Artnotes: The House Back

 

Snow in Roccamalatina  Laurie Fox  Pessemier    Acrylic/canvas    12 x 18"  30 x 45cm  450.00

It was smelling like snow in Roccamalatina.  Berlino and I stood in the yard inhaling that smell of dirt and a sort of river-y water.  We both have enjoyed the cold weather.  I love that cold pink sky and heavy frost on stubbly fields in the morning.  I like winter for the naked trees and angled light.  And I probably like that that spring is next.     Our car isn’t so good in the snow – G tried to warn us to get something more suitable, but it was like buying a raincoat.  I've never purchased a raincoat, wanting to believe it will always be sunny.   People give them to me, though – like they are trying to sober me up.

Trees in Winter Sun  Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas   10.5 x 14"  27 X  35cm  475.00

We weren’t doing much up North – a painting here and there, but mostly just waiting around for our visa renewal.   I felt like a teenage girl waiting for a boy to call.  Do teen age girls still do that? (I didn't get the call).  So we drove to Stimigliano on Friday.  The temperature rose from 36 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit.  Our house here wasn’t too cold, although we ate dinner with our hats on.  The big upset is we have a mouse.  It came in through an electrical outlet, which we re-secured; then it nibbled through a bit of wooden door trim (almost all of the surfaces are stone or tile, including the baseboards)  The hole is barely visible, smaller than a dime, on an angle.  Now we have filled that hole, but we can hear it trying to break in as I write these artnotes .

Boudoir Chair  Laurit Fox  Pessemier    Acrylic/oil pastel/paper   17.5 x 24"  45 x 61 cm  250.00

They used to make wine in the basement of this building, likely for hundreds of years (built in the 1500s) – up until a year or so ago.  It is not part of our apartment, and we have no access to it.  We haven’t seen anyone go in there for the longest time.  I can only imagine the mouse (probably mice, although there is minimal evidence of them) come in here for the warmth.   The only food I left out one time was a small bowl of hot pepper flakes, which they clearly tried, but rejected. The mouse is small game for Berlino – he hears it, but doesn’t pursue it as a cat might.  We once had a Jack Russell Terrier who would kill rats (from the Duwamish river in Seattle) nearly as large as she was.   Berlino is looking for a wild pig. We are packing our bags, mostly with art supplies, for our trek to Pompeii on Thursday.  I’m bringing sensible shoes and two outfits, easily washable in the sink.  We are all looking forward to it, especially he mouse, who would like this house back.

Metal Pitcher    Laurie Fox Pessemier   Acrylic/oilpastels/paper 24 x 17.5 "  61 x 45cm  250.00

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