Making Decisions

Decision making is part of our everyday life. We begin in the early morning and continue throughout the day making one after the other of decisions that govern our lives.  They’re turning points. Most not drastic but some decisive and able to change the corse of our thinking and behavior.
Remember my last post, in January, I vowed to make reforms in my painting habits and schedules and  I was convinced that from that new year’s day on I would create a disciplined life for myself in the studio.

INSTEAD I have been delving into a variety of activities. First, I have become an “Angelo del Bello” (translated, that is an Angel of Beauty). NO, nothing to do with beauty contests, make-up and the like! It’s a volunteer organization that helps keep the parks in the city of Florence clean, erases ugly writings on walls and in the streets. I work in the famous Iris Garden overlooking Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo.

  Here I am with a friend wearing my safety jacket. We were hoeing and weeding in one of the many  flower beds in the famous Iris Garden

 I have also joined the newly formed choir within the American International League of Florence.  We are eight women (sometimes more, sometime less) and began this group to entertain at our annual Bazaar, a fundraising event to support needy charities in Florence and province.We worked hard to be presentable for December 8th (the date of our charity market),  to learn the carols, music and words, and we did it  as a flash mob  having a lot of fun. It meant many practices which consumed my days completely. The choir has continued, and so have I, learning  new songs thru weekly practices.  We will be entertainment during parties at old folk’s homes.

My painting in the show at Chianciano Terme, a SPA town south of Florence. was awarded Honorable Mention. This show closed at the end of March but I have been invited to continue with this painting and 2 others in another show in Montepulciano..  These are all historic picturesque  towns south of Florence.

Transparency - Figure

"Transparency"

I began this post talking about decision making but I never explained myself.  Remember? In February I applied for a show here in Florence entitled  “ Portraits of MERCY in the Bible” reasoning that at least I would be showing in Florence, nearby. I’m not a painter of sacred art as such but I participated anyway. Part of the regulations for this show required me to select a passage from the bible that I used as inspiration. Again I chose a painting from the past.

"The Annunciation"

 “The Annunciation” I have always considered this  as an annuciation, benevolent, protective. The Magnificat. But, as I searched the Bible, reading various passages, I realized how little I knew about this book of history. My decision was to find out more, read more from the bible, and,have founded a bible study class that meets from time to time.  A new source of inspiration for me.  A turning point?

AND, last of all, I will return to Pontremoli for their show on the 25th of April. 
Here I will present a new painting, a “new painting” done over an old study of a nude.  The theme is “The Garden”. and my painting is entitled “Waiting for Dawn.”

"Waiting for Dawn"

That’s where I am today.

This has been a long post but I hope you have found it interesting.  I would love to hear from you dear  readers. My idea when I started this blog was to exchange ideas, reactions, to make contact. I hope some of you will talk to me.  In any language. Translation is easily done. 
A presto. . . .