I already said that Umbria is a wonderful place to paint.Not only that, but it's full of hidden gems.One of them is a 13th century Franciscan monastery founded by St. Francis of Assisi called La Scarzuola. Now, it's not just a monastery anymore, it's waaay
Now when most plein air painters pack their gear and head to Italy, they're most likely going to paint Tuscany. Why? Because it's beautiful and well manicured, but it's not the only place to paint gorgeous landscapes in Italy. In fact Umbria is one of my favorite places
Every summer in some of the most wonderful villages around Rome painters are invited to come and participate in local 1-day painting competitions. One of my favorites is in a town called Subiaco, nestled in the foothills of the Apennine mountians.This year the theme was
How do plein air painters deal with extreme hot and cold? Find the right painting spots and keep working!Via della Fortezza, Rocca di Papa16x12"oil on paper©Kelly Medfordclick here for purchase detailsThis town perched way up on the hills above Rome is a magical labyrinth of houses
I imagine non-artists can find traveling with artists tedious at times, we're never not working!In fact my vacation this year was to go and spend a week in Barcelona for the 4th International Urban Sketchers Symposium. And it was fabulous, my perfect vacation! Cooling off with
Paintings on commission are such a joy!Why?Because it's the chance to make someone a painting just as they want it.charcoal study for commission of Rome's Piazza del PopoloThough it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to complete a commission, each
Last month in Venice I was hunting and not just painting. I was hunting empty spots, light effects and non your typical scenes. Mostly I was hunting for the best painting in each of Venice's distinct neighborhoods called sestiere in local dialect. Afternoon Light at the End
Now even if you live in Rome, you may never have visited this off-the-beaten-track neighborhood: Pigneto. I just love the name, it suggests those towering pines in abundance that Rome is so famous for. In fact the name does come from the row of pines
In a Catholic country, where do the non-Catholics get buried? Well there is one extraordinary place known as the non-Catholic cemetery in Rome and it's unlike any cemetery you've ever seen. The English Cemetery, Piramide Oil on Paper 12 x 9" This is no ordinary cemetery, it's extraordinarily beautiful,