Day 5 - Small tributes and a bit of show 'n tell...

There is something special that comes out of allowing oneself to be vulnerable by sharing with one another... Although we had painted together all week - putting ourselves out there on display was emotional and a little nerve wrecking.  It was also in these moments that we knew and understood our time in the studio was now really over... and that wasn't easy for any of us.

 

I have to say without a shadow of doubt - that every artist produced a piece of art that totally became one of my favorites during the week.
 

 

 

 

 Beautiful people making beautiful art!

 

Our studio time was officially over.  Misty was leaving first thing in the morning and John was leaving mid-morning.  Saying goodbye is never easy.  What an incredible week with Misty... Generous with her knowledge and her skills.  Generous with giving us things before she left... And so generous with her time.  I was so blown away this week by everyone's generousity, with sharing skills and knowledge, art supplies and tools.  Being part of this amazing group has touched something deep inside of me, something I wasn't expecting but something I will cherish forever.

 

Meeting beautiful people in a beautiful place making and doing beautiful things is what makes beautiful memories.

Day 5 - Beautiful final moments in the studio...

We all hoped this moment would never come, we were warned it would come quickly and it did.  It's so bitter sweet.  It's been an incredible week of working so hard with full schedules and we all knew it must come to an end but yet our hearts just weren't ready.
 

Misty started our time off, as usual with incredible tutuorials and as we all sat around her taking in everything we could from her, our incredible teacher - everyone was relaxed and laughing.  There was something special in the class today... I couldn't put my finger on it but I think it was that we had bonded.  In our short time, all coming from different parts of the US and me from a different part of the world - we all had one common thing running through us... that we were all artists and we all in fact, spoke the same language, the language of art.  I wasn't prepared for how powerful that would be, to be around like-minded people in this specific environment for this specific time.  It was truly an honor to be part of something this incredible and this life-changing.

I love this pic - of Misty, John and Dot.

Misty at work - just incredible to watch her in action

 

Our classroom after a week of play... really lived in

Today was so exciting because after this tutorial - Misty showed us how to put together a collage.  Another first for me - I have never done a collage before and I was completely overwhelmed.  My fear was tangible for me to the point of nausa until I started and the more I worked through it - I just fell in love... I have since done 3 collages and they are just beautiful creative play.  I still have a way to go in what I'm doing but I know I have started something that completely ministers to my artist child...

 

My first attempt... Still have some work to do but it's love for sure...

 

Day 4 - Morning Market, a beautiful Cemetery and an afternoon in the Vineyards...



After our regular coffee and breakfast in the Refectory we met in the courtyard and headed towards the Market, after our mandatory stopover at the Blue Cafe for our quick "wifie" fix, along the way.  I loved the Market vibe.  It was local, organic and smacked of Italian authenticity.    We were all summoned to collect something for lunch... I collected Olives.  Hmmm.  Lunch was a great treat.  I loved the cheese and meat stands most of all... I think most of us ladies went home with a new scarf.

The lovely Kristi and Bill having their daily Cappa at the market place
 



 

 Adorable Jenny and Dot choosing our cheese for lunch... what a selection.

 

After our fun moments at the market, we headed back to the Monastery where Bill and Kristy took us in to see the Monastery's Frescos that they have been restoring and a painting that was apparently painted by Michaelangelo before he moved onto the Sistine Chapel... his practice run.  I found this so incredibly moving to the point of tears.  Why I found it so emotional was because they plastered over the paintings at some point.  At some point they found no value to it.  It upset me so much but the best part is they discovered them and have been restoring them back to their almost original beauty....

 

The Monestary's Frescos

Bill took some of us down to see the Monestary's Grotto's - 3 floors down.  I found these rooms more moving than the grotto's at the museum perhaps because they felt so untouched and so authentic... very moving.

 After much pleading from us, Bill and Kristi took us down off the rock early to visit a Cemetery before we headed out to Giovanni Dubini's Vineyards.  Only in Italy can the grave-yards be absolutely beautiful and artistic.

Making for beautiful photography.

 

 

What was so wonderful about being at the Vineyard - was listening to Giovanni's lovely stories but also the incredible view of Orvieto, in all her glory on top of the Rock.  It's incredible.  In Cape Town we have equally beautiful vineyards and cellars but it was so lovely to be in Umbria, Italy on the borders of Tuscany to experience this.

An old barn original built by the Pope - now a fancy B & B
Giovanni's father bought this property with cattle.

 

Empty bottles ready to be filled with Orvieto Classico

 

 

Our wine tasting table and a look at all the barrels of wine in ancient cellars

 

Looking back at Orvieto in all her glory, in that gorgeous golden early evening light

 This day was nothing short of beautiful.  We got home exhausted and squeezed in a light dinner at the Wine Bar.  After a quick nap I woke up around 10pm to head back into the studio to paint.  I got down into the studio and just about everyone was there and there was a wonderful vibe.  After a while just about everyone headed to bed and I got to spend the evening painting with Beautiful Lorraine until 2am.  As you can tell I didn't waste too much time sleeping - I wanted to maximize my evenings in the studio.

Day 3 - A day of many Firsts for me in the Studio...

Every morning I woke up at around 7am to bells ringing somewhere in the distance.  I got out of bed and opened my shutters and this was my view.  I repeated this everyday for 9 days and I took a picture everyday.  I know it was the same picture everyday - but I just couldn't help it.  It took my breath away every morning.  I would then climb back into bed and Skype call Dig and the girls.  There was no time difference for us so they were also in bed and we had a glorious little chat about what was happening in each of our days... I got the show them out my window every morning.  I loved our morning chats and they got me through the day.  I would then hop in the shower and get ready for the day.  We would all meet in the Refectory for coffee, breakfast and chatting every morning for an hour.  It was a sweet time.

This morning we headed back down into the studio for a full day of lessons.  I was looking forward to it...  Misty gave us incredible tutorials on this day.  It was one of my best days.  She demonstrated how to paint a portrait without drawing up.  Drawing up figures that tell a story and she showed us how to do backgrounds.  This was just so exciting for me.  This was ALL new ground for me... in so many ways.  It would be the first time I would be using Acrylic paints and the figure work was new for me and the beautiful background work too.  If I came to Italy just for today - it would have been so worth it for me.  Having this input first hand was priceless...

We had to start with just dark shadows and shapes and had to slowly build her in.

As you can see my nose and mouth were too high and off...

 

Replacing the nose and mouth... and working on the headdress.




The headdress and earrings are my favorite part of this painting...

It was tough going... I found using Acrylics difficult but the more I worked with it the more we started to understand each other.  It's a road I will continue to walk down and try learn more.  Besides the blending on the face - the rest of her was a delight to do in Acrylics.  It was the first time I had ever used Acrylics and HotPress 100% Cotton WaterColor Paper.

 

My first background... using Acrylics and Ephermia - I am in love with this process

We spent the late afternoon out and had dinner together as a group.  Jenny and I later returned to the studio to paint until 2am quietly chatting and listening to music while we painted.

 

It was one of my favorite days and evenings by far... hmmm I know I am pretty much saying that about everyday... aren't I?

Day 3 - Discovering the City under the City...

Our afternoon outing was a guided tour exploring the Etruscan caves that lay beneath the city.  It is the incredible story behind Orvieto... the City that sits over hundreds of caves that was built for food and water storage as well as making wine.  It was also where they dug wells to the water table as there was no natural resources on the Rock of Orvieto... in other words, no rivers or dams.  What blew my mind about this tour was realising the technology that they used to build cellars, wells and waste tunnels was rather advanced for this time, their building skills were nothing short of remarkable.  The other thing that was rather interesting was that they are still discovering caves to this day.  I find this truly remarkable... from jars and pottery and things they discovered in the waste tunnels... have told many stories and it is a fascinating story.

 

Christina our "wealth of information" tour guide... it was an incredible history lesson

 

The thin tunnel down the side of the large well is actually the water well and it was dug by one man with a basket on his back...  pretty fine craftsmanship if you ask me.

 

Pottery jars - these were the main color paints they used in the Etruscan era



A beautiful wine cellar - I so wanted to go down there to explore

Waste Tunnels - where lots of pottery and wealth of info found in these tunnels

After our time together down in the grotto's it was so awesome to be walking the streets again at sunset on our way to dinner.  I have so many highlights from my trip but the walking was definitely one of them - they completely energized me.  I took so many pictures and I wish I could share them all.  But here are some of my favourites.

 

I love this shot... I love the nickers on the line... talk about airing your laundry for all to see!!!
 

 These two shots are two of my favorite photographs... I know it seems impossible to choose from over 1200 photos but I just love the positioning of them and the glow of the street lights at dusk and capturing the buildings... they are just so beautiful to me...

 

I am thinking about choosing a selection of my pics to make them into postcards.

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.