San Marco Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 10 x 20″ 25 x 50cm
The Flock Blair Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 10.5 x 15″ 27 x 41cm
Venetian Lantern Blair Pessemier 24 x 12″ 60 x 30cm Acrylic/canvas
Fall by the River Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 10 x 20″ 30 x 50cm
The sky went from sunny and blue to sunny and pouring in a
matter of minutes. Blair was headed to
the Vatican to mail a package. We have
had our ups and downs with the Italian post (and Italian UPS, as well) so we’re
trying the Vatican mail. So far, so
good, with attractive stamps and pleasant service – we’ll see when the package
arrives. Blair, drenched to the skin, raced
back to the car (manned by me in a no-park zone).
We made a day of it in Rome, following up with a
presentation our painting workshop to a group. This pitch turned out to be a
strike-out; the group wanted the workshop for free. But at least it got me to
think about what the painting workshop is.
Our painting workshops are not just for those who want to
improve their painting. Of course, we
love painters, and there is nothing more gratifying than to uncover a hidden
talent. Other painters inspire us, and
hopefully we do the same for them. But
it can also be for people who want to learn how to see like an artist. Painting unlocks the door to seeing color, to
understanding form and composition, to hone one’s focus. A
museum will never be the same, once you know just an inkling of how painting
works.
It made me think about a music workshop. I have a tin ear, and a voice to match, but I
love the idea of learning a little bit about the simplest instrument, or tempo,
or how sound works. I am surprised I
rarely see a “music workshop”; and certainly never one for a peacock voice like
mine. Just because you are not naturally
good at something, doesn’t me you can’t try it, or appreciate some aspect of
it.
This week, we took a guest to see Venice for the first time.
Venice is magical -- I love to just ride
around on the Vaporetto and sigh. And it’s
always nice to see a guest’s reaction to the city, which is inevitably
positive. We walked through San Marco
square, but otherwise wandered the circuitous byways, lesser populated by
tourists. We took the traghetto across the
canal, a 2 euro taste of a gondola ride.
Blair wore his “Venice” t-shirt, with his painted image of
the city on it; one can be yours for 17.50, plus a little shipping (printed in
the country of purchase). We have an
idea to create one for Rocca Malatina, and sell them at the Castagna (chestnut)
Festival the next 2 weekends. We’re
always keen on a new idea.
