Daily Fare

"Daily Fare", oil on canvas, 12"x12", $125

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Here is one of the locals in Montepulciano, Italy out shopping in the morning. Her focus seems to be on making the right decision for her dinner. She stood there looking for a long time before making her purchase.

Below are images of my painting in the three phases prior to making the final adjustments and adding some additional details in creating the completed painting above.

1. Block in general shapes and color

2. Establishing the Focal Point

 

3. Developing the background

 

Reflecting on Montepulciano

 

 

"Reflecting on Montepulciano", oil  on canvas, 12x16, $225

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While in Italy, I ran across several classic cars and this one was my favorite. Every time I went by, I took more pictures. This was in the afternoon and the sun was reflecting light off the windows of the building across the street from this old Fiat 500 making the greatest lightshow on the wall above.

Stinkers

"Stinkers", oil on canvas, 10x8, $75

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While painting in Montepulciano, Italy, I stumbled across these Converse tennis shoes airing out on someone's window sill. I'm guessing they didn't want them inside.

Tilting at Windmills

"Tilting at Windmills", oil on canvas, 14x11, $125

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European travels are almost over! On the way to the airport in Amsterdam, at the break of day, I saw this scene that pretty well sums up what you can see in Europe. The juxtaposition of old and new, the dawn of new technology, man against (with?) nature...other thoughts/comments welcome.

Stadsherberg de Mol

"Stadsherberg de Mol", oil on RayMar panel, 12x10, plein air, $100

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Here is a restaurant we ate at on Molsaan in Delft, The Netherlands. This place has been in continuous operation for over 500 years! Originally, it also provided lodging. There was no electrical lighting inside, only candle light. Dinner was accompanied by great entertainment and a lively crowd. There was the most amazing mist in the morning air and you could barely see the church spires in the background.

Bridge Across Koornmarkt

"Bridge Across Koornmarkt", oil on RayMar panel, 10x12, plein air

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This is a view across the canal from the Leeuwenbrug Hotel in Delft, The Netherlands. Painted on a drizzly day last fall. What a beautiful place, I can't wait to go back. The bridge dates back to 1668.

Not in My Backyard

"Not in My Backyard", oil on RayMar, 12x10, plein air, $100

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In the Cinque Terre, you would be lucky to have any yard at all, even as steep as this. Over a long period of time, they have terraced this extreme terrain with dry stack rock walls. My yard in Oregon is certainly not flat but it is much easier to work on than this would be.

Corniglia

"Corniglia", 10x12, oil on RayMar panel, plein air, $100

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Corniglia, perched high on a cliff above the Ligurian Sea, is the next town north of Manarola, Italy. It is in the middle of the Cinque Terre and highest above sea level. From the train station, it is about 400 steps uphill to the town.

Manarola Bell Tower

"Manarola Bell Tower", oil on RayMar panel, 10x12, plein air, $100

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Painted at happy hour from our veranda. The background is typical of the Cinque terre with steep terrain that, over the last several hundred years, has been terraced to allow vineyards, fruit trees and general gardening.

High and Dry in Manarola

"High and Dry in Manarola", oil on RayMar panel, 10x12, plein air

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With a storm brewing, all the fishing boats had been hauled out of the water and were lining the streets of Manarola, Italy. This one had an especially nice wood interior.

 

Manarola

"Manarola", oil on linen, 9x12, plein air, $75

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After Tuscany, we headed to the Cinque Terre. We spent a week in Manarola and enjoyed every minute of it, hiking the trails and taking the train to all of the other four cities. The weather was stormy so all of the fishing boats were out of the water, lining the streets.

Piombia

"Piombia", oil on linen, 9x12,plein air, $75

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Another agriturismo in the Brunello Wine region was Piombia, a few kilometers south of Montalcino. Surrounding this collection of historic stone buildings was mostly vineyards and olive groves.

La Crociona Farmhouse

"La Crociona Farmhouse", oil on linen, 9x12, plein air, $75

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We spent a few nights at Agriturismo La Crociona outside of Montalcino, Italy in a farmhouse that was over 200 years old. That's quite modern compared to the place we stayed on Rotherdam, Germany as it was over 400 years old. Anyway, this house was situated in the middle of a small vineyard and olive orchard. These grapes are only grown in a small area and made into a wonderful red wine called Brunello which is aged at least four years in oak casks and then aged in the bottle for at least another 3 to 4 years to fully develop.

Hangin' Out in Montepulciano

"Hangin' Out in Montepulciano", oil on linen, 9x12, plein air, $75

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Not an uncommon sight to have clothes lines stretched out in front of windows or even between buildings over alleys here in Italy.

Tuscan Mist

"Tuscan Mist", oil on linen, 9x12, plein air, $75

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I'm sure everyone has seen the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun", well as it turns out, Tuscany is more noted for it's mist. Not just in the morning, it could develop in the afternoon, or stay all day. It sure made for a wide range of scenery. This painting is looking east from Montepulciano in the afternoon. The broad valley beyond had many ridges and hills that just peeked above the mist.

View of Montefollonico

"View of Montefollonico",oil on linen, 9x12, plein air, $75

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This view is from Montepulciano, Italy painted in early October. Most hills in Tuscany have a house or winery on their tops. Some have a whole village, large or small. Some of the farms have just been plowed displaying the beige to ochre soils which appear to be a heavy clay that gets tilled up several times before it smooths down. 

Morning Light on Montepulciano

 

 

"Morning Light on Montepulciano", oil on linen, 9x12, plein air, $75

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Here is a view showing just how steep this hill town is. Most buildings are built way above the adjacent downhill streets. In many places there is only one row of narrow buildings between each street. The building on the right is where we stayed. Where ever we walked, it was either uphill or down.

Roof Top View in Tuscany

"Roof Top View in Tuscany", oil on linen, 9x12, plein air, $75

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We spent four days in Ravenna, Italy looking at all the classic mosaics. There was too much to see and so no time to paint. Drove to Tuscany and decided to stay in hill town of Montepulciano for a couple of days, but extended it to six. This is the view from the room we stayed in! Some days, in the morning, there was a low lying mist which at times obscured the distant mountains. At other times the air was crystal clear. The old buildings were remarkable.

Bavarian Farmland

"Bavarian Farmland", oil on linen, 9x12, plein air, $75

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Here is the typical countryside in Bavaria. Rolling hills with pastures, corn fields, forests and farm structures. Here and there, the fields are filled with cows. Except for the quaint style of the buildings, the look is quite similar to Oregon. Even most of the trees and plants are the same.

The Cat Stalking the Owl

"The Cat Stalking the Owl", oil on linen, 9x12, plein air, $75

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One afternoon painting the front of Herr and Frau Kinhammer's farm house, their cat Mia decided to stalk the ceramic owl yard art. Brave cat! After all the excitement, Mia jumped onto the bench and curled up for a nap in the sun.