Travel & Plein Air Painting:
People ask how long it takes me to do a plein air painting and I usually reply; “Oh, about 34 years and 2 hours” referring to the constant learning curve (34 years) since I did my first on-site landscape pieces. The actual painting time is quite limited (@2 hours), as changing light quickly alters everything. In the last 21 days spent painting around sites in Tuscany, together with a significant birthday milestone, much has happened to realize some lifelong goals in my own art making process.

While the 8th Florence Biennale International Art Exhibit brought me here, I'm coming home with many new references and ideas for the studio and beyond. The images here, are works-in-progress that will require a few light touches to finish, as the winter sun is short-lived and I had to paint quickly.

One of the joys of international travel and finding these really cool painting sites, is the people we meet along the way. In this case, Linda O'Brien, Toronto born art historian, who specializes in Renaissance and teaches art history courses around Europe, and her husband, Franco Madella, Tuscan born architect, who shared his passion for the esthetics of his native culture. We rented their apartment for 10 days in Rovezzano, a district of Florence, situated upstream, along the Arno River, where Franco gave us a guided tour on our first day. The walking tour included this “Molino” (Italian for waterwheel) site along the river where a waterwheel once operated . . . no doubt a grist mill for flours used to make pastas, pane and pizzas, but now serving more as a special place set in antiquity for lovers of all ages to come view the Arno, as they did while I painted. The near edge of the river is still diverted through ancient stone archways, and the warm light cast on the stone structures and crisp winter sky reflected in the water really caught my attention. This place is not on any tourist maps, nor could we have possibly found it on our own.

The other titled: ”Around the ‘hood” is a view from our apt. balcony overlooking rooftops and one of the village companiles, where bells still bring a sense of medieval calm. Just pronouncing Rovezzano is rhythmic, expressive. We heard at least 3 distinctly different versions from train conductors, to our hosts, to the pizza guy just down the street, who makes the best pizzas we have ever tasted. “The Pizza Man” is on the neon lights of his busy shop, where all customers are greeted with complimentary small glasses of Prosecco as well as his own special crispy “fried pizza dough nuggets”, done-up in olive oil, brushed with pomodoro sauce and then smudged with Buffalo Mozzarella or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. It takes an entire 4-5 minutes to bake a pizza to perfection in his 800 degree oven. One must not go hungry (or thirsty) waiting so long for perfect foods like this! My best description: Fresh ingredients combined in a simple way, hand-stretched dough, dressed liberally in local olive oil, then pomodoro sauce, fresh chunks of mozzarella, and very large aromatic basil leaves immediately dropped onto the pizza as it comes smokin' out of the oven, infusing rich, flowery fragrance directly into . . . ahh!!!

With that in mind and now that you're probably hungry, go out and find the best pizza you can, and open a little bottle of Prosecco or sparkling cider. Don't do delivery – have it HOT and NOW! We ordered to go, but The Pizza Man insisted, “You must sit down and enjoy it here, not at your apartment – it is VERY BEST NOW!” We'll raise a glass and have a slice in your honor, wishing each of you the most festive Buon Natale from Rovezzano, Italy . . . and hope to see you in 2012!

View from Il Paganello” and “Happy Birthday”

If I could hand-pick the most ideal painting site in Italy, together with a birthday present to myself, this is the spot in the heart of Tuscany.

We were very fortuate to be able to rent an apartment for 8 days at the beautiful Tuscan villa owned by Riccardo and Susanna Bordoni, between San Gimingnano and Siena, Italy. They also own and manage this large farm property, “Il Paganello” a large 15th Century Italian building complex near Val D'Elsa, overlooking the Tuscan countryside, where I painted this piece.

Riccardo and Susanna are restoring the old building to its original condition (lots of stone work and preserving frescoes) and have located their wine and olive oil production to this site. It's very impressive, both from an historical perspective, as well as the hundreds of acres of grapes and olive trees, all yielding beautiful Chiantis, Tuscan reds and the premium olive oils that they produce.

Curvilinear countours defined by divisions of wild and cultivated land that follow every sensuous twist and turn of this unique landscape, excite me a great deal. The warm light and splashes of color from fall foilage still lingering under the incredibly torquoise blue Tuscan skies pulled me in like a vortex.

So, give me paradise on earth and I'll call it “View from Il Paganello”, painted on my birthday, November 29, 2011.

I am honored to be one of eleven artists representing the United States at The Florence Biennale, December 3-11, at The Fortezza da Basso, in Florence, Italy. Over 600 artists from 60 countries are invited by a committee of twelve art curators, who represent major museums in Europe, The U.S., China, Mexico, Brazil, India and other countries. In 2001, the United Nations recognized The Florence Biennial as an official partner in their program "Dialogue Among Nations" in perfect harmony with Kofi Annan's statement: "Artists speak not only to people but for people. Art is a weapon against ignorance and hatred and a representative of the human conscience. Art opens new doors for learning, understanding, and peace among people and nations."

With that in mind, I created 2 pieces representative of my own Pacific Northwest heritage, which involves water- theme compositions and subject matter. They are titled "Passage" and "Diversion", done in 2011 in pastel, from field studies, drawings and paintings made en plein aire from Washington, Oregon, Idaho (my birth state) and Montana. Both measure 27.5 x 33.5 (framed) and are offered for exhibit at the Biennale. They are for sale at $8000, each.

My wife, Judy, and I will be in Tuscany for 10 days, before heading to Florence, on December 3rd. I plan to take full advantage of the painting opportunity this region offers and paint outdoors (alla prima or "plein aire"). I will blog new images as best I can, while we are on the road, and plan to have a special exhibit of the works sometime in late spring, after we return to our home on Lopez Island, Washington.

To access the official web site: www.florencebiennale.org

We have been in the Pocono Mountains of northeast Pennsylvania for one week, after a successful opening at Agora Gallery in NYC last Thursday. The creeks and rivers here were a complete surprise for a life-long westerner, as I was anticipating something on the order of tamer waters, quiet riffles and shallow pools. These waterways speak with authority in the voice . . . big stone laden. dramatic cataracs everywhere, gorgeous light from now fading fall colors catching reflections off the banks of oak trees that give the water a rich chocolate color mixed with electric blues and greens of every hue in sinuous patterns, just before water plunges into its next downward level.

I learn more about painting for 2 hours at a creek, than can ever be explained. For me, it's simply enough to join this rhythm of water, sound, light, color and explore the anatomy of time and place along these creeks. I often think of the futility, trying to paint the whole motion, but still do it anyway.


The 2 paintings here are works-in-progress from Bushkill and Cranberry Creeks, just north of where we were camped. The very names suggest pure poetry that probably had something to do with ideologies from the late 17th century when they were named by colonists, although I'm sure the native Americans here had an even better vocabulary for names . . . which is still here, speaking loud and clear for all who are willing to listen and see.

Seven of my newest works will be featured in a collective exhibit titled "The Persistence of Form" with eight other artists from around the world, at Agora Gallery 530 W. 25th St., Chelsea, New York, NY from November 2-November 23, 2011. View my new works at the gallery, for this exhibit.

You are cordially invited to attend the opening reception, Thursday, November 3, from 6-9 p.m.
I will be at the opening, with my wife, Judy. We both look forward to seeing old east coast friends, as well as meeting new patrons, art lovers and collectors. Openings at Agora Gallery are always very well attended and made extra special with the unveiling of all new artwork, together with wonderful foods and beverages, served by the gallery staff. The piece pictured here, "Infusion" is one of 4 new river theme pieces I will have on display. It is 27.5" x 33.5" (framed with museum glass) Pastel on board, available for $8,000.

A huge thank you to the hundreds of art lovers, patrons and collectors who made their way to our home, gallery and art studio this Labor Day weekend! I enjoyed seeing each and every one of you and always feel energized by your kind words and encouragement about the new directions my artwork has taken this past season.
Many folks signed-up for my classes and workshops, as well – I will be posting those as they come-up, starting this October 1st, with a 5 week (Saturdays) session in beginning/novice pastels at La Conner Art Workshops (now located at Dakota Art Pastel Store in Mt. Vernon). Then it's Ocean Shores Convention Center next April 2012, Lopez Island next spring and summer and The Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville, August 10-12, 2012. We are looking at another overseas painting workshop for 2013, independent of any galleries or travel groups, simply organized by and for artists who love to travel and paint, in either southern France or Tuscany/Umbria.

The 2 images here are plein air pieces I did a few days ago (a sunlit road leading to the local berry farm and my favorite neighborhood estuary at Port Stanley in morning fog). These are available at our home gallery, together with similar brand new works from the island, at Crow Valley Gallery on Orcas Island.



We are having typical early September “liquid air” mornings with marine layers inverting at dawn and giving way to full sunshine by mid-morning. It's a plein air painters' paradise, and I'll be out there! The sounds of the big ship horns on the ferry boats, plus the smaller voices of fog horns on reef markers, signals this change of season like flocks of migrating geese, but in a more staggered tempo . . . think trombones, tubas and the occasional clarinet, all practicing their parts before the conductor arrives. It's the relaxed conversation of sea-going traffic, thank you very much, not noisy freeways we hear in the morning.

On Saturday and Sunday, September 3&4, we will host several hundred guests and art patrons at our home, studio and Windswept Fine Art Gallery, at 783 Port Stanley Rd. Many new works from around the islands and special plein air painting trips in the Pacific Northwest and Europe will be displayed for the first time, in pastels and oils, as well as figurative works from my live model drawing sessions.
New smaller originals, ready for framing and offered at half-price (starting at $350) are also available this year. These pieces will be made ready for transport to your own framer, in special mats and protective glassine – an excellent way to save money and enjoy owning an original. Very affordable limited edition Giclee prints are also available

I will also have a few “live demo” pieces on easels, in the spirit of the studio tour, to show first hand the processes I use while working. A special showing of the works I am shipping to New York for my November opening and to Italy for The Florence Biennale (Dec. 3-12) are also on display. One piece from “The Best of The Best Worldwide Pastel Artists” book being published this fall (Kennedy Publications) is also on display.
The piece pictured here, was painted en plein air about one mile from my home, looking out towards Frost Island and Thatcher Pass, near Port Stanley, in early morning light.

Plein Air Artists-in-Action, August 13-14

I am pleased to announce that I have been invited to do live demos at The Pacific Northwest Art School this coming Saturday and Sunday in Coupeville, WA. This event coincides with The 48th Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, a major annual event for thousands of art lover attendees. I will be working in pastel both days and always encourage questions from viewers during my live demos.
On the teaching front: I will be doing a 3 day pastel workshop (plein air) with The Pacific Northwest Art School, in August 2012. Brochures and info for this future workshop will be available at the festival and on-line, by this weekend. www.pacificnorthwestartschool.org for more info and to sign-up.

Note: The painting pictured here, was done last weekend on Orcas Island. It is titled “Deer Harbor Overlook” and sold to a private collector from San Juan Island, during the live auction for the San Juan Preservation trust and Plein Air Painters of Washington.

My painting pictured here and titled "Swift Bay Farm Barn" was awarded “Best of Show” at the Plein Air Painters of Washington and San Juan Preservation Trust Annual paint-out event, Saturday, July 30th. It has sold to a private collector on Orcas Island.

A second piece, titled "Deer Harbor Overlook" was painted during the event on Saturday and also sold to a private collector from San Juan Island during the art auction. Half the proceeds from that auction are donated to The San Juan Preservation Trust. Approximately one dozen auction benefit pieces were sold during the event, as well as several paintings displayed at the outdoor exhibit.

Summer Social and Paint-Out, 2011
I will be participating again in the 4th Annual San Juan Preservation Trust and Plein Air Painters of Washington live paint-out and fine art auction tomorrow, July 30th, at Turtleback Mountain Preserve on Orcas Island. Several artists from all over the state will be present and working on - site.
This is a great opportunity to view artists at work and experience “plein air” painting in many different styles and mediums . . . wonderful food, local wines, live music, children's activities plus the art show and auction all add-up to an event worth seeing!
1:00 - 6:30 P.M. at the south entrance to Turtleback Mountain Preserve. Go to www.sjpt.org for a map and complete details. Hope to see you there!

The painting here, titled “Estuary in Rouge” was painted on-site in early July, at Port Stanley, on Lopez Island and is one of 3 new island pieces I am exhibiting at Crow Valley Gallery on Orcas Island, through the month of August.

Friday, June 10th from 5-7 p.m,. marks the opening reception of a collective exhibit of work from 5 Lopez Island artists: Nancy Bingham, Richard Singer, Carolyn Cameron, Anne-Whirledge Karp and myself.
I am exhibiting work from my plein air painting trips in Portugal, Tuscany and the Pacific Northwest. One of my pieces, pictured here and titled “Spring Day, Lisbon” is from studies and reference photos done during a multi-country European painting trip 3 years ago.

The show hangs through July 26th . Food and beverages will be served at the opening reception and I hope to see some of you there!

We have just returned from a 2 week painting trip, highlighted by The Carmel Art Festival, a 4 day juried event, with 60 artists participating from all over the U.S. The 2 pieces pictured here, were both painted on location and sold at the festival. “Sunstruck” is the back courtyard of the famous Carmel Mission and the water piece, “Tide's Out” was painted at Asilomar Beach, near Pacific Grove.


I particularly like the water action and have been working towards presenting that subject in many different ways, as I prepare for my next big shows in New York (Agora Gallery, November 3 opening) and Italy, (Florence Biennale, Dec. 3-12).




As dates on the calendar are always closer than they appear, studio time and plein air time have become precious. Just a note: I have been invited to do a “live” demo at Art League North and will be doing a little presentation on “Travel”, especially the materials set-up I take on extended painting trips abroad, as well as a demo from Tuscany reference drawings and photos. That will be at The McLean Road Fire Station, (near Mt. Vernon) June 2nd from 10:30-12:30. I hope to see any local blog subscribers there.