Painting in progression

 My model

 My charcoal sketch

Finally a new painting.  It seems like quiet a while I guess because I have been painting in my journal.  This one is on canvas and I do plan to have some originals for sale in my Shop soon.  I will announce the sale as I am not quite ready.  Right now I have collage sheets for sale and I'm thrilled at their success.

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I also wanted to share with you my friend Zorana has made several collage sheets that are fabulous.  And this weekend she has added this Digital Collage Kit for making ACEOs and ATC cards.

Check out her blog here and watch the video she made demonstrating the fun she had making ATCs.
I think this is the coolest idea.

Be back when I can,

Sharon

My Trees

I still have eight blank spreads in my Orvieto journal but I'm thinking I will save them for another trip.  Where to....I don't know.  Could be just a trip to the inside of me.  Where ever that is.

As you can see, this page is all about collage.  I might even say collage "Misty style".  It might surprise you that I never feel real comfortable with collage.  Oh, I do manage to please myself with it sometimes but there is just a feeling inside of me that I want to overcome. It is like a struggle that I can't really explain. I wish it were something that I started doing as a child because I really do love the look of collage and Misty does it with such ease.  She said she has been doing it since a child.  

So a commitment to play more with collage is another thing that I brought back with me from a wonderful workshop with Misty.  Thank you Misty.

♥ Sharon


PS  I named this page "My Trees" because....well they are my trees.

Orvieto journal

 While waiting for physical therapy on my foot last week, I browsed a W magazine and saw myself right then and there rip a page out.  Or maybe I didn't see myself but heard the rip. Nevertheless, the old me would not have even turned down the corner much less removed a page. And there I sat with it in my hand.  I looked around and no one was watching so I stuffed it in my big tote bag.  I won't even tell you all the things that went through my mind at that moment.  Well OK, just to mention a few; the issue was more than a year old; they shouldn't have kept me waiting so long; who is this person who subscribes to such an edgy magazine in this little rural town; have I become that person who rips recipes out of the doctor's office magazine; that was easy, maybe I could borrow a few more.

All of this while excitement was building with the bit of inspiration that I had just stolen and stuffed into my tote.  I wish I could show you that page but it's not with me here at the desk-in-town.   Anyway, it was a lineup of black headed young boys with bare chest and red socks all standing in profile.  I couldn't stand it! To me, they were a chorus lineup white hooded saints that I surely must have seen or dreamed of in Orvieto.

So that was my Saturday art in my Orvieto journal.

Show and share in Orvieto. 

Please tell me why do they sing

Another Orvieto Journal spread.



Inspiration at the convent

 One of the exercises that Misty sent us on was to go and find something that inspired us and sketch it.  I don't take time for serious sketching and so this was a new thing for me.  One of the reasons that I went on this adventure was to discover new ways to enjoy and be inspired to create my art. So, after a talk with myself, I found a place to sit in the rather dark ballroom where there were many beautiful paintings to be inspired by. 

I used my inspiration journal and a stick of willow charcoal and lost myself in the process.  But the one on the right above was not looking up and I realized the direction of gaze is something that I really liked about the original.

 So, I tried her a second time.  Next we had to return to the studio and sketch again into our journal and paint.  She became my journal cover.  And I vowed to bring home the "sketching" process and make it a habit in my future.

On the last evening, we showed and shared our journals.  I will share more another day.
♥ Sharon

Fresco restoration in progress

 We stayed at the San Lodovico convent B & B.

It was operated and managed by two nuns who only spoke Italian.

 This Fresco is located in a small room near the kitchen area.

We were privileged to witness the restoration that was in progress.

 I have no idea what had been done or what is going to be done;

however, the gray area to the right (above) and through the left panel (two photos down) was wet plaster that the artist had just applied.

I wish I could have stayed to watch; although, I overheard that getting the fresco to this stage had taken more than a year already.  

One of the interesting things that I note is the little white dots around the perimeter of the aureole of both figures remind me of the little white dots that we sometimes add to our paintings. Don't you find that interesting?

♥ Sharon

Cooking in Umbria

with Chef Lorenzo Polegri

you should have been there!

♥ Sharon

Sometimes it is the little things

 Like this tile back splash for the sink in the courtyard of the convent where we stayed.

I passed it many times.

I especially enjoyed the faces and this bird. 

and the colors.

♥

Orvieto was golden

I stood in awe

and watched the wall turn

golden.

I was there.

Amazed.

Blessed.

and

Smiling

♥ Sharon

This is pure silly stuff

Of Towers and Turrets is still going strong with many wonderful artist whose imaginations and creativity will astound you.

You just would not believe what they are doing.

Deryn and I had the most absolutely wonderful and fun time putting our class together....

...you might say it was an "exquisite fusion"

A bit of silly fun was had as well.

And I share with you here some of that silliness. 

Pure silliness.  

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Well, the time has come for my Italy trip where I will go and soak up inspiration and instruction from Misty Mawn.  I haven't been able to focus on much else this week.  This truely is a trip of a lifetime.  All the packing was finished last weekend and now I'm down to the last minute things like

♦ print boarding passes

♦activate global phone

♦tote bag snacks

♦print extra copy of instructions from Rome to Orvieto

♦wax lip

♦shave legs

♦check list

♦get walking cane (last minute thing added to list-foot is still not OK)

♦get to airport in time for 12:47 pm departure Saturday.

YIKES!!!!!

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All of that to say that I will be unavailable until Monday October 11th.

However, I am at this dang-desk-in-town today (Friday) and can let you in any of the classrooms today until late tonight.

One more thing, I love you all.

♥Sharon