Sketching while the winds howl and rains fall

While some hardy souls are out painting in the high winds, cold rain and flying sleet others are nesting down with their books, pencils, sketchpads and inks.

Winter is a great time to doodle and doodling shouldn't ever be taken for granted. It's a wonderful way to limber up and refresh those creative juices.

Here are a couple of studies from this week, which has been windy and wet here in Tuscany.

A series of imaginary portrait sketches in pencil and another is a study of an orchid which I've been house sitting while her owner is away.

Artists who paint in Italy - Mary Pettis

Mary Pettis is a plein air painter who visits Italy for it's magnificent Plein Air painting opportunities. 

Firstly, we would like to congratulate Mary for her recent award and fabulous painting which won 3rd place in the "En Plein Air Texas" Painting Competition. She painted this scene en Plein Air with no photographic reference, over a 4 hour period.

Her strategy for capturing this moving artistic feast was to know the goats eating habits in advance, where and when they were fed. She shows her process in her color sketch (see below). Laying in the important elements, separating light and dark forms on her canvas and positioning important objects. As a goat would move into a convenient position, she painted it in using very simple light and dark shapes. The completed oil painting is magnificent and it's amazing what can be achieved with a good plein air strategy.

Mary sitting with the 3 winning paintings. Hers is titled:
Breakfast at Treva's - oil by Mary Pettis.

The initial stage. Sketching in the main forms and shadows on the canvas, including the person in the distance.

The completed oil painting. Quiet spectacular. 

She also recently visited, Cinque Terre, Italy with a group of artists and I wanted to share some of her photos which describe the adventure. They give an idea of the great beauty, light and painting potential of Italy. Mary allowed me to share the following images and her descriptions below.

The artists waiting for the bus to Monterosso.

One hour sketch demo from the hotels garden terrace.

Moments of solitude...

This lovely Italian woman (seen above) popped open her window and started calling down to us in Italian; she was showing off her flowers and the beautiful steps up to her house (seen below). I asked if I could paint it for my demo and she was joyous! She went on calling down to me, pointing and telling me where I should stand to get the best view.

   

 When I was done with my 1 hour sketch, seen here, this lovely woman re-emerged asking to see the finished painting. I showed it to her and she gave me a huge smile and two thumbs up.

        

For more information on Mary and her art you can visit her blog at http://marypettis.blogspot.it/

The Tuscany Plein Air Villa in 2016

Welcome to the Tuscany Plein Air Villa in 2016.

This magnificent villa, which is very close to the city of Florence has been carefully chosen for the landscape painting opportunities it presents. It's extremely beautiful and comfortable. The landscape and access to it were the deciding factor. It's a magnificent building and also very exciting.

Around the grounds there are beautiful painting and sketching spots within a few feet of the main entrance. Olive fields with vistas of Florence, a local village with historical churches, views of other villas, interesting designated public hiking areas, a nearby bar and small restaurant. The villa also has wifi.

Cresting a hill, the villa is surrounded by landscapes on all sides.

Inside, it's tastefully decorated and very comfortable.

One of the most exciting elements are the painting opportunities which the tower presents. With 180 degree views of the Tuscan hills and valleys, the tower provides an impressive location for workshops on landscape painting principles such as ariel and drawing perspective, color mapping, speed painting and more. Once the principles are grasped artists can search out views, set up their easels and create art in nearby locations. The principles taught apply both to oil and watercolor paints or any media. Complete with fresh coffee or a glass of wine, this tower makes early morning and late evening painting, very convenient. 

 

The villa is very large, with several comfortable locations to gather, share a meal and talk. 

Bedrooms are also very comfortable and most have their own private bathroom.

As for the gardens, they are beautiful with seating areas looking over the valley below. A private swimming pool on a lower level and al-fresco dining table on the terrace for evening meals and breakfasts. We are here to learn and enjoy creating art and there is no harm in feeling pampered. 

 

To see more photos of the villa follow this link.

The countryside around the villa is also very beautiful. Photos were taken in October and an article will be published later. The autumn it is excitingly beautiful. Spring will no doubt be quiet awe inspiring.

A special thanks

We were very lucky to have great helpers in this event and we'd like to thank them.

Chiara Perondi

Among the best was our brilliant housekeeper Chiara Perondi, without whom we would have been lost. She anticipated our every need and was a real part of the art family during the week. If you would like to contact Chiara for your private events you can find her on facebook at this Link.

We were also blessed with fantastic cooks. We referred to them as our Italian Mamas. No fuss. Just beautiful food and great fun.

Cooking with Carlotta.

You can contact Carlotta through her website or her facebook page.

www.cookingwithcarlotta.com
https://www.facebook.com/cookingwithcarlottacom-530554536997385/timeline/

First Few days at the Villa

We've been painting at the villa for the last week and it's been quiet a pleasure as well as a great painting experience. The art guests have come from all over the world. Canada, the USA, Ireland and Australia and everyone is enjoying the experience as well as perfecting their art.

Guests have been very surprised by the quality of the experience. We're not blowing our own trumpet here, it's been the topic of conversation at many evening meals. Some of which have been in the villa and others in local restaurants. In the villa we owe thanks to our cooks and to the great assistance of Chiarra Perondi who has looked after the house every day while we've been painting.

We've visited the gardens of the Corsini Family as guests of Donna Georgiana Corsini who is also a painter. The original plan was to visit many different locations around Florence to paint but the fact is that everyone is so enamored by the location that no one wanted to leave, so we have mostly painted from the villa every day. It has amazing views and painting opportunities.

Here are a few photos from the last few days. We will be finishing up on Sunday. It's been a great experience so far and bodes well for future events.

Meeting for the first time in Florence before visiting Zecchis for art supplies. 

Our first evening at the villa. Eating on the terrace under the stars.

Our Australian artist, enjoying her visit to Florence.

Painting in the Corsini Gardens, Florence.

Choosing a view from the villa.

Explaining color mixing and values.

Very glad to have a watercolorist among us.

Color mapping a scene.

Our scholarship winner at work studying the landscape

In the Corsini Gardens

Wild tortoise wander all over the Corsini gardens. It's obviously a very old tradition.

Study of a statue in the Corsini Gardens.

A part of the panoramic view, every day.

Non Resident Workshops

We are pleased to announce that all the reservations for this September's Tuscany Plein Air event are taken.

The villa is fully booked but we are still welcoming non resident attendees to take part in the workshops. This would suit people who are living in or around Florence. It's a 15 minute journey by car from the center.

This is a 7 day event, beginning on the 12th of September, where painting landscapes, choosing good compositions and understanding the process of Plein Air painting are demonstrated.

The mediums covered are watercolor, oils and pastels. Techniques include methods of composing a scene, perspective explained, methods of making your own paint, value studies and much more.

We expect it to be a very fun event with lots of learning. Buffet meals are included.

Non resident attendees are welcome to take part in the social evening events. For details: http://tuscanypleinair.com/Bookings/guest_fee.html

Complex Cityscape in Watercolor

It's a beautiful day in Florence.
The river is still and the light is clear and crisp. I want to capture these buildings and the water flowing out of the tunnel beneath the Polimoda Institute of Fashion Design. A beautiful building, in itself it would be a challenge but with the composition I've chosen it becomes a great deal more complex due to the perspective and the relationship of buildings to one another. Scale and proportion make things more complex.

It's also hot. In the 40°C range (100°F) The scene you choose is effected by the need for shelter from the sun. Fortunately, thanks to a series of trees along the riverbank I had shelter. It was quiet and free from many pedestrians. So it looked like a good spot to begin creating a composition.

Step 1: When sketching out a complex scene, with multiple buildings, scale and perspective are among the first considerations. The most effective approach is to begin with simple block forms. When the forms are correct add the details.

I'm using a 2b pencil but have a very light touch. The contrast on this sketch is hightened. Light lines with a hb pencil are enough.


Even in an ideal location you can expect distractions.
This time I had a giant lawnmower which passed in front of me, along the river bank 6 times. He was very polite but the flying grass, disturbed insects and dust made an impact and slowed things down a lot.

I'm using a steel easel here. Good and heavy and the attached shelf really helps.

Step 2:
First painting.
This watercolour is 30 x 43 cm so it's large and the temperature is in the 40°c range, making it necessary to work in sections. I washed in the sky first. Then painted in all the dark areas around the building. Framing it with it's darks.

The window of opportunity is from 10am to 1pm each day. Then the light changes. After 2pm it is completely flat with no contrast.


Step 4:
Day 3. Returning the next morning I begin adjusting the values in the central tree, the river bank and adding in the roofs of buildings.

Values are brought in line with the overall scene and general shadow shapes applied to buildings.

Any scene containing more than one building takes a lot longer to paint unless the buildings are joined by the same shadow.

 

Step 5:
Day 4. This is the final painting. 

This is the Polimoda International Institute of Fashion Design on Via Curtatone, beside the American Consulate, in Florence, Italy.

If there is one last thing to say about this process it's that you need to strike a harmony between all the darks. Then there is the balance between the darkest darks and the lights. If there is too much light it makes the darks appear alien, out of place. Though to cover a beautiful white shimmering spot with even the slightest glaze of color may seem a travesty, without that, the painting will be sterile. So a delicate balance has to be struck.

art by Tom J. Byrne