Countdown to the Grand Opening

Only two days to finish up preparations for the gallery grand opening. Yesterday I was interviewed by a writer from Brick Magazine, a fairly new weekly magazine put out by Media General/Richmond Times Dispatch. The timing is great, as the article is due to come out on Thursday, a day before the opening!

The lighting is in, but we had to go with a temporary option because our more permanent solution wasn't able to be shipped on time. It will be just fine, but there was a period of momentary mayhem trying to determine an alternate solution for those 11 foot ceilings.

About 90 percent of the show is hung, which consists just under 30 paintings and a number of small minis as well.  I'll take some pictures later today and post them here on the blog.

Oliveti Terrazzati

Here is a painting of the terraced olive groves I so loved in southern Tuscany:

I actually thought I was finished with this painting last week, but there was something about the sky that was bothering me. I set it aside and worked on other things, but kept looking at the painting over time. The sky was previously painted pretty plainly. I was going for the golden light of evening but it just didn't turn out right. I guess my photo reference of this scene had washed out the sky, even though I knew it was taken during that beautiful early evening glow.

Then the other evening as I painted in my studio, I noticed the most gorgeous clouds outside of my window. I ran and got the camera and took some shots, and then just sat and watched the remaining sunset, noticing the color transitions of an evening sky.

With that new information I went back and addressed this painting again, and now I feel that it better states the mood and atmosphere that I was trying to express. This painting is gallery wrapped and measures 30x40". Please click here or click on the image for detailed info and purchasing information.

Venetian Balcony

I wish I could have posted more this week, but getting ready for the new gallery opening has had to take precident as things are really heating up. Here's another little gallery wrapped mini of Venice that I just completed. It measures 6x6":

The paint's pretty thick on this one. More paintings of Italy can be seen on my website here.

The Chariot Awaits

Here's another little square gallery wrapped painting of Venice for my mini collection. 

This vignette is of a quiet canal in the Dorsoduro. We stayed in this neighborhood when we visited Venice and it was nice because it felt like a more residential  area and not overrun with tourists (like us!) 

This painting measures 8x8 inches. The edges are painted a solid color that compliments the painting, so no extra framing is needed.

More paintings of Italy can be seen on my website here.

Gondola, Signori?

Here's a little painting I just finished of a Venetian scene. It is one that I did as part of a series of new gallery wrapped minis.

I am working on a few more of these "little Venice squares" (sounds like a breakfast cereal!) to offer in time for holiday gift giving season. This painting measures 8x8 inches. The edges are painted a solid burgundy color that compliments the painting, so no extra framing is needed.

This is a scene of a rather narrow side canal I saw while riding one of the traghetti across the Grand Canal.

More paintings of Italy can be seen on my website here.