The Streets of Florence

I can't let go of all the images in my head and behind my eyes of Florence. One of my greatest joys of that city is the walking, and we walked for hours and hours every day. Whether you were in a museum or a church or strolling along the streets and alleyways there was such beauty; a feast for the heart and eyes.

The streets of Florence

Curtains to Florence

It's over, 10 days in wonderful and magical Florence. Internet was the only thing that was tricky, often not working so I decided to let the world disappear and immerse myself in the Renaissance. The frescoes are glorious especially the Lippi senior in Prato, just up the road from Florence, where the quality of light in the white had us spell bound. I have been dreaming of that light ever since and when I woke the other morning there it was, in the sense of the light in the curtains. What's missing is the glow of golden light that permeated the frescoes.

Curtains at the Beacci

David's New Look

Intermittent rain and internet, but David has a great new look.

Walking Florence

Sunny, beautiful, warm, Florence, ah......Walking to the river, over the bridges, our favorite terrace, sunrise, sunset, the hills and trees, Ponto Santa Trinita, Santa Croce,  ah........

some favorite places in Florence

Florence

We're here and about to go walking and re-orienting ourselves with this wonderful place. No plan, just walk and look, and eat. Nice to be on the ground again and almost knowing what day it is. Still seems amazing to be in Sutton one day and walking about Florence the next.

On the way to Forence

Order

The studio is looking beautiful, quiet with intensity; I can find things again. Have all but 5 of the new works glued to the panels and am painting the edges of the paper, on the getting close to finished panels.  Hopefully will start putting encaustic on this afternoon, always a time a great pleasure, the house and studio smell divine and it's thrilling to see the colors emerge from the paper.

Order in the studio

Priming Panels

The studio is a mess. I am in the midst of preparing panels for the Garden Light series so there are pots of primer, gray for the edges, prints hanging on the walls and all sorts of stuff hanging about waiting to be finished. Need to put some order into it, but will start here with the panels I am prepping, and put them into the grid.

Prepping panels in the studio

Finally, Frost on the Pond

Went outside early to walk around the garden and found the first ice on the pond. One of my favorite sights. Feathers encased in ice for a brief time; it will melt by late morning, freezing again tonight, a bit harder this time, and melting again tomorrow, until at last the ice stays. A beautiful process to watch and remember.

First ice on the pond

Great News

A dear friend Michèle Plomer has just won a wonderful award for her latest book HQPQ. Way to go Michèle! The photo of Miche is by André Roy

Freezing Rain

Well it had to happen. November = freezing rain and very short days. As you can probably tell,  not my favorite month of the year. JB had to go out early this morning so while he scraped the car I took the pictures. Perhaps not the fairest exchange. Again, I am amazed by the pattern and colors of the ice, I can hardly wait for the pond to start freezing! Meanwhile here is the freezing rain.

Freezing Rain

Where Things Lead

Doing this blog every other day has been a good discipline for me and it is really fascinating seeing where it leads me. When I worked with the oak leaves last Thursday, I realized by Saturday [ it takes a bit of time], that the colors and light between the leaves were what was seducing me. I realized there was a body of work awaiting, based on these images, and so have decided to have a studio show of these small works. Each piece will be 10 in. x 10 in. on panel with encaustic. Can't wait to see what other arrangements emerge.

Blue Sky

Finally, after what seems like days and days of gray, the sky is blue and both JB and I are in much better moods! Might also have something to do with the fact that my internet is working again.

Blue Skies

Snow on the Stone Walls

A dusting of snow these last 2 days so that the bones of the garden show even more. The tree trunks and branches etched against the gray skies, while the bits of color left in the garden glow. The pattern of the stone walls comes into prominence again. I love these stone walls and I keep building more every year. At this rate the land will be nothing more that stacks of stone, but there is something immensely pleasurable about building them. Time stops or is suspended and all there is is the placing of stone on stone.

Snow on the stone walls