Italy for Inspiration

We are back from a month long trip to Italy, based on Florence. I dragged my kids around to see a (probably) unreasonable amount of world-changing, history- and era-defining art. We now have a year long family membership to the Uffizi despite living in Idaho. Annnd we ate an unreasonable amount of pasta and gelato. Success all around.

Sal posing as Raphael's St. John the Baptist at the Uffizi. Curly-haired little cutie.

I took a small watercolor kit with me and painted when there was time. It was particularly fulfilling of my very specific recurring dream of painting on trains while the landscape flows by the windows. Add some train brewed espresso and I'm pretty happy.

Happy happy.

Now I have so many gorgeous Italian landscapes living in my head.

Sunflowers. Cypress trees. Rolling hills. Centuries old farmhouses. Distant mountains. Cobblestones. Statues. Elaborate churches. Narrow streets. Tuscan yellows and creams, olive greens and weathered oranges. Such an excellent palette.

Be still my painter's heart, the biggest question is where do I work first? I have started getting them out of my thoughts to live their lives on wood panels. Here is a look at one of the first with many more to come.

Sunflowers everywhere I go.

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