| Umbrellas on the Beach Blair Pessemier Acryllic on canvas 9.5 x 12” x 24 x 30cm 375..00 |
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| We are back from our trip to the Island of Elba. It was great, allthough not as we had originally planned. What a wonderful thing is that! Everytime I go someplace in Italy I am intrigued. This time I was astounded by the families on vacation: groups of at least eight people at the beach. Often there’s a collection of women: mothers, wives, and young adults, dressed in bikinis regardless of size, at ease with themselves and not trying to impress their men, who must be someplace else. Often, but not always, little kids are present (the birth rate here is the lowest in Europe – only 1.18). There are grandparents, likely footing the bill for the grandkids vacation. We do not see the same teenage rebellion here that we are used to where we come from. Instead we witness snorkels and floaties, dives from the rocks. A three year old combs his grandfather’s bald pate with a plastic rake. The most beautifully tanned blonde girl, enjoying her last vacation before having to wear a bikini top, frolics in the light waves. This water is perfectly clear, moving slightly, 79 degrees; small fish. A young woman lovingly applies sun screen to her grandmother’s wrinkled face. Water wings, paddle games, and laughter complete the scene. Blair and I perch uncomfortably in beach chairs, covered up in the burning sun, and paint. We are totally out of it. |
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| | Water Wings Laurie Pessemier Acrylic/paper 6.5 x 11” 17 x 28.5cm 75.00 Woman with Hat Laurie Pessemier Acrylic/paper 8 x 11” 10 x 28.5cm 75.00 |
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| It was hideously hot on Elba – I mean like 90+ (32+c) degrees and humid. We’d get to the beach by 7:30 AM and had to leave before noon. Sheesh. The house we stayed in, up in the hills had an outrageously good view of the sea and the island of Montecristo. It was at least 5 degrees hotter on the inside of the house than the sweltering outdoors. The house was not charming (it worked), but the outside was just perfect with a stone table and benches, and a handmade wattle fence and awning. The town of Seccheto has much charm and the people who populated it were kind and helpful. |
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| | View From the House to Island Blair Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 12 x 16" 30 x 40cm 490.00 |
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| We started out the trip with the usual intention Blair and I have – to see what’s around there, go to a place a day, mingle with the populace, cook local foods. All of these were for naught. It was simply too hot (I did not cook a single meal!!!) We got up every day at 5 to walk Berlino – it was the start of the dog walking hours, nautical dawn. People were constantly warning us about wild pigs, so Blair wore his headlamp to illuminate the paths. One morning, I thought I saw a pig approaching, but it was actually a very large golden retriever sporting a blinking red light collar. As Blair cast his headlamp toward him, green eyes glinting, red lights blinking, he looked like a space alien -- Berlino tried to attack. We didn’t see a real pig until our last night when we were driving into our driveway after dinner. The larger of the two. not really any bigger than Berlino, jumped six feet in the air to the top of the stone fence. We skipped Bernie’s final walk that night. |
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Sheer Coverup Laurie Pessemier Acrylic/paper 6.5 x 11” 17 x 28 Boys on a Float Laurie Pessemier Acrylic/paper 8 x 11” 10 x 28.5cm 75.00 |
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We are happy to be back in Roccamalatina – we painted 40 pictures this week, which I will share over the next couple of episodes, along with stories about our adventures. Stay tuned. |
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| | Laurie Swimming (with others) Blair Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 12 x 8" 30 x 20cm 290.00 |
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| HOUSEKEEPING:
We make art to order, including portraits by Blair Pessemier.
Follow us on Instagram @lauriepessemier
See all of our paintings at https://paintfox.com
Most of our work is available as reproductions, custom sized and framed.
Write to me at lfpessemier@gmail.com
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| | | INVITING All Artists to present their Work: Paint, Literature, Crafts, Food....
Pessemier's Sunday Salon
Weekly on Sunday No Reservation Necessary
How it works: Bring a piece of your ART: that could be visual, like painting or printmaking; or literary, as in poetry or prose; or crafts, like metalwork or knitting; or food, or music. Something you made, or feel particularly inspired by. You have about 5 minutes to present, and we'll ooh, ahh, or answer questions you have. You can also come and see how we work before diving in. Just show up on Zoom at a minute or two before the hour.
No selling, no networking until after everyone has presented. No politics, no sales pitches, please. |
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