Avventure Italiane Del Jenny!

Final Words...Parole Finali

2008-08-12T06:56:00.010+02:00

I've been back in the states for only a few days, and it's hard to exactly say how I feel about the summer. "Trip of a Lifetime," "Unforgettable Experience,"...everything I come up with seems so cliche, yet accurate as well.

It wasn't all fun and games, and it wasn't some sort of romantic escapade captured by Jane Austin... but it was hard work. We woke up early every day, painted in the heat, winds, bugs, sometimes even rain! But we did it...in Italy. Not bad.

I left excited to spend the summer in a foreign country, to have an experience that I could truly call my own. No responsibilities to anybody but myself. I left wanting to grow as an artist, observe other artists, and absorb work of the masters- Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Correggio, Titian...just to name a few. I spent time in Florence breathless from the amazing works of art and the vibe of creativity. In Venice I became taken by the architecture, surrounded by a sense of calm that only rivers for streets could bring about. In Rome, I was overwhelmed with the history, the churches, and it's overall grandness. Throughout the summer, I was introduced to one great place after another... rooftops in Todi, caves and real italian pizza in Orvieto, alleyways and arches in Perugia, throwing pots at Mario's, decaying walls and ancient doors in Multipulciano, dogs on castle walls and hot espresso in 100 degree heat at Castel Veito, swimming breaks at Castiglione del Lago, winding streets and spirituality in Assisi, pomp and circumstance in Sienna, finally painting a scooter and pizza with honey in Cortona... the list goes on...

And did I mention the shopping???

Corciano, however, is where I lived. This amazing little hilltop village, is where I used pure purple as a shadow for the first time. It's where I greeted dogs in Italian. I had gelato almost every day, and umbrian white wine while looking at beautiful clouds and vistas in the evenings. I wrote two children's stories inspired by my surroundings. I got engaged here!! I learned, that you can always make another painting tomorrow, if you don't like what you did today. I understand now, why Jason felt like Corciano was such a special place. And yes, as cliche as it sounds, I can't really put into words how precious I feel this place is... because it's not only where I grew as an artist... but I really grew as a person. I have no desire to settle down here, I don't feel like it's my home, but it was my Italian home, and an important part of my life.

I'm not sure if any of the other folks felt this way, but what is really cool, is that this group are the only ones who really share this experience. When we see each other again, it will be like we all know a secret, and only folks who came on this trip are privliged to know what it is. Every single person, from the teachers to my peers, had something to teach me. I hope that maybe... they picked up something from me, too. (Besides learning how to say DOG in italian!!)

Anyhow, I feel like I should leave this with some words of wisdom, which I don't really have. So I'll sign off with these final photos, of the group, and of myself with my body of work from the summer. Some good paintings, some not so good, but all a part of the learning process, and all a part of my time in Italia.

Ciao Tutti...!

The Flight Home....

2008-08-11T03:59:00.013+02:00

Needless to say, my actual birthday... didn't really exist!

After having to pay an arm and a leg for Delta to accept my overweight luggage, getting lost in the Rome Airport, changing gates 3 times, having flights delayed, and some annoying turbulance... we finally made it home!!

On the plus side, Eileen, Sean and I all got to sit together on the flight from Rome to Atlanta...we enjoyed several in-flight movies and a combination of gabbing & napping. Jason & Isaac shared our flight, and visited us on occasion... As far as flying goes, once we were in the air, it wasn't half bad!

The last leg was spent sound asleep by the three of us, and Jason took a voucher to stay in a hotel with Isaac.... I hope he made it off of the Atlanta airport floor!!

As trying as a transatlantic flight is, it was worth it once I arrived. I got to be with Dave and my girl again... MATTIE!! Il mio cane bello!! I missed my muse so much! We had a nice reunion, and I think she missed me, too....

Roma-The Final Countdown!!

2008-08-11T03:25:00.031+02:00

On our last day, we saw what was the mothership of Roma, The Vatican Museum!

Again, we woke up bright and early in order to avoid crowds and extreme heat and made the march to the Vatican City.

It was already brutally hot at around 8-9 AM when we arrived at the Vatican, and we felt it! Luckily, there were a few fountains we could cool ourselves along the way, and the line wasn't too long.

The museum itself, was phenominal. Everyone's goal is to arrive at the Sistine Chapel, but there was so much to see along the way! First we went along a series of rooms including various sculptures. One room was just animal sculptures! (you know I was there!!) We also saw many roman replica's of greek sculptures, which all seemed pretty amazing to me! According to my instructor, the Greek ones are even better...

On of the famous peices we were able to see was "The Laocoön and His Sons", an original sculpture from around 160 B.C. I has only seen copies of this from my undergrad, and I remember drawing it as an assignment. Seeing the real thing was an absolute thrill!

Along the way we went into another series of rooms, including tapestries, frescos, more sculptures, and maps! Amongst all of these classical maps, we were able to find Corciano... no stone was left unturned!

One of the pieces I was excited to finally see in person was Raphael's "School of Athens." I absolutely loved it! This was one of the moments I really wished I had more time, because I could have spent quite a bit of it just picking apart every detail of this masterpiece. One of the many reasons I need to go back to Roma!

But the pinnacle of all of this, was Michelangelo's most famous (and first ever!) fresco... The Sistine Chapel. It was every bit as amazing as I thought it would be. I spent at least 20 minutes just sitting and looking, absorbing, and embracing this "wonder" of my world. I felt extremely lucky to be in the presence of this incredible work of art. It's so large, and consuming, it's hard to believe that it's real!! No photos allowed... but I took video!!

After we did the Vatican museum, it was time to see Rome's most famous church, St. Peters. This place was every bit as opulant as I imagined, if not more. The exterior was large and beautiful, the interior was dripping with gold, sculptures, marble and gems. Not only was this church probably one of the more amazing houses of worship I had seen, it housed another of Michelangelo's sculptures, The Pieta. Beautiful and Breathtaking.

Once we all had our fill of world famous art and museums, it was time for a relaxing cocktail and lunch! We all stopped at local ristorante, most folks enjoyed cold beers or water, but I couldn't resist my favorite italian white wine... just a small one!

After lunch, we were all ready to melt from the heat. (I think it was the hottest day so far...) and the Holiday Inn with the Pool that we were spending our last night in wasn't too far away!

After a nice dip in the pool, we enjoyed a casual dinner at the hotel bar. Both of my instructors, Craig and Jason, treated me to a birthday dinner. At the end of the meal I was surprised by a birthday cake and a big pink candle! I couldn't resist going Carmen with it for a "photo op" or two...!!

After dinner, we all hung out and had a few drinks at the hotel bar (for my birthday!!) and also as a last hurrah and goodbye to everyone. We were all leaving at different times the next day, and the photo op's along with a lot of "keep in touch!" es were exchanged. I sure hope we do all keep in touch! This was a great group of folks to spend my summer with....

Roma-Parte Due

2008-08-11T02:15:00.028+02:00

Our second day in Rome, we woke up bright and early to go on what my man decided to call "the art march of death." Even though he wasn't there... he wasn't too far from the truth!!

However, in order to survive this "art walk" a few of us left the hotel in the morning in search of better coffee that was served at the continental breakfast. While looking for a cafe, we happened upon the local piazza in which a market was taking place. An old man tried to sell me a handy carrot peeler... but his charms didn't work (nor do I have any room in my luggage for anything!) We also happened upon one of the funnies taps I've seen yet... Gotta love Italy!

We started again by revisiting The Piazza Navona, which was much less crowded in the morning, so we could see the fountains and sculptures much easier. Unfortunately, the famous Bernini sculpture was undergoing renovation, but we could see a bit of it through the construction. There were some other fountains (and characters) that I found worthwhile!

We went back to the Pantheon as well, again... this was different in the morning. Less crowded, and we could appreciate the space much more.

After this, we went on a wild church chase. Almost everything that's worth seeing in Rome is in the churches. We first went to St. Igancio's, where the most amazing false dome was painted! Jason made us all walk in with our heads down, and not look up until he said so...we were all fooled! It was a pretty cool optical illusion.

After that it was the march of Caravaggio's... and well worth it. We visited two separate churches that had the master's paintings in it. They were amazing. I have always been a huge fan of Caravaggio, and to be able to see his work in a place where it was meant to be seen, was breathtaking. My pictures cannot capture what I actually saw.

Once we saw these, we took a little break in the Piazza del Popolo for lunch, and then we separated for a few hours. I decided I wanted to see Santa Maria degli Angeli (St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs), which was a church designed by Michelangelo, and I ran into Sean who wanted to see San Giovanni Laterano, so we decided to brave the Roman Subway and do both!

St. Mary's church was a pretty amazing sight. Dave, who stumbled upon it while waiting for a train in Rome on his way to the airport, recommended it to me. On the floor was an amazing sight...a sundial/calendar designed to predict the most accurate time for Easter, as well as some other things. I tiny pinhole in the wall shone down onto a linear calendar on the floor. Amazing.

This church was built next to the Roman Baths, but unfortunately they were closed! On to our next destination...

The "San Giovanni Laterano"(Basilica of St. John Lateran) I have learned since I've been there, is the mother of all the churches in Rome. It is the main church of the Bishop of Rome, who IS the Pope. This pretty much explains why it's so lavish... it seemed to me that each church I saw got more ornate than the last. This one took the cake so far... Apparently, its importance within the Roman Catholic Church even outranks St. Peters in the Vatican City.

After our independent excursion, we met up at the Galleria Borghese, which holds many of Bernini's classic sculptures including Apollo and Daphne, The Rape of Persephone, and his David. He and Michelangelo were rivals and loathed each other, and you can see why! Two genius sculptors within city limits would undoubtably lead to some competition... Along with Bernini, this museum also included works by Caravaggio, Titian, and a special exhibit of Correggio. I was fortunate to see two paintings that I had done papers on, including Jupiter and Io by Coreggio, and Sacred and Prophane Love by Titian. It felt so amazing to see two pieces in life that I had only been able to analyze in books and over the computer screen.

Once we were finished with the Borghese, it was on to The National Museum of Modern Art. Here there were a few famous artists including Chagall, Degas, Monet, and many others. However, I found these collections fairly weak compared to the modern collections I've seen in the states. There was, however, an artist I had never heard of, Fillippo Palizza, who mostly portrayed animals, especially farm animals and horses! There was a fabulous paining of a flock of sheep coming upon a flock of goats, and the Border Collies going at it to protect their herds! I couldn't help but think of my Mattie!! It was fun to know that even some classic painters and I had similar loves.

No pictures allowed in either museum, which was fine. It's all in my memory box....

It had been a long art march that day! And a quiet evening was all I needed. A few folks and I went out to dinner in the neighboring Piazza to our hotel, and had a little toast to my upcoming birthday...! It was just what the doctor ordered.

Roma-Parte Una

2008-08-11T01:37:00.023+02:00

So our first day in Rome was a bit of a whirlwind. We left on a train from Corciano at approximately 7 AM, which put us in Rome around 9-9:30 A.M. From there... we went straight to Rome's most distinct landmark-The Colosseum!

It was so amazing to be on the grounds that so many have been before me... a place so ancient that Emperors like Nero and Titus have walked the grounds. It actually, was a bit smaller than I imagined, but every bit as magnificient. Though it was brutally hot (in august the heat generally can get up to over 100 degrees)I spent every moment I could walking the grounds. Something I also didn't expect, that the old surface was no longer there, and you can see all the underground hallways and caverns. Pretty cool.

After "il Colossseo" as it's called in italian, we went straight over to the Roman Forum. This was also pretty cool, knowing Julius Ceasar and Marc Antony gave speeches on the same earth I was occupying...was pretty amazing. There wasn't much left to the buildings, but enough that I could imagine what it must have been like.

After this, we stopped to cool our feat in The Tyrrhenian Fountain at the Monument of Victor Emmanuel II. One thing I found that was pretty cool about Rome was that many of the fountains were meant to cool yourself off, or to even drink from. They don't seem as germ phobic as Americans...and THANK GOD! Because we were all pretty hot and needed to cool our feet. I caught Isaac and Sam in the fountain, as well as Eileen and Sean. The monument itself is known as "the wedding cake" because of it's white marble and intricate design. It was pretty striking!

After this, we (finally) were able to check into our hotel. This was my final stint with a private room... and I got pretty well set up! My place included a sweet balcony with a little table and chairs. Too bad it was too brutally hot to enjoy it!

In the evening, we did a little more sight seeing. Our program director had to take care of a stolen passport situation, so our instructor, Craig, took us around. We visited the Pantheon, another Roman legend. Originally built as a Paegan Temple, and was later taken over by the Christians. The oculus in the ceiling was the most remarkable part... as the light mimics the sun moving across the sky. Afterwards, we were all suffering from pretty sore feet, and cocktails were in order. Robert sure enjoyed himself!

After that we visited The Trevi Fountain, where legend says if you throw a coin in behind your back you will return to Rome (I did it!)

Our final stop was The Spanish Steps,a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti at the top. At this point... it was time for our first Roman meal!

We discovered a great restuarant that specialized in pasta, particularly, spagetti. This was the best spaghetti that I've ever had! A combo red/white cream sauce with lobster, called "Chanel" it was divine! Along with some great sparkling house wine... we left satified! I'm pretty sure, April, Robert & Brandon were just as happy as me!

FINAL DAY in Corciano-Horseback Riding & Dinner by the Lake

2008-08-09T19:54:00.023+02:00

On Sat night at the Corciano Festival, I was lucky enough to be introduced to Marco, whose parents owned a huge riding stable right outside of Corciano! Sola was just chatting with him and found out that he lived and worked at a stable that had at least 60-70 horses!! I was hooked up right away.

We met at around 9 AM (not before I had my last Corciano Latte), and he took us out to an amazing riding facility. Marco gave me a lesson on a horse named Maverick, though unlike the Top Gun Maverick, he didn't really feel the need for speed, or going very fast at all! But it was great... and it rekindled my need and love for the sport. I'm hoping to start lessons again once I get back to the states.

After the lesson, Marco gave Sola and I a great tour of the grounds. Not only is this a great place for riding, but they also have lodging and a restaurant. You can tell these horses are well loved and well cared for, as well as the rest of the dogs, cats, birds and pigs that live here!!

I also met Marco's cousin, who was a champion pony rider, and we met her baby, Creme Caramel. So sweet! We also saw the trophy room, where all of the horses ribbons and trophies live. Marco's mother is not only a successful horsewoman, but she is also an amazing illustrator! We got to see some of her work, and I felt connected to her, even though I only met her briefly.

In the evening, we had a group dinner at this great place up on a mountaintop. The veiw was spectacular, and the food was tasty! It was really fun to have a final meal with everybody. After the meal, we were suprised with a DVD created by Gabriella, the main host who set everyone up in Corciano. It was truly a touching evening.

Last Days in Corciano- August 2, SATURDAY

2008-08-09T19:26:00.011+02:00

Only one more day left in Corciano, and I'm having trouble believing that I've spent the entire summer here, but at the same time, I feel like I've been here FOREVER!

On Sat, it was a pretty chill day. We were supposed to spend the day packing and getting ourselves ready for our final trip to ROME! It was sort of chaotic, because of the situation of the hotels, etc... we had to have EVERYTHING packed by Sat night, and believe it or not... I did it!

However, packing didn't go without fun, as the girls and I took a Prosecco break-YUM!

That evening kicked off the music festival in Corciano, where many galleries opened up, and many musicians came to perform every night. The group had dinner at this local tavern, and we walked around enjoying the first night of this week long celebration.

Last Days in Corciano-FRIDAY, August 1st

2008-08-09T19:14:00.016+02:00

Our last days in Corciano were bittersweet and fleeting. Much like the summer, it was highly scheduled... but also fun!

Our first free day, we spent doing a lengthy critique on our final project. Everyone's studio paintings turned out amazing...and it was obvious to me how much the group had grown as artists. I did a painting of the etruscan caves in Perugia, and I added an element of narrative illustration by putting a small princess in the corner. I was pretty happy with it.

We also spent the morning doing a photo shoot of the group for 'archival' purposes... but the girls and I had our our shoot!! Meet the NEW "Angeli Italiani"!!

That evening we had yet ANOTHER potluck! But this one was in the Piazza and also served as an art show for us, and a farewell party. Being painfully sentimental, I didn't put any of my paintings up for sale (especially since I want to use a lot of them as studies for bigger pieces in the future), but many folks did. AND... both Robert and Theo managed to sell some! So great...!! Jeff spent the evening doing portraits, mine included... I think he may DEFINATELY have a future as an illustrator and perhaps portrait artist...I'm sure you all agree!

Last Day of Painting....

2008-07-31T19:21:00.012+02:00

Today was our LAST DAY of painting in the field. Craig, our instructor today, took it easy on us. We stayed in town and met in the morning for a last painting, and then he let us go for the afternoon to work on our final project (a studio painting.)

It was a bittersweet day...there were a lot of folks happy to be done, but some others feeling sentimental. I have to say that though I don't exactly enjoy painting in the extreme heat, winds, and fighting flies... I have learned quite a bit from painting from life. I'll be sure to take it with me to the studio...

I felt very lucky today, because I was able to paint a kitty that I had photographed my very first day in Corciano, in the same exact spot I saw him before. It was like he was waiting for me!! I also showed him my painting when it was finished... I think he approves. Too bad he doesn't have a job so he can't buy it.

Blues in Corciano

2008-07-31T19:11:00.013+02:00

On Wednesday, Corciano hosted the Transmeno Blues concert, featuring Ana Popovic...a rockin' blues performer.

A bunch of us gathered on the steps of the Piazza for the concert, and it was amazing. The entire square was packed with people, and the poor folks in the Gelatoria had a hard time keeping up with all the drink requests! But they managed... and probably made enough money to last them all year...!

The concert was incredible. I was totally impressed with Ana and her band. Being from Chicago, I'm pretty particular about my blues performers, and these guys left me more than satisfied. At one point, each artist had a solo, and blew the entire audience away. Not one was better than the other.... Incredible.

I also got to meet Ana after the concert, pick up a CD, and get it autographed. Pretty great night...

Another Potluck and Pam

2008-07-31T19:06:00.010+02:00

We had another potluck dinner this past weekend, but this one had a bit of an occasion. Jason's second youngest son had his fifth birthday! We celebrated with tons of food and a home-made cake by his mom, Shelly. The best part was the frosting... NUTELLA!! Can't go wrong...

After the dinner, we headed out the bar... where one of our fellow students, Shawn (AKA Play-stay-Shawn) was working on his sketchbook. He did a pretty good rendition of Thomas, but I wonder if Thomas thinks so....??

This is also our last week to grocery shop, and I couldn't let it go by without showing you all the insides of the italian grocery store. Not much different from home, except the pitcher's of NUTELLA... I'm beginning to see a trend here!

Re-visiting Cortona

2008-07-31T18:54:00.008+02:00

This is our last week of painting here in Italy, and we luckily got to visit Cortona again! This time I was feeling much better and got to take full advantage...

Sola and I painted watercolor in the morning (I was pretty happy with my vespa painting) and we chose to do some exploring in the afternoon. We shopped until we dropped, and (much like the rest of the student... and our professor) we got an amazing lunch at a great outdoor cafe...caprese salad and pizza with cheese, cherry tomatoes, walnuts and honey! It was probably the best pizza I've had yet....

Sean also made friends at another outdoor cafe, but it seems that he had to do all of the talking!!

Ferrari vs. Lamborghini

2008-07-27T00:54:00.019+02:00

After having such an amazing and memorable week with my honey... it was time for some fun and chilling after I saw him off at the train station in Perugia... it was time to look at some cool cars!

Italy is home to some of the most exotic and saught after "super cars" in the world. A group of us decided to travel quite a ways north to visit the Ferrari Museum and the Lamborghini Museum & Factory.

We first happened up the Lamborghini Factory... what a sight! We were able to go on the Factory tour with a guide, and what we saw was amazing. Custom designed, hand sewn apolstry, carbon fiber, gorgeous cars. My jaw dropped in amazment at not only the craftsmanship of every detail these cars go through... but the racks and racks of gorgeous leathers used to furnish the inside of these cars. Breathtaking!

We also visited the Lamborghini mueseum, and after the thourough tour we were given, I could appreciate these cars so much more. Truly Beautiful Machines.

We were also fortunte enough to witness the new and rare Reventon. These cars are worth 1 million euro (that's around 1.5 million dollars) and they are a limited edition...only TWENTY were made!! One happens to be owned by Nicholas Cage...lucky guy! This machine was truly a work of art... Not many folks are so lucky to see this car in action...but we were.

After the morning at Lamborghini... it was off to the Ferrari Museum! This place was chuck full of amazingly cool race cars dating from the mid 1940's until the present day. The vintage beauties were a sight to see, along with their modern counterparts. Pretty cool stuff.

Unfortunatly, there was no factory or production to be seen at Ferrari, nor any guided tours. So Lamborghini wins in my boat.

We ended the day in Florence! With the intention of having dinner, but all of us were so tired... we took a good look at the Duomo again, did a little shopping, grabbed a slice and headed back to little old Corciano.

Part of the fun of the day, was the car ride! We had a really good group of folks, including Jason's 2 oldest kids, Ben & Isaac. We just laughed, sang, and enjoyed a good fashioned old road trip. A good way to take away the blues of saying goodbye to my boyfriend... er... I mean my FIANCE... Dave. ;-)

The Best Meal Yet....

2008-07-26T15:17:00.015+02:00

So as most of you know, this past Wednesday evening has become not only one of my most memorable evenings in Italy, but the most memorable moment of my life thusfar....

I was dying to take Dave to the local Ristorante, Il Convento... As everyone knows, I have had some of my best meals here. The house wine is great, the food is great, it's a beautiful romantic restaurant with an outdoor garden seating or intimate indoor seating under an ancient vaulted ceiling... nothing can beat it.

We chose to sit outside, and proceeded to have a great meal. We started with a delicious salad, ravioli in a walnut cream sauce, and Dave had (what he calls) Pork wrapped in Bacon. I wanted the chicken, but they were out...so I ordered what I thought was scallops... but it was scalloped veal! I had to send it back (because I don't eat beef...) but I did get a delicious formaggio sampling to top it off.

Before dessert, Dave ordered 2 glasses of Prosecco (which is sparkling white wine-like Champagne)... and he wanted to toast to us... "To my best friend, whom I love..." I was so touched! I almost cried...But it wasn't over yet...

He proceeded to say how we've been together for a long time, and he was wondering (as he reached into his pocket for a little box) if I would marry him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ring on the table...then on my finger....

As everyone knows, I may be a silly lady at times, but I am no fool, and I agreed.

It was perfection....

Dave in Corciano!

2008-07-26T15:11:00.011+02:00

After Venezia, Dave travelled with us back to Corciano. Here, he got a taste of every day life in small town italy. When the word got out that he was a soccer coach, The Bowen Boys (Jason's kids) snatched him up! Soccer in the piazza was a must...

He was recruited to go castle hunting with the family during the day (while I was at class) then he went with us on one of our painting days in Todi. He caught me doing my creative thing... and I've discovered that my colors this summer are purple and orange. Looks good to me!

We also went out for an evening drink at the local bar, where we discovered they have started to carry Duff Beer! I've had enough Peroni and Birra Moretti, time for something absolutley American!!

All in all, I think he had a good week here in Corciano... I know I did...

Più amore a Venezia

2008-07-26T14:27:00.020+02:00

Our second day was just as fun as the first... We started out at Gallerie dell'Accademia, where we saw some great pieces...including Titian. Next we went to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the museum of modern art. This was a great change of pace... and I actually think Dave was convinced that Pollack isn't a hack. We also saw many of the modern greats including Matisse, Dali, Chagall, Picasso, and Kandinsky. The view of the Grand Canal was also something to see out the back door of the mueseum.

In the afternoon, Dave and I took the Vaporetta (water bus) to the island of Morano. This is where the glass magic happens. Unfortunately, the factories were closed on Saturday but we did visit the Glass Museum. This was really cool, the exhibits ranged from ancient glass urns, jewelry, and decor, to modern glass sculptures. The garden was one of my favorite parts. It included glass animals, flowers, and a huge glass bed. Dave also thought it was a good place to take a nap.

In the evening, we got dolled up (sorry, we forgot to take pic's!) and had what was probably the best seafood dinner I've ever had! Crab meat appetizer, fresh vegies, and an amazing sea bass. Other folks had good food that I was able to sample...Dave had Sole, and my friend Eileen had amazing squid served in it's own ink...black and delicious!

This night was also a huge festival called Redentore... it's a celebration for the erection of a church that was built in hopes of ending a plague. Once the plague ended, the holiday was declared and they have been celebrating it since.

They start the evening out with a parade of boats with music and decor, that used to end up creating a bridge across the grand canal to allow better access to the church. This year, however, they actually constructed a huge temporary bridge. Unfortunately, we got there just after the bridge closed... but the fireworks were so huge, you probably could have seen them in Florence! It lasted at least 45 minutes, and the finale was more amazing than any fireworks I've ever seen!

Amore a Venezia!

2008-07-26T13:33:00.028+02:00

This past weekend we made our second of three big trips to Venice... It was here that my honey met up with me. We had a bit of a snaffu trying to meet when I arrived, but we eventually found each other...
Jason(the director of the program and one of my teacher's)hooked Dave and I up with a super sweet room!! Plush red fabric, chandelier, and beautiful chiffon curtains... definately a room for a princess and her suitor ;-) !!

The first day rained, but it was still great. We started out by visiting the large Piazza, St. Marks. It was stunning! The Duomo was breathtaking... the best yet since Assisi. No pictures were allowed inside, but I have photos in my mind... the amazing mosaics, statues, and treasures will be with me forever.

We spent the majority of the morning at The Doge's Palace. Another collection of fabulous art and architecture. Each room was more fantastic than the last...from the floors to the ceiling... I'm amazed that at one time somebody actually lived there!

One of my favorite exhibits was of the armor! I snuck a few photos... and it was worth it. Not only was the knight gear pretty amazing... but they actually had horse armor! Unreal... Dave really enjoyed the prison...which was also pretty cool.

Luckily, in the afternoon the sun decided to come out. Dave and I took this opportunity to just wander.

We were in love with all of the intricate canals, bridges, and architecture. During our travels, we stumbled upon a local winery... and it was a perfect opportunity for a glass of vino. The samples were delicious... still kicking myself for not buying a bottle or two... I guess we'll just have to go back!!

We spent the rest of the evening wandering, had a great dinner at a sort of "out of the way" ristorante...where I had a great eggplant lasagna and even better chocolate cake!

More Painting Fun....

2008-07-26T13:20:00.011+02:00

So our new teacher, Craig... started us out with a bang. He gave us a great demo in the middle of town (even one of the stray cats wanted to get into it!!) He's been quite helpful to me because his experience with watercolor is pretty extensive.

Some of the students took the advice he have to extremes, when he told us to close one eye in order to see shapes more clearly, one of the students (Shawn) decided to become a pirate. Later he confessed it didn't help as much as just closing one eye, and it gave him a headache!

One of the difficulties of painting on location, is dealing with the elements. One day in particular was so windy, everyone's easels kept blowing over. Sola came up with a simple solution of painting closer to the ground, however, poor Robert wasn't so lucky! With one hand on his palate and brush, the other one steadying his easel...he had a little trouble keeping his pants on!! Perhaps next time he'll remember to wear a belt! (Love ya Robert!!)
I also got to have a turn as an instructor with my teacher's son, Isaac. We had a little watercolor lesson in the Piazza... and he learned the "wet in wet" technique and created a beautiful painting... Great job Isaac!!

Day Trip to Cortona

2008-07-13T11:49:00.010+02:00

So on Saturday morning, we left for another day trip to the city of Cortona. This was yet, another beautiful city... with great vistas and (my favorite thing) good shopping!!

We started at the top of the city, and hiked our way down to the main square. From there, I spent a lazy afternoon resting in the park. It was quite lovely in the shade and a slight breeze to relieve us all from the extreme heat we had been feeling. Not to mention, I needed a bit of recovery time from our rockin' birthday celebration the night before. What better way to recover than lounging on a park bench in Tuscany? (This is also where they filmed "Under the Tuscan Sun"

After a nice nap and some well deserved shopping, we had an amazing dinner at restaurant our new teacher picked out. I had probably the best Gnocchi of my life... made with ricotta cheese and spinach, it melted in my mouth.

My instructor says we will be returning to Cortona to paint, and hopefully see Carmen at the end of the month!! How great would that be?

Allison's Birthday & Potluck Party!!!

2008-07-13T11:27:00.016+02:00

This Friday was my roomie's 25th birthday! A milestone...!! Sola and I tried to make it as special as possible. Ms. Sola made a great sign for her to wake up to, and we made her breakfast in bed. She was so suprised!

The afternoon we had a great lunch at il Convento... still one of the best restaurants I've experienced here in italy, and it's so great it's right here in Corciano.

In the evening, there was already a potluck dinner planned to welcome our new instructor...and MORE great food was had! We also had a great time snapping lots of fun pic's... all of the students are really a great group.

After the potluck, the birthday girl's celebration contintued throughout the evening, with drinks at the local bar and an invitation to another club outside of Corciano.

The club was really cool, with tables by the lake, and candles lighting paths around the bar. Unfortunatley, I got no pictures of it... but perhaps in some ways that was for the best..seeing as we didn't arrive back in Corciano until 4:30 AM!

MIDTERMS...halfway through the trip

2008-07-13T11:06:00.008+02:00

It's hard to believe that I've been living & painting here for about 3 1/2-4 weeks now...! We had our midterms this past week, and though I've made a lot of improvements, there is still an upward hill to climb.

This past week, our subject matters ranged quite a bit. We did everything from painting the vista in town, to crawling in the sunflower feilds, and venturing to the city of Montepulciano (where I happened to purchase another cute bag!). This was our last week with our instructor Carolyn. She was great and we are going to miss her. But we are getting another good instructor in, Craig, who I've heard is wise in the watercolor ways...I'm excited!

I've been having so many great experiences, and I am learning quite a bit. I can't wait to get back to my studio and apply everything I've learned.

Second Day in Florence

2008-07-06T15:37:00.061+02:00

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We started our second day out with a BANG…. called “The David” by Michelangelo at Galleria dell’Accademia. There wasn’t a single student whose breath wasn’t taken away by the awesome masterpiece. I believe I circled the giant statue for at least 30 minutes, taking in every muscle, vein, and piece of flesh that this unbelievable artist created. Amazing.

Again, no pictures were allowed. Which just means I’ll have to return…!

After our encounter with more great art… it was time to do one of the other things I do best… SHOP. The girls and I happened upon a great shoe/leather shop… and I left with my first unique Italian heels. Our salesman, Eugene (or something like that… in Italian) was a trooper, and he humored me in my 30-minute deliberation over size…. He was hilarious, and gave me a good discounted price. I also ended up with a new black purse, and a beautiful red leather sketchbook cover, with the symbol of Florence stamped into it.

As we walked the streets we encountered many street artists, and other interesting folks. We visited on of the other Medici Castles next to the Uffizi, which is now used for offices, but you can still get a taste of their glory. And we also happened upon the birthplace of Michelangelo. I rubbed the wall in hopes to take some the genius energy with me.

After a tasty gelato (Florence is where gelato was invented) the girls and I parted ways, and I spent the afternoon at Palazzo Pitti…another and even more fabulous Palace owned by the Medici’s which is now an extensive art Museum. I opted to go into the costume collection, and then out to the gardens.

The costume collection was amazing, with pieces dating back the to Tudor period… I was salivating over the various fabrics and construction of these masterpieces in their own right. The rooms themselves were breathtaking, decorated to reflect the period the garments are from. I wasn’t allowed to take photos… but I managed to sneak a few!

After exploring the costumes, I wandered in the huge gardens. You would need a day alone to cover these vast grounds. I climbed to what seemed like the top, and took in the 365-degree view of Florence and surrounding Tuscany. To think that this was someone’s home is unfathomable!

I ended the day at Florence’s famous Duomo and Dome. The inside was just as breathtaking as the outside, with marble floors, frescos, and statues surrounding us. The treck to the top of the Cupola was not easy, but worth it to be next to the oculus and fresco. Again, overwhelming. Unfortunately due to time constraints and a bit of claustrophobia, I didn’t make it to the top of the Dome. But next time… because I am definitely returning to this amazing place.

Arriving in Florence

2008-07-06T15:37:00.052+02:00

So this weekend my class went to the fabulous city of Florence. The Italian Mecca of art and shopping…! We took the train, which was a nice way to travel…and it only took us about 2 hours.

I got to stay in a working convent (NO… I didn’t burst into flames) in a huge room with one of my fellow students. We had a great view of the garden out the window, and there was a fresco on the ceiling of angels to wake up to! Pretty amazing. The only bad part was that since it was a convent there was a curfew… 11:30. Which might have been for the best!

On the way to our first destination, I had to cross the Ponte Vecchio….the fine jewelry Mecca of Florence. Not only is the jewelry beautiful, but also the bridge itself was an eyeful… and apparently one of the only surviving bridges after World War Two.

Our first day we went to the Uffizi Art Museum. Amazing… I was surrounded by the greats… Michelangelo, Botticelli, Filippo Lippi, Da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, amongst many others. I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed and emotionally stunned by all of the greatness that surrounded me. Similar to my first visit to the Met, I had to swallow the tears brought on by the sheer awesome beauty created by so many genius artists. The Birth of Venus was my favorite…as it was so consuming by it’s sheer size…taking up an entire wall.

Pictures weren’t allowed, but that’s okay…my brain contains all the pictures it needs.

Afterwards, we ventured the streets of Florence, going to the art supply store, admiring the breathtaking Duomo (only from the outside) the famous doors created by Ghiberti, and having a refreshing Italian beer with a snack, and a luscious dinner later in the evening.

The girls and I wandered the streets at night, and happened upon a great club that had some happening music going on. We sat on the street and enjoyed some cold vino bianchi, and like a good girl, much like Cinderella, I was home before midnight as to avoid getting locked out of the convent.

Il Palio di Sienna!

2008-07-03T17:15:00.020+02:00

So we had the BEST class yet yesterday...! Our instructor took us to Sienna to be a part of one of Italy's oldest traditions, The Palio Horserace.

For those who don't know about this race, it's a tradition that dates back to the mid 1600's, in which each horse represents a different "contrade" or city ward. Similliar to the burrows of Manhatten, but with far deeper roots and tradition. The italians have a lot of pride for their Contrade, and you cannot become part of one by merely living in Sienna. You are either born into it, or are asked to become a member after years of devotion to it.

The entire festival lasts for around 4 days, but we arrived for the best part... THE RACE! As we got to the Duomo, the parade had already begun. Members of the contrade marched the streets donning their tradtional period costumes and carrying their flags. These weren't simple garments whipped up by grandma! I saw probaby some of the most amazing and beautiful costumes, millinary,leather, and armor of my life. (And you KNOW I've seen a lot of costumes!!)

At the end of the square, the flag carriers perform by twirling and tossing their flags in the air choreographed to drumming. This is an important tradition, because before the race begins, each flag carrier tosses their flags in the air, and the one whose flag is the highest is thought to carry good luck with them to win the race.

After the parade in the streets... it was time to crowd into the Piazza to watch the race. Keep in mind, they close the doors at around 5:30-6:00pm and the race doesn't start until 8pm. NO BATHROOMS on the infeild!

But we weren't bored in the slightest, because the parade was only the tip of the pomp & circumstance iceburg. They begin the opening ceremonies with a group of men on horseback in costume, and they make 3 laps around the track...first walking, second trotting, third cantering. This was beautiful!!

After that, each contrade parades around the arena, displaying their prized racehorse (along with all of the other spectacle). It's hard to describe how amazing and different this procession is...I'm so happy I got to witness it!

After all of the spectacle comes to close... it's finally time for the race! But this is no ordinary race...there are no gates, and the horses are lined up at a rope. There are 10 horses, but only 9 line up... and the 10th horse waits in the back. The race only begins when the jockey of the 10th horse calls it. It's known that he usually waits until his rival is unprepared... AND THEIR OFF!

oh yeah... they are BAREBACK!! The race is incredible... 3 riders lost their horses, and to see a free horse running around a track was probably the best part.

As far as my italian experiences thusfar, this has the be the topper. To be a part of a tradition that's older than my own country's birthday... was something to always remember...AND to have that tradition involve horses made it that much sweeter!

Thunderstorms in Corciano

2008-07-01T17:59:00.017+02:00

Last night we experienced my first summer thunderstorm in Italy... it was well received! It had been so incredibly hot lately, that the cool air was welcomed with open arms.

I love summer thunderstorms, and haven't been in one since I moved from Chicago... it was great to feel that sensation again. After the storm, my roommates and I couldn't resist running outside to take pictures of the amazing sunset in the aftermath. The haze and clouds surrounding the vast mountain ranges were incredible. And it was such a relief to be able to walk around without sweating!!

I took tons of pictures before my battery died, Alison ran out of room in her memory card, and Sola's camera was acting up. It was a sign that we needed to come home and enjoy the rest of the evening in the comfort of our sweet pad....

Orvieto

2008-06-29T20:22:00.013+02:00

On Saturday night...the group ventured for an optional trip to the city of Orvieto.
This was another sweet villiage, with a Duomo Mosaic to die for! The entire front of the town's main church is a masterpeice of mosiac artwork. The entire place glistened in the sunlight(folks must have thought angels lived at the top. There was also some interesting brickwork involved, the entire building looked like something from Tim Burton movie, covered in horizontal stripes....

We also got to venture into more Etruscan structures, this included another well type device, and also their pigeon farms. Apparently, wealthy citizens and clergy would own large pigeon farms, used mostly for food (not messages). Deep within the earth the Etruscans would well for oil and water... a very advanced civilization for it's time.

The rest of the afternoon was spent doing my favorite activity...SHOPPING and the DINING... I finally had a REAL italian pizza... OMG! It was nothing short of amazing... fresh fresh fresh dough, tomatoes, basil... melted in my mouth...!

The Evening in Assisi

2008-06-29T11:26:00.005+02:00

I was so thrilled to be in the land of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals and Poverty (two things I know pretty well!!)
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This town was very beautiful... with winding hilly streets and the magnificient Duomo constructed in honor of St. Francis, I was in awe of everything I saw.

The church itself was breathtaking. Unfortunatly, we couldn't take pictures inside...but you can take my word for it, the place was gorgeous. Not only were there frescos on every wall, but there were exhibits were displaying his original robes and shoes, examples of his writing, and his tomb where his bones & ashes were placed.

Of all the places so far, I found Assisi to be the most spiritual for me. As everyone knows my deep connection to animals and nature, and I felt honored to be in the presense of such a gentle saint whose ideals followed some of my own.

Pottery Stop....

2008-06-28T13:38:00.005+02:00

In one of the nearby villages is the most amazing pottery shop! Our teacher took us there on Friday morning, and we not only were able to shop and admire this beautiful artform that italy is known for, but the owner of the shop gave us a great demonstration!

He threw pots like I chew gum, it was so amazing to get to watch him work. We also got a tour of the process, and made friends with the adorable shop dog who promptly stole everyone's hearts....!!

Making Friends

2008-06-27T14:26:00.009+02:00

One of the best "italian experiences" I've had so far was making a friend in this small village, Casa Vieto, we painted in this week.

An adorable italian woman (I think her name was Genevieve?) Came out to look at our paintings... throughout the day she took care of us. Though there was a huge language barrier, we managed to communicate. She offered us coffee, water, and opened her home to us to use the bathroom. During our critique, she brought the entire class a pot of coffee, and though the temperature was close to 100 degrees, we took it happily. Never turn down italian coffee!!

I've also managed to make tons of "animal" friends while I've been here. The dogs and cats are plentiful in Corciano and elsewhere, and due to the laid back lifestyle... they all seem so content. Some of them wander off-leash, and the"alley" cats are very friendly. The italians seem to really love thier pets.

We also made a painting buddy in Casa Vieto, I didn't learn his name, but he decided to hang out with us while we painted until his owner came around the bend. There was also the most adorable boxer hanging out over the edge of the wall. I wanted to scale it and take him home!!!

While painting on Thursday here in Corciano, I made another friend...a wee kitten who jumped out of his/her window! She came right up to me, and layed at my feet while I painted. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end the week....

Down Time...

2008-06-27T14:21:00.011+02:00

When we aren't painting or sight seeing... there's plenty to do in Corciano. One of my favorite activities is to swim in the pool! The main villa has a great little pool, and the afternoons here are so insanely hot, all of the students take advantage of the facilities.

There is also a sweet local bar that's open til midnight... but unlike American Bars, this caters to everyone. They not only have great local beers and wine, but you can get soft drinks, sandwiches, what have you. They also have tables set outside along the wall which is great for an evening nightcap.

This past thursday evening, one of our painting teachers hosted a wine & snack potluck party. It was so great to gather around after a hard week of painting and relax.

Second Week of Painting....

2008-06-27T13:41:00.006+02:00

I had my second week of painting this week, and it started out rough. Landscape and Cityscape painting is much harder than I had ever anticipated...but even in one week I've made lots of progress and discovered new things about plein air and watercolor.

We traveled to many great places to paint this week. First we went to a town a little bigger than Corciano, called Todi. It was another adorable hilltop village with great shops, beautiful vistas, and very friendly people. I've found it very interesting that while painting, the italians and other europeans have no real sense of personal space. They all come up to you and talk to you (usually in a different language). At first it was a little disconcerting, but I've come to appreciate it and enjoy trying to speak italian.

I also had some creative breakthroughs this week concerning watercolor. The Teacher's Assistant who is attending several of the classes is a proficient watercolorist and has been giving me a lot of tips. His advice combined with the more general landscape and cityscape hints, have helped my work grow even within the week.

So much more painting and growing to do....

Perugia

2008-06-22T16:01:00.010+02:00

On Friday we had a required field trip to the larger city of Perugia. This place was beautiful...! Originally inhabited by the Etruscans, and later taken over by Romans, this place is rich in history... makes America seem like a baby!

Two of the coolest things we saw were some of the original aquaducts, now used as walkways. And we also went down to an original Etruscan Well and walkways. It was amazing. My teacher told me that the sidewalks were newer, as in 13-14th Century!!

We spent the entire day exploring the city, looking at art, going to museums, and eating GELATO!! At the end of the day, my friends and I found an outside cafe, split a bottle of vino, and reflected upon what was another amazing day in Italy.

I took far too many pictures, but I hope to come back to paint and to SHOP!!

Corciano Music Festival

2008-06-22T15:47:00.008+02:00

We are here just in time to experience the music festival of Corciano... what a blast! They had everything from folk music to line dancing. Great food, good wine... and old italian men who could take over Dancing with the Stars!!

My roommates and I were taught a few moves by our host, Gabrielle, and his friends...!

This was a blast...

The Pad

2008-06-21T15:45:00.012+02:00

The place that I'm staying at is amazing.... Molto Bello! I have my own room which overlooks the mountains and olive groves. We have a nice kitchen with all the fixin's (except a toaster and microwave... I actually have to COOK!) The living room has a TV with CD & DVD player... not that we ever use it... AND a balcony that overlooks the hill with the old Monestary at the top (folks are staying there, too)
We have no internet or phone at our place, but it actually makes it a nice retreat. I just come down the main villa to get online (and use the pool!!)
We live above a super sweet Italian family, and their Gato, Silver... who like to
One of my favorite things about my place are the SOUNDS... We live next to a school, chill on our staircase...so I hear children laughing and playing all day. I can also hear the birds chirping, the donkey's baying (there are animals at the monestary), the clock chimes every hour.

My roommies are super great. One is my friend Sola from back at the Academy, and the other is a new friend, Alison, a photography student. We are all in Graduate school and enjoy Vino, makes for a good combination....!

First Week in Italia!

2008-06-21T15:15:00.024+02:00

Ciao Americanos!!

Well I've only been in Italy for less than a week, and I feel like I've been here a month! It's so beautiful, and the people in Corciano are really nice... (most of them don't speak English, so I need to study my Italian... PRONTO!)

Corciano itself is gorgeous, I feel like I'm in a fairy tale or a Shakespearean play as I walk the medieval streets. It's a small hilltop village, so everything is clean and crisp...it's hot, but the air is fresh and wonderful. There is a great gelato/coffee place, L'arte Del Gelato at the piazza that serves the best of both. My favorite so far has been the honey dew melon (melone) combined with strawberry(fragole) though the tirimsu is nothing to scoff at! Their Latte's are indeed the best I've had yet...

Speaking of eating... the food is outstanding! My first day in Corciano the class went to lunch at this wonderful restaurant that used to be a Convent. I split the ravioli with my roommate & friend Sola....Molto Buono!! Also... in Italy nobody orders wine by the glass... it's always by the bottle. The Italians know how to dine....

We painted for 2 days... and we've all discovered that landscape painting is HARD!! The group that is here are all very talented, and with that perfectionists. Nobody seems happy with their work so far, but it's just the beginning. The teachers are all very knowledgable, and I'm excited to absorb what they have to teach me.
I miss my dog, and stores being open more than 1/2 day... but it's nice to be forced to relax. Americans work WAY to hard.... Now, for some CAFFE!

Ciao!