Pecorino Busti al Pistaccio and Bosc Pear from Testaccio Market, Rome (Italy 2017 painting #3)

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If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings completed in Italy over the years.

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Best,

Lemons and Cherries from Testaccio Market, Rome (Italy 2017 painting #2)

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Most of my time in Rome was spent studying Baroque art and architecture, but I also did three still life paintings and a few drawings. These lemons and cherries were from a market in the Testaccio neighborhood in Rome. It is known as one of the best "classic Roman" markets. You can see some of my photos on facebook or instagram.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings completed in Italy over the years.

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Best,

Strawberries from Testaccio Market, Rome (Italy 2017 painting #1)

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I just got back from Italy and am getting ready to leave next week for Greece, and I'll be posting more about my travels here soon. As I am adding more photos, you can see a glimpse of my time in Italy here on facebook or instagram.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings completed in Italy over the years.

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To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Best,

Larger painting: Still Life with Three Satsumas and Handmade Cup, 8x10 (+ Italy travels)

Still Life with Three Satsumas and Handmade Cup
Oil on linen on panel, 8x10 inches, 2017
Sold

This week, I will be in Rome to travel and paint and study Baroque art. If you'd like to come along, join me on facebook or instagram.

Baroque painters (i.e. Velázquez, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer...) often depicted a dramatic moment using light & dark (chiaroscuro), and I think it is human nature to go towards (the) light. In my own work, I enjoy sharing a way of looking at the world by capturing a moment (of light) as it is happening -- however dramatic or subtle or simple it may be.

As part of my ongoing Paintings of Handmade Pottery series, the cup in this still life is by Willi Singleton, a potter from Pennsylvania.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings of handmade pottery or satsuma tangerines.

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Best,

Zecchi's Ultramarine Blue Pigment (the light, the shade)

Zecchi's Ultramarine Blue Pigment (the light, the shade), 2017, oil on linen on panel, 6" x 5"

This week, I will be in Rome to travel and paint and study Baroque art. If you'd like to come along, join me on facebook or instagram.

I brought this pigment (and other pigments) back with me from Florence, Italy in 2008 (you can see a snapshot I took of the pigments at Zecchi's Art Store here). Also, this painting is part of my the light, the shade series that I began back in December 2012. I wrote about how Robert Lax was the inspiration for my "the light, the shade" series here. Generous support for my "the light, the shade" series from June 2016-June 2018 is provided by the Norman Johnston Fellowship at Arcadia University.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings of paint tubes or paint pigment.

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To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Best,

Zecchi's Cadmium Yellow Pigment (the light, the shade)

Zecchi's Cadmium Yellow Pigment (the light, the shade), 2017, oil on linen on panel, 6" x 5"

I'll be making two cool announcements this week, so keep an eye out.

I brought this pigment (and other pigments) back with me from Florence, Italy in 2008 (you can see a snapshot I took of the pigments at Zecchi's Art Store here). Also, this painting is part of my the light, the shade series that I began back in December 2012. I wrote about how Robert Lax was the inspiration for my "the light, the shade" series here. Generous support for my "the light, the shade" series from June 2016-June 2018 is provided by the Norman Johnston Fellowship at Arcadia University.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings of paint tubes.

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To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Best,

Oyster with Lemon (+ the David's ankles)

If you're interested, in this recent New York Times Magazine article, "David’s Ankles: How Imperfections Could Bring Down the World’s Most Perfect Statue," journalist Sam Anderson talks about his obsession with the flaws, reproductions and potential collapse of Michelangelo’s masterpiece. [Keep reading.]

By the way, this oyster was a gift, and I forgot to mention that the peaches I posted yesterday were also a gift. I like to note here when my still life painting is inspired by someone else's generosity.

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Italian Lemon with Leaf, Rome (Italy 2015 painting #8)

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FYI: my course "The Innernet" begins tomorrow. Along with a great big group of course participants, I'm excited to be going offline for four days starting on Friday. #InnernetMovement #unplugged #diveintoYourInnernet #bethecloud #digitaldetox

Ending today at 10PM EST:

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If you'd like to purchase my work, you can view my Current Painting Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Best,

Assisi Landscape in Piazza Santa Chiara (my last Italy 2015 landscape painting)

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I painted this scene in the piazza outside of the Basilica of Saint Clare, and here's a view of this painting in progress #OnTheEasel. If you've followed my work for a while, you may remember this photo from 2012 of my easel as I was about to paint this same scene in Assisi.

If you'd like to purchase my work, you can view my Current Painting Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Enjoy,

Tomatoes on the Vine, Rome (Italy 2015 painting #5)

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I found these beautiful tomatoes at my favorite market in Rome last month. You can see me and my beautiful painting window and set-up in Rome here.

I've had a flurry of more questions coming in about my e-course "The Innernet," so I will post more FAQs soon.

Ending soon:
Clementine with Leaf from Testaccio Market, Rome (Italy 2015 painting #3)

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If you'd like to purchase my work, you can view my Current Painting Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Happy Monday,

Morning View from Rocca Maggiore, Assisi (Italy 2015 painting #4)

It was about 80 and sunny for 10 days straight while I was in Italy. One morning in Assisi, we hiked up to the highest point, Rocca Maggiore (translation: "major fortress"), and I painted this scene.

Above you can see photos of Rocca Maggiore in Assisi and a snapshot of me at the easel (see more photos).

What is the Innernet?
The Internet is a concept that relies on a massive, complex, computer/technology network of networks of networks—all of which make it possible to access and share information on the World Wide Web. The Innernet is a metaphor for what it is that connects us to each other and to ourselves—the Ground of our being—and to Being itself. Read more.

Wait, isn’t it a contradiction?
An Online Course on Time Away from the Internet?
Yes. That’s the thing about the amazing digital time in which we live. As a painter, the contrast between my Innernet (life offline) and my Internet (life online) is immense. I frequently reflect on this contrast and often speak about it in my workshops, private instruction sessions, and during my travels. While the heart of this course takes place offline, I’m not suggesting we shun the connection economy and culture in which we live. But I hear from so many of you who feel pulled in different directions, distracted by what is digitally at your fingertips, or just wishing you had more time to do what you love. We need to cultivate a fulfilling life offline while also embracing all that makes technology remarkable. I believe we can do both. Join me.

Ending Soon - tonight at 9:30 PM EST
Italian Pecorino and Green Olives from an Assisi Market (Italy 2015 painting #2)

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If you'd like to purchase my work, you can view my Current Painting Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Enjoy,

Clementine with Leaf from Testaccio Market, Rome (Italy 2015 painting #3)

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A lot of my time in Rome was spent studying Baroque art and architecture, but I also did a few still life paintings. This clementine was from the market right next to our hotel in the Testaccio neighborhood in Rome. It is known as one of the best "classic Roman" markets, and the clementines I found must have been freshly-picked since the leaves were still bright green and soft and shiny.

What is the Innernet?
After I solidified the idea for my new e-course, my dad shared his term “Innernet” with me. In 2001, he spoke about the concept at a WCCM conference in Texas after he had started up their Web presence. He said they first thought it was a typo. : )

I then searched the term online and surprisingly found only a few random hits. One needs to be shared: A spoken word poem video from 2012 entitled “The Inner Net – Are We Moving towards a Hyper Connected or Disconnected World?” by the talented spoken word poet David Bowden. David poignantly describes the Inner Net in some unexpected ways. It’s worth watching at least twice.

Register here. The course dates are June 10-16.

Ending Soon - tonight at 9 PM EST
Late Afternoon View from Assisi, Italy (Italy 2015 painting #1)

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If you'd like to purchase my work, you can view my Current Painting Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Best,

Italian Pecorino and Green Olives from an Assisi Market (Italy 2015 painting #2)

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During my Italy travels, I first spent several days in Assisi. I had been there once before -- only for a day trip -- and felt drawn to it. I knew that I wanted to go back to paint and just spend more time. We stayed in a small flat about two minutes (actually, 99 steps) up the hill from Piazza del Comune, which is the main square of Assisi. I got these green olives in my favorite market just across the piazza, and I found this beautiful cheese in a little wine and cheese shop not far from the Basilica of Saint Francis. It's hard to see in the reproduction of the painting here, but in the reflections on the olives, I could actually see the church tower outside my window. Anyway, to the right is a photo of this painting on the easel, and you can see more of my Italy photos here.

My new one-week online course, "The Innernet," is filling up. The course will include two live lecture/discussion teleseminars, during which you can call in to talk to me live. Join me today.

If you'd like to purchase my work, you can view my Current Painting Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Enjoy,


Framed view:

Late Afternoon View from Assisi, Italy (Italy 2015 painting #1)

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my time in Assisi, Italy, 2015

I just got back from Italy and am now in Sedona teaching my workshop, and I'll be posting more about my travels here soon. In the meantime, you can see a glimpse of my time in Italy here.

The response has been so wonderful to my new one-week online course, "The Innernet," which is now open for registration. The $47 half price early bird discount ends May 31 (full price $97).

If you'd like to purchase my work, you can view my Current Painting Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Best,

Italy Travels

I've been painting and traveling in Assisi and Rome this month, so if you'd like to follow along, join me.

P.S. Thanks for the awesome response to my new one-week online course, "The Innernet," which is now open for registration. The $47 half price early bird discount ends May 31 (full price $97).

Ciao,


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Partially Peeled Lemon (present moment)

The last time I painted a partially peeled lemon was in 2010, and that painting, Still Life with Peeled Lemon and Temmoku Bottle, was also featured in O, the Oprah Magazine. If you're interested, you can see that article here.

As I mentioned last week, I am working on an important project, and until I am ready to announce it (hopefully later this month), here's another something I am reading:

"The Mangroves"

As I said before, I am living now
in a warm place, surrounded by
mangroves. Mostly I walk beside
them, they discourage entrance.
The black oaks and the pines
of my northern home are in my heart,
even as I hear them whisper, "Listen,
we are trees too." Okay, I'm trying. They
certainly put on and endless performance
of leaves. Admiring is easy, but affinity,
that does take some time. So many
and so leggy and all of them rising as if
attempting to escape this world which, don't
they know it, can't be done. "Are you
trying to fly or what?" I ask, and they
answer back, "We are what we are, you
are what you are, love us if you can." 

~ Mary Oliver, Blue Horses, p. 35

As the auction for my painting, Clementine with Stem on Marble, ends tonight at 7PM EST -- and it's snowing in blizzard-like fashion right now in Philadelphia -- I am reminded that there was a blizzard outside in Perugia, Italy, when I last painted a clementine with stem on a marble (in March 2009). Hopefully it won't be snowing this spring when I'll be traveling and painting in Assisi and Rome to study Baroque art.

If you're interested in my work, view my Current Painting Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Enjoy,

Clementine with Stem on Marble (+ Rome travels & Baroque painting)

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(auction includes detail and framed views)

I was traveling and painting in Italy the last time I painted a clementine with a stem on a marble surface. It was March 2009 during a mini-blizzard in Perugia.

This May, I will be traveling and painting in Assisi and Rome to study Baroque art. Baroque painters (i.e. Velázquez, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer...) often depicted a dramatic moment using light & dark (chiaroscuro), and I think it is human nature to go towards (the) light. In my own work, I enjoy sharing a way of looking at the world by capturing a moment (of light) as it is happening -- however dramatic or subtle or simple it may be.

Ending tonight - at 8:15 PM EST

Click to view auction

If you're interested in my work, view my Current Painting Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Best,

Throwback Thursday - Noticing Things video (+ a favorite studio item from Italy)

One of my most favorite items in my studio is my medium cup from Zecchi's in Florence, Italy. Because my medium is a homemade mix of oil and turp, over time the lid to the medium cup starts to stick and build up dried oil on it. This continues until I can't get the lid on anymore.

Then, three times a year or so, I spend a solid hour (or so) using an x-acto knife to carefully clean the lid and medium cup inside and out.

(Perhaps because I am a virgo) as you can maybe see in the photo to the right, I find this an enjoyable, meditative practice.

Throwback Thursday #TBT
In March 2012, I was mixing some painting medium for myself and I noticed something really amazing happening with the stand oil, so I recorded a short 30 second video of it.

Click here to watch the video, or click on the image below:



Hope you enjoy!

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Two Figs with Ubriacone al Prosecco Mitica on Marble (the light, the shade)

Two Figs with Ubriacone al Prosecco Mitica on Marble (the light, the shade), oil on linen on panel, 6"x7", Private Collection

the light, the shade
As I plan out my painting travels for 2015, I am hoping to include Italy in my travels. In honor, I was inspired to paint this still life on marble with a traditional Italian cheese in it.

This painting is part of my ongoing series "the light, the shade" that I began in December 2012. I wrote about Bob Lax and described my inspiration for this series here. Also, if you're interested, here's some information on Ubriaco al Prosecco Mitica (aka "drunken cheese") -- because of the process used to make it, the cheese's rind has remnants of grape leaves on it. I found it beautiful, and you can see it in the detail view below.

Since it relates to Italy and my travels and painting marble.... my #TBT (fan favorite paintings) is Clementine with Stem on Marble, which I completed while I was traveling in Perugia, Italy in 2009.

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Best,

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