The farmhouse in Tuscany where I stayed with my family last fall. I’m a city person but staying at the farm was so relaxing, and Tuscany is so famously beautiful. I’ve lived all over the world, and seen a lot of beautiful places, but the Tuscan countryside is at the top. So much happened since then, I never photographed the pictures from that trip.
An acqua alta event in 2015. Our cultural patrimony literally being washed away by climate change.
I spent 2 weeks painting in Tuscany this time last year, staying in an old stone farmhouse. It was perfect weather in a beautiful place. I never got around to photographing or sharing the pictures.
I painted this after a frustrating day at the hospital. Turned out to be whooping cough! Ugh. Painting always relaxes me when I’m stressed. I just drove into a neighborhood, parked, and walked until I found an enticing spot.
Painted on location in cold and rain. Wearing shorts and a short sleeved shirt, because I did not plan ahead! I love Roman stuff.
Painted on location in 104 degree heat. The interior of the Mezquita is one of the wonders of the world. Originally a Roman temple, the site later became the site of a mosque and eventually a Christian cathedral. Painting here was truly special.
Found this one by accident one afternoon and it was still up under gray skies the next morning when I had some time to paint.
Bounce House in Claremont
This area is called Allied Gardens, one of San Diego’s postwar suburbs. It has curving residential streets and culdesacs that branch off a busy road lined with strip malls. There are suburbs like this all over the country, places that once offered an idea of safety and a particular way of life and to some extent still do.
I have grown interested in this type of area recently. They really say a lot about American culture.
A hot day in January in La Jolla. Finished painting, put back on my shirt, went up the stairs, met a porn star.
Painted at Black’s Beach on a chilly day. Stiff wind off the water. It’s a nude beach but I was glad to have my down jacket with me. I frequently do prefer to strip down while painting here. In part because why not and in part because wearing clothes in this area often results in a weird vibe. I’m a weather wimp, that’s what brought me to San Diego in the first place, so too bad.
I am happy with this little painting, done as fast as possible. The trash guys dumped the tree out of the trash can into the street. I loved the passive aggressiveness of that.
Got here just in time before the trash men came, really had to work fast. They left the tree on the street, so I painted it again. Buy now
