Plein air watercolor painting of the hills around Terni, Italy

Plein air watercolor painting   7  inches x 10.5 inches    SOLD

I painted this plein air watercolor painting, sitting at the monastery at La Romita looking down on the valley near Terni, Italy. Depending on the time of day, the distant mountains would turn completely different colors. Sometimes they were a pinkish-purple color at late afternoon, but in the morning, when I did this particular painting of Italy , they were a beautiful, cool blue…

This artwork was created with:
Paper: Saunders Waterford Watercolor Paper
Medium: DaVinci Watercolors

Pastel landscape painting of a distant village in the Umbrian hills of Italy.

Pastel painting     27.5  inches x 13.5 inches   SOLD

Another pastel painting of Italy where I am exploring the long distance views from the Umbrian hill towns. I’m not sure if this is really a village or a small villa that grew and grew over the years. Some of the family plots became compounds over the years, with each successive generation adding another addition or building to the original villa. Regardless, they create beautiful focal points in the undulating countryside.

This artwork was created with:
Paper: Illustration board with Terra Cotta Art Spectrum Primer
Medium: Rembrandt Pastels and Sennelier Pastels

Pastel landscape painting of an old villa on a hill in Umbria.

Pastel painting 19  inches x 9 inches

Everywhere you look in Umbria, you see beautiful old villas perched on hillsides. Most of them are hundreds of years old and have been increased in size by each successive generation of the family. They end up looking like compounds, or even little villages. The breathtaking countryside, filled with olive orchards and grape vineyards, rolls away into the distance.

I really pushed the color in this pastel painting of Italy. I worked with bright complimentary colors, green and red, while still keeping the relative values intact.

This artwork was created with:
Paper: Illustration board with Terra Cotta Art Spectrum Primer
Medium: Rembrandt Pastels and Sennelier Pastels

Pastel painting of the rolling Umbrian countryside as seen from the hilltown of Assisi

Pastel painting 17  inches x 17 inches          SOLD       

I think Assisi was my favorite hill town in Umbria, Italy. It is perched way above the beautiful surrounding countryside and you can see for miles from the old city walls. The Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi is amazing and has frescos by renowned late-medieval artists Cimabue and Giotto. And I just loved the city itself. Sometimes certain places just speak to you, and Assisi and I had looooong conversations!

In this pastel painting I tried to capture some of the feeling of distance and atmosphere of the region. The forefront of the painting is fairly detailed but it falls away to almost abstract shapes in the background.

The reception last Saturday night was amazing! Thanks to the many people who stopped by to view and purchase my artwork. I appreciate your encouragement and support!

This artwork was created with:
Paper: Illustration board with Terra Cotta Art Spectrum Primer
Medium: Rembrandt Pastels and Sennelier Pastels

Pastel landscape painting of an old villa in Umbria, Italy

Pastel painting 18  inches x 18 inches

One of my larger square pastel paintings of Italy that will be in the show tonight There will be many Italian watercolor paintings too…

Hope you can join me at the artist reception!

“Faraway Places: history, objects, spirit & spaces”
Nov. 5th – Dec. 18, 2011
Reception: Nov. 5th 5-8pm
River Gallery, 120 S. Main St., Chelsea MI
www.chelsearivergallery.com

This artwork was created with:
Paper: Terra Cotta Art Spectrum Pastel Paper
Medium: Rembrandt Pastels and Sennelier Pastels

Watercolor painting 5 inches x 8 inches $100 + shipping

Please contact me if you are interested in this artwork.

Another plein air watercolor from my wanderings in the countryside. If you position yourself on high ground, Washtenaw Counties rolling hills make for beautiful subject matter!