A chorus of sunset paintings done from my balcony last week. It was first purposed as a diversion from the Still Lifes I have been painting indoors since the lockdown began in early March. Then it became a challenge to me, to try and capture the movement of light across the sky just before the sun turned over its reins to the moon and its nocturnal magic. I had about an hour to work every day and within that hour were many decisions to make along with mistakes, plenty of them! And yes, there were remedies to be dealt and lived with, as the sun descended and merged into the horizon each day. Thirty minutes into the first painting, I thought, “Whatever made me think this was the diversion I needed??!!” Humor in art is a must-have and just as important as persistence and a hopeful spirit. So, I soldiered on each day.

It was not so much about what I accomplished as much as what I learned from this week of chasing sunsets, that really made a difference. I learned that it is good to take what we are given for the day and make the most of it. Unlike Still Lifes that allow deliberate arrangements in composition, sunsets are spontaneous and unrehearsed. Painting them taught me to remain open and flexible to Mother Nature’s parade of light for the day. I learned to let things be, having faith that I had what I needed to finish each painting at day’s end. I learned that what work I had for the day was a gift and a grace and that will always be enough.

These paintings were a masterclass in humility and I am equally thankful for the sense of wonder and joy that I found along the way. Now I share them with you, with thoughts of all good things for you. Loads of love always! ♥️🙏🏻🌈👩🏻‍🎨

“The Sunsets of May”, oil on panel, 25×35 cms, May 2020

I am happy to share these photos of some of my work from 2015 to 2018. My art celebrates all that I find meaningful in my daily life.

Florence, Italy is my favorite place in the world. It is my true home. My unfading love, Florence is a constant inspiration in my art and life.

May these works bring you joy.

“Angel’s Breath”, oil on panel, 15×20 cms, 2018

“My Florentine Angel”, oil on panel, 15x20cms, May 2018

“Blue Scarf”, oil on panel, 40×60 cms, Feb 2018

“Madonna and Child”, pencil study, Oct 2017

“Stephanie’s View”, oil on panel, 2017

“Beloved”, oil on panel, 28×28 cms, Feb 2017

“Fiorentina”, pencil on paper, 25×30 cms, 2017

“Charmed”, pencil on Roma paper, 20×30 cms, 2017

“Lemons on a Blue Plate”, oil on panel, 15×25 cms, 2016

“Saturday’s Lilies”, oil on panel, 17×24 cms, 2016

“When I Met You”, oil on panel, 2016

“Purple Bliss”, oil on panel, 15×25 cms, 2016

“Vincent (After John Peter Russell)”, oil on panel, Oct 2015

“So Happy Together”, oil on panel, July 2015

“Lemon Love”, oil on panel, 2015

“My Guardian Dear”, pencil on paper, 2015

“Sunflowers for Katie”, oil on canvas, 2016

“Study for the Madonna and Child (Inspired by A. Correggio), oil on panel, 2017

“Autunno in Firenze”, oil on canvas, Nov 2018

“Come estai?”, oil on panel, 2018

“Artú”, oil on panel, 20×30 cms, Dec 2018

“There are places I remember, all my life, though some have changed…all these places have their moments…I loved them all.”, so the song goes. And so does my art.  It is all hands on deck for me these days as I prepare 7 new canvases for a show this July. In this show, I am paying tribute to the beauty that my eyes have touched and my soul has sensed in my travels. Each painting takes me back to that unique moment when my subjects caught my eye and moved me to capture both life and light. As I travel back through time, all that had once been faded memories are alive again, each one clear and crisp, as though on them the dust of time or the mist of parting had never settled. The ritual of preparing pigments and studying subject photographs just before marrying pigment to canvas with my brush makes me realize how the seemingly ordinary gains meaning when our soul is engaged and our eyes perceive consciously, even if only for a moment.  To be seen for our souls is to be valued for who we are in our hearts. Too often do we see, but we seldom see consciously.   This is why they say the essential is invisible to the eye.  As each canvas is finished, I hope to share the work and their respective backstories —- all that I saw and all that it has made me feel and understand, about life so far.  It is impossible not to have a backstory.  Backstories are the essence of my art,  and my daily reality of joys and struggles are their basic rudiments. Here is one of them. The work below entitled, “Measure In Love”,  was done in February 2013 as a memento for celebrating a decade of friendship with my closest friends.  One chair for each friend who has taught me to measure my life in love.  Indeed, there are many ways to measure our lives — too often we measure by what we have taken and acquired for ourselves.  We forget too easily that deep down, our hearts long for  the joy of giving, of giving freely and from the heart.  This painting is for all of us whose lives have been enriched by the power of friendship and measured in love.  Enjoy!