Classical Accordion in Florence

Sitting down for lunch at Piazza del Duomo in Florence, Italy, we heard this amazing classical accordion player...

Venice Heartstrings

Who can say what art is? What is beautiful or interesting to one person may not be to another. All I know as an artist, is what it feels like when something pulls me in, draws me closer, sends a spark down my back. I just know it when I see it.

From the day I set foot in Venice, it was like entering into a museum filled with colors that felt like home to me. Ones that make me want to paint--clear bright reds, rich burnt siennas and that beautiful opaque turquoise color that is like a celadon glaze on pottery. The painting was the city itself. Now heading to Florence, I thought a good summary would be some of my favorite shots of this beautiful oasis called Venice. 

Sensory Overload in Venice

The Grand Canal

Jaw dropping beauty, colors as intense as thick paint, yet as subtle as a misty morning. No cars, yet waterways as streets, allowing a slower pace of life. Everywhere I looked was a potential painting, an indulgence in the senses. I remember not wanting to sleep, not wanting to waste a minute of this completely new experience. From sunrise to sunset, walking through narrow streets lined with a surprise around every corner. This is Venice.

The writing in my blog for Venice will be brief, as the visuals tell the story. If you’ve ever considered traveling to Venice, don’t wait. Do it now.

Clotheslines in Italy became my new fascination...

...and this pistacchio cookie became my new addiction.

How Robert and I started our day, and every day, in Italy

Rialto Market

View from our room

 A typical "street" in Venice, where gondoliers and water taxis would pass

 View from our first dinner in Venice

Our first tiramisu...forgot to photograph it before we ate it all!

Me and Van Gogh

Not sure how many 12 year olds have a Bucket List, but when I was 12 years old, with instruction from an artistic neighbor, I did my first painting with a palette knife, after he taught me all about Vincent Van Gogh. I was so inspired! Ever since then, it has been on my Bucket List to see his work in person. Well, it finally happened on our trip to Amsterdam.

Our first stop was the Rijksmuseum, a grand museum holding a cadre of art by the masters of the Renaissance, including Rembrandt, Degas and Vermeer. Robert's favorite was Rembrandt's "The Night Watch", shown here, larger than life...

Down the street was the Van Gogh museum. To me it was like walking into a candy store. I've seen many original Van Goghs before, but never this amount in one place. It was a homage to the master of color and texture, where paint was applied like cake frosting of warm yellows, bright burnt siennas and rich blues. 

Sunflowers

Wheat Field Under Threatening Skies

To see the paintings I've only seen in books seemed like a dream. I easily could have spent a week in the museum. The most memorable for me were the Sunflowers, his self-portrait, and the highlight, Van Gogh's bedroom. When you see the original, you finally get to see the real size and scale of a painting. You see it by itself on a wall, beautifully lit, allowing you to stand back and soak it in. Magical.