Day 2 - Finding inspiration in the classroom and kitchen...

We wasted no time on this day - after coffee and breakfast in the Refectory, we headed straight down into our studio. We started off with a pencil still life drawing. I hadn't done a still life for many years... so it was a good exercise to get our eyes in. I love using pencil so I found this exercise theraptic and relaxing.

Our next exercise was a portrait that we found in the magazine.  Here is my process through it... I didn't finish her then - I finished her that evening in bed... yes, I didn't sleep much.  We were moving quickly from one exercise to the next as we had so much to cover and I was determined to finish pieces that I started.  This was one of my favorite exercises... partly because I love pencil drawings and love shading.

 

 



I absolutely love this piece.. I have called her Francesca

 This became a daily ritual.

Bill and Kristi always chose the best lunches for us...

It was a wonderful time of day. And to me some of my best meals were had here.

 

 

After lunch, Misty teaching us first hand how to draw with charcoal...

She was just remarkable to watch in action.

 

 

 

 

Misty gave us each a mini book to fill with anything we liked from our trip.

I decided to fill mine with the Madonna - She totally captivated me and she was everywhere.  I managed to do three during my travels but I plan to fill every page with a different one I saw around Orvieto and in the Monestary.

After a productive and rewarding day in the studio... we headed out to Zeppelin Restaurant for a cooking class with Chef Lorenzo Pelligri who was just so energetic and such a character in the kitchen. Famous word for the night... was "Mama Mia". We had the best time making supper. We all had to make something for dinner. I made a chicken dish, don't ask me what it was called but it had olives in it and it was yum. We ate like royalty. The energy was catchy and tangible. It was a brilliant evening and I do believe a highlight for all of us. And the zuppa was out of this world. I could have easily stopped after the Fungi Pizza bread, the Zucchini floral bread and zuppa. The rest I couldn't really get down.



Chef Lorenzo - giving us our instructions



Misty and Renee making our pizza and breads

Zucchini Bread and Fungi Pizza - the highlight of my evening

 

Ted and Lorraine - After 35 years of marriage making Trimisu was a breeze

The proof was in the pudding...

Day 1 - Orvieto from the Inside Out

Day1 - we had a mighty full schedule for our first day with lots of exploring the Village, introduction in the studio and time out and about all afternoon as well as a group dinner... After my first decent cup of coffee in Italy and breakfast in the Refectory... we all headed to the courtyard - which became our "communal meeting place" to discuss our plan of actions for the day.


We hit the cobblestones and headed straight for the BlueBar which became our "home away from home", our other "safe place". If we ordered our daily cuppacino here we could connect to their free "Wifie". Our connection to the outside world and our loved ones - which, I will have you know became our drug of choice for the next 9 days... hmmm Coffee and free Wiiiffiiii.

We explored the town all morning and discovered Bill and Kristi's favorite shops and secret treasures... best leather place in town, a little art shop, paper and ink store etc. and of course there was the Duomo - Orvieto's cathedral which is Italy's best Gothic church.  It's so big and I'm afraid my pictures don't do it justice at all.  Apparently, it's where Michaelangelo stopped over to gain inspiration before his commission in the Sistine Chapel.  Inside was all consuming.  I could have spent hours there.  The artwork - breath-taking and Kristi gave us the incredible history behind each painting.  I was particularly moved by the Madonna inside the one small side chapel but we were unfortunately, not able to photograph it.  It was an incredible way to spend the morning.

 

The Duomo - need I say any more



Wall Art



The Clock Tower - I still wanted to climb it but I ran out of time

We had some free time before we headed into the studio for our first lesson.  I headed to the Blue Bar to try and connect with the family.  I managed to have facetime with them in Rome but Kitty was too emotional to talk to me and wouldn't even look at the screen but that was 2 days ago and we were all feeling a little anxious.  Kitty had felt terribly guilt and had spent these two days begging me to connect.  When I called, Digz and Corks were home but Kitty was on a playdate.  I was so emotional when I was talking to them.  I kept drizzing.  But I did manage to show Digz and Corks the cobble streets and little artisan shops... I wasn't sure when I was going to get a gap to speak to Kitty next.

View of Misty and Dot from my desk... already messy

I came into the studio class feeling a tad overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed with my abilities or perhaps lack thereof.  Overwhelmed by the incredible artists I would be working with and completely overwhelmed to be taught by Misty in real life.  I may never get an opportunity like this again.  On each of our desks was a beautiful folder that Misty had put together for us.  I was so blown away.  There were a few postcards of her beautiful artwork but the file was filled with ephermia, references and a Moleskin mini diary to record and sketch our way through our trip in Orvieto.  I was so moved and I looked up and saw that Jenny was too - she was in tears.  Our first lesson was how to cut a rubber stamp... we all came in with some patterns and designs that we had collected in and around Orvieto that morning and we got stuck right in.  We also did some very loose sketches with charcoal.  It was a tough start.  I wasn't particularly blown away with myself at this stage.

 

  

Our next outing which was a trip to the Palazo del Gusto - to sample wine and olive oils which was set in their underground grotto's.  It was wonderful.  I learnt a lot about Olive Oil and wines. I am a huge lover of Olive Oil so this was awesome.  This was followed by a beautiful afternoon walk through the golden glow of Orvieto as the sun was starting to go down.  It was breathtaking... my pictures show it all... 

 

#wanderingwithpassion through the streets of Orvieto

 

 



The Gordon Davies Art School - I wish I could study art here...

It was a long day and I was exhausted and I still hadn't had a chat to Kitty. I was finding it hard to concerntrate at this stage because I knew she was feeling emotional about not speaking to me yet.  I had started getting desperate messages and I was concerned that she felt punished by my silence.  I managed to sneak in a very small Skype chat before dinner but we both had to hang in there until the morning for a decent chat.  Dinner was great and I got to experience Italian Truffles - one of my best finds this trip!

A soft place to land and a room with a view...

 

Kristi was right!  Orvieto was a soft place to land.

 

I didn't realise the silent stress I was walking around with, that came with being in a big city and traveling.  Coming to Orvieto was in many ways like coming home... It was contained.  It was safe.  It was gentle.  And it was soooo exciting arriving.  We were finally here...  All our months of dreaming out loud.  All our months of saving and planning... we were, at last, here!!  I could hardly contain my excitement and as Jenny and I got closer to the Monastery, San Lodovico - it felt like we almost ran through the doors.  We were welcomed by Bill who took us up to our rooms.

 

Omygoodness...My room with a view!

 

I got to wake up to this every morning for the next 9 days...

I even got my own bells... another treat I got to hear every morning and throughout the days.

 

 

After we unpacked and showered - we headed out to meet our hosts Bill and Kristi who gave us the procedure low-downs, our beautiful teacher Misty Mawn and our other incredibly gifted classmates and had dinner together.  It was so good to be here... let the adventures begin.

Big Wishes... Cobble Streets... Ancient Ruins...

We started off our day early so we could hit the cobble streets without the overwhelming crowds...  What a perfect place to start...

 

Making Beautiful Wishes!!

Just like the picture books and movies...

We arrived as the gates were opening and we got in on half price tickets... It was a real treat!!!

  



Capturing Moments & Making Memories.

 Beauty and art everywhere the eye sees... totally loving the Archways!

Ancient Ruins

To me the best part about exploring Roma was just being able to roam the streets, no plans and no agenda's... Just exploring blindly and delightfully discovering.  It was one of my best days in Italy!  I loved taking pictures and finding little pieces of art all over the place.

 

 

Beautiful art everywhere you look... even around a simply lamp

 

 

We ended our time in Rome with a traditional Italian lunch - Pizza and a Latte.

I am so grateful for our brief time in this incredible city...

I will never forget it's greatness and beauty!

 

After which, it was time to head out to catch our train to Orvieto, in time for our

Introduction and Orientation evening... too excited for words.