A SPECIAL DAY. . .

Entry in " XXIII Premio Nazionale di Pittura" di Città di Civitella 2014

What made this day "special?  I was just supposed to go to Civitella to retrieve my painting, an ordinary procedure when you participate in a show outside of your own territory, and then return home. And since the town is in the vacinity of Arezzo, city famous for its goldsmiths and more, I was convinced that it was in a flat valley.
 It was a beautiful, sunny day, crisp temps but not cold.  We decided to make a day of it. . .to eat out somewhere nice and wait for the cerimony of awards at 3o'clock and then head for home. The drive was south toward Rome on the state highway. . . the warm sun though the windshield  made me  drowsy. Until


slowly the  road through a dense wooded area started to climb and we saw Civitella far ahead at the peak of a hill in front of us.

Civitella dates back to the Roman Empire and became an important fortress in defence during the many battles between Arezzo, Siena and Florence. It is important for its cultural  manifestations including this show as well as a sculpture show in the spring.

The medieville walls of the town are still visible

We stopped in the first piazza where we found a lovely wine bar-restaurant.

The restaurant is at the lower righthand corner of the photo next to the stairs that take you to the center of  town.

From the window of the dining room the view was amazing taking our eyes over vineyards, olive groves and breeding farms as far as the peaks of the  lower Appennine mountains

This area, the Valley of the Chiana, is the official zone where chainina cattle are raised and bred. Chianina beef is the only meat that can be used to prepare  the official "Florentine Steak".

Town Hall of Civitella nella Valley della Chiana home of a lovely modern art gallery.

 So this was my "Special" day. No prize but just a lovely, quiet day to remember.

Feeling "at home" in my NEW studio

my painting space

About 4 months have gone by since I made the big move from the studio in the city to my studio at home.  I'm not settled in completely, but then there isn't any real hurry. My painting area is fine and I am working steadily every day.  There is no "schedule".  I paint when I have the time, whim, or urge.  Some days I start in the early morning forgetting about breakfast or brushing my teeth. Other days I just look, judge what I have done and think about what I'll do next. I know this isn't the best way to work but, for now, it suits me.  I knew that there would be challanges for me here at home,  a mixture of responsibilities to meet, things I like (gardening) and things I have to do (cooking and cleaning). But I am happy and enthusiastic.  I am even searching for new spaces to show my work and at the moment am in two shows,

Show at Gallery ART-ART, Impruneta

 

 one in the Gallery ART-ART in Impruneta that will close Nov. 1

and another, a juried show, in Arezzo that closes Oct. 26, this Sunday.

So, you see, I have been preparing these and am looking for other spaces in the future. The reason for showing my work is only to have a deadline, a date that I have to respect, a date when I have to produce a painting.

It spurrs me on, gives me a point to focus on.