A View from the Uffizi Gallery

A View From The Uffizi Gallery, 30x30, oil on linen

I started this painting before I went to Greece last Spring. After the initial block in which always gets me excited I somehow lost my way. Here is the blockin:

It was not becoming what I had envisioned. Not many of my paintings do, come to think of it. I had this conversation with my sister recently. About how hard it is for me to paint a scene the way I see it in my mind. That doesn't mean I don't like the end product...And that might be what keeps me coming back. The insatiable quest to get it to come out the way my mind's eye sees it. Or does the vision in my head change along the way? I don't know. I did have someone come into the studio a few weeks ago and exclaimed what a great painting it was, so that made me realize maybe it was done after all, at least for now. So I am posting it, finally. It does make me want to go back to Italy I will say that for it.

The lines to get into the Uffizi had discouraged me from going in when I was in Florence for a few days on my own. Then one afternoon I happened by on the way back to where I was staying and there was no line! The Museum was only open for another hour or so, but I decided to go in just the same. I think I spent as much time looking out the windows at the views of Florence than at the art...And this view towards the Duomo is just not one you see highlighted so I thought I should give it a go. I just love the jumble of tile rooftops and the construction added visual interest and a complimentary color.

New painting found new home

Urban Garden, 30x30, oil on linen in its new home

One of my recently finished paintings found a home this month. A thoughtful, generous and loving husband bought it for his wife's birthday. He told me he found her looking at it so many times online (and it hasn't been on my website all that long) that he wanted to surprise her. So I delivered it in person on her birthday and she was surprised! Both in seeing me and the painting. She was delighted and is very happy to have it where everyone who walks in their home will see it. His wife is a friend as well as a former co-worker of mine from back in the day when we worked at Emily Griffith Opportunity School (since updated to Emily Griffith Technical College). I am, of course, grateful to them both for their support of my work. Thank you Ron and Linda! I think it looks great in your front room.

For more information on this painting see the post from December 2018.