Andiamo/Allons-y. Painting summer in France and Italy.
“These are the remarkable kind of experiences you want to share. There were surprises everywhere. I hope the viewer will get a feel for what it was like to live daily life in a wonderfully different context.”
Andiamo/Allons-y: Summer in the Cities of Italy and France showcases a series of paintings inspired by observations of the architecture, daily life, and nature in more than a dozen cities across Italy and France. Most of the paintings were created outdoors, on location, and range from watercolor to mixed-media and acrylic mediums.
In the Streets of Montmartre, 2024. 8" x 8". Acrylic on board. In June, something is blooming around every corner in Montmartre. Sold.
Parisian Palace with Pigeon, 2023. 9” x 12”. Watercolor and gouache on paper. City birds have no respect for statues, not even the statues in royal French gardens. Available.
Sunbathing on the Old Stones, 2023. 9” x 12”. Watercolor and gouache on paper. Can you spot the black cat sunbathing on the gravestones? The Cemetery of Montmartre was a peaceful place. Available.
Growing in the Cemetery of Montmartre, 2023. 6” x 6”. Watercolor and gouache on paper. There are roses growing next to historic tombs. Sold.
Waterlilies in Parc de la Tete d'Or, 2023. 4” x 6”. Watercolor and gouache on paper. A close look at waterlilies growing in a cozy part of one of Lyon, France’s largest parks. Available.
The Roses of Parc des Hauteurs, 2023. 6” x 8”. Watercolor and ink on paper. A rose trellis at the top of Lyon, with a hint of the Cathedral nearby. If you come at the right time, you might be able to hear some choral music while sitting under the roses. Sold.
Where the Rivers Meet, 2023. 12” x 9”. Watercolor, ink and gouache on paper. Two rivers, the Rhône and Saône, converge at the south side of the city. At the “v” where they meet, you can literally see the water colors change. The family of swans I saw there did not seem as impressed. Available.
The Rooftops of Lyon Stretch Out, 2023. 4” x 6”. Watercolor on paper. At a hillside park, the historic center of Lyon is one large quilt of red tile roofs and old stone. Available.
On the Road to Torino, 2023. 11” x 14”. Acrylic and collaged paper on paper. Taking the bus from France into northern Italy means a long ride through the alps, where the mountains seem to touch the clouds. Available.
Driving Through the Alps, 2023. 11” x 14”. Acrylic and collaged paper on paper. The most scenic bus ride. Available.
A Garden Above Verona, 2023. 6” x 6”. Watercolor on paper. The Giusti Gardens used to be part of a palace, but are now a public garden with beautiful views. Not pictured here was the lizard who skittered away from my park bench as I sat down to paint. Available.
A Face Way Back in the Garden, 2023. 8” x 6”. Watercolor and gouache on paper. As you climb the stairs at the Giusti Gardens, a face seems to stare down at you from the back of the garden. Is it a sculpture? An odd building? A stone giant? I am too near-sighted to say for sure. Available.
The Fountain Turtles of Verona, 2023. 14” x 11”. Acrylic and pastel on paper. Inspired by some of my favorite little dudes living in the fountains of a garden in Verona. Available.
Shadow of the Statue of Neptune, 2023. 11” x 14”. Acrylic and pastel on paper. At night, at the center of town in Bologna, the statue of the god Neptune casts a strong shadow. Walking along a covered walkway, you can see his shadow almost before the rest of the central piazza. Available.
Finished Enough, 2023. 6” x 6”. Watercolor and gouache. In the 1500s, the city of Bologna started the exterior facade of the Basilica of San Petronio. It never quite got finished though, and now the half rough stone and half marble building is so iconic that I don’t think they’ll ever change it.
As seen from Via Caprarie, 2023. 6” x 6”. Watercolor and gouache on paper. Sometimes looking up and around while at the cafe leads to beautiful new views. Available
Trees in the Courtyard, 2023. 8” x 6”. Watercolor on paper. In the heat of summer, sometimes it’s best to hide out underneath some trees in a central courtyard. Available.
Below Arched Ceilings, 2023. 8” x 6”. Watercolor on paper. While hiding from the July sun under some courtyard trees, I noticed an old gas gas lamp that perfectly divided the ceiling deeper into the building. Sold.
Basilica San Luca After the Longest Portico, 2023. 4” x 6”. Watercolor on paper. If you start in the city center of Bologna and then walk up the longest portico in the world (and up and up and up a hill outside of the city), you reach the Sanctuary of San Luca. From there you can see the hills all around Bologna.