years has been to return to Italy, Firenze. 

It was a much needed break from my professional work ; work that seemed to never want to stop.  I literally was about to collapse under all the stress of other peoples daily requests and problems for me to solve.  But  having 10 days away from the office has transformed my health and attitude. I only peeked at my work emails a couple times, and that was enough.  

I chose Florence and Venice for my travels.  I carefully laid out the course of my journey for these two destinations and the number of days spent in each.  I am spontaneous in my traveling that I don't plan too many visits to places that I "must see".  I always give myself the leisure of strolling the city to explore, and only 1 or 2 must see places.  After all, it is my vacation. I do not want the added stress of a day filled with sites and a time schedule too constrained.  That would be work.  I tell myself, I can return on another trip, and see what I missed on the last trip.

Venice was a last minute destination. I had never desired to travel to Venice but it was highly recommended.  I only had one night and one entire day to spend in Venice.  I would not hesitate to return.   I adored the tiny winding streets and the water canals.  Blue sky and sunshine graced me on this trip.    

My pilgrimage to Florence that I have been anticipating for the last two years, was more of a trip of reconciliation with the past than exploration.  I had traveled to Florence before, but there were many memories of confusion, sadness, and dismay that I have associated with this city. My heart knew it was a beautiful wonderful place to visit, but the past several years, I have not been able to enjoy looking back or seeing the old photos from my previous journey. 

But, this trip finally gave me new light and meaning for Florence. It became my place again.    I am very happy and content I was finally able to experience it's beauty.  I only wish that while I was there,  that I had more time to just sit and relax and soak up the atmosphere.  It was my mission to walk everywhere, wander the streets and reconnect with old places with new eyes. I will return. 

 

I have been painting again.  I am very pleased to know that my painters block has been lifted.  I see in my mind's eye a melange of orange and yellow patterns that represent the colors of Italy. I hope that I can continue to find balance between my work and personal life to pursue these new inspirations. 

Florence

Venice

                                      

Photography

 I have been working on  Industrial photography lately.  I recently purchased a new Nikon point and shoot pocket size camera for traveling.   It's not the most expensive camera, but for me, as long as I can get a great resolution, and some options with the f-stop, that is all I need.

I am attracted the patterns of geometry in the architecture or design,  and the splashes of color that develops from natural decay, age, or graffiti.  I am fascinated by all the colors or textures that occur naturally, and overlay the original design. 

I found this post while I was walking and it intrigued me with it's splash of pink coloring.   and the yellow. 

I am not painting as much...but still working through some ideas.  I have not finished anything new to post, but with the summer and sunshine, I want to be outdoors as much as possible. 

Chapter: Winter to Spring

Oil on Canvas 11x14



It has been a long winter, and I'm ready for spring. Not only are spring temperatures beginning to return but the spring of rebirth. I have been talking very often about traveling again, but now I have a plan that I feel comfortable that I can bring to fruition.

I am still continuing my Waterscape paintings, and more ideas are coming to me, especially an idea for a larger painting. Not too large, but large enough to express new ideas and thoughts.