Back in the real world

I have been back to reality now for a while and must admit I do miss my travelling feet. It was so nice to wake with a brush or pen in hand everyday and explore a new area of this wonderful world we live on.

Now the pen is directed to book work and filling out order forms for my store Northwoods Gallery & Gifts. This, I realize,  is a required element in my life as it allows me the opportunities of travel again in the future. I do hope one day to sell the store which will enable me to immerse myself in the arts of painting and writing, but for now I will be happy to squeeze minutes from my day to continue on with my art. Who knows what tomorrow brings, it is today I have and I will endeavor to make the best of it.

I've had many welcome me back to this side of the world and all are full of questions. I see the spark in their eyes as they ask me what it is like to see all of these magical places. Did I manage to get some good painting and writing done? What was my favorite place to visit? Would you do this again? Can I come and carry your brushes for you next trip? As I write this I am smiling wishing I could take everyone with me to show them firsthand this incredible world.

I am presently working on writing a book and my hope is through my paintings and writings others will see and experience what my eyes and heart have seen.

Lawren Harris wrote "Art is long, life is short. A picture can become for us a highway between a particular thing and a universal feeling.

My hope is that this highway be a long and interesting one for each of us to explore. I have many stories to share and will post them as time permits.

Now the studio awaits and my brushes are calling!

Hiking Adventure part 2 ~ Italy

Another half hour passed as I made my way along this mountain path....or should I say crawled my way along!  The path was narrow and the climb steep but the views were spectacular. Here is one of the many vistas I will one day put into paint. You can see Vernazza harbour about 1/3 down in this photo.

Here you can see how narrow the path is. This young girl literally went "out on a limb" to create a passing lane. You can't tell from this photo but the drop off was very very steep.  I was quite happy to stay on the path!

Finally I could see Vernazza harbour. This little fishing village was a sight for sore eyes! If you look carefully you will see a stone tower on the highest building along the waters edge. My next photo was taken from the top of it.  I still have about another half hour to hike ~ I am so glad I am almost there!

I made it! I am happy I did this hike but am I ever glad I can take the train back to 

Santa Margherita!!

Hiking Adventure part 1 ~ Italy

 After painting and writing my way around Santa Margherita for several days,  I asked many other travelers and towns people where they thought the most picturesque area would be for me to go

and paint. Many recommended I take the train to Monterosso, a small fishing village not too far away.  

And so my adventure begins.

They were right in saying how lovely this place was. It is an old medieval town with narrow streets and stone walls tucked into a small sandy cove.  

 I could find many things to paint and was sitting in the town square deciding what my subject would be when I noticed on the far side of the town there was a path with many people walking in both directions. I thought I'd better check it out to see what was so interesting. Knowing I was in for a bit of a hike I donned my hat, sunscreen, made sure I had a full bottle of water and set off.








It wasn't long when I realized I was in for a bit of a challenge as the wide flat path now turned into narrow stone stairs. I asked a young couple walking towards me where this leads to and they said the small town of Vernazza was the destination and it was about 1 1/2 hour hike. The day was still young and I felt the exercise would do me some good - especially after all of the pizza and pasta I have consumed!

Half an hour passed like molasses as I made my way around and over a mountain. I took a small break to take a picture of the village I just left. It seemed so far away now and could barely see the  small sandy cove from where my latest adventure began.  It was then I was thinking to myself that I could still turn around and go back to Monterosso but somehow that would mean defeat. I was not a quitter....yet nor was I an Olympian. The views were spectacular.....I forged ahead.                      ~To be continued~

Elba ~ Italy

The following sketches were completed on the beautiful island of Elba which is off the west coast of Italy. The sandy coves, old fishing ports and quaint villages high in the mountains make this a painter's paradise.

Low Tide ~ Elba

Hilltop Village ~ Poggio

Hidden Cove

Rocky Shores

Morning Mist ~ Elba

I have been fortunate to visit many wonderful areas to paint and have to say the island of Elba was one of the most beautiful I have seen so far.

Along the northern coast ~ Italy

I decided to walk back along the winding coast from Portofino to Santa Margherita on a warm sunny afternoon. The road was narrow and winding with many cars zipping by. Too bad for them because I feel the only way to appreciate this part of the coastline is on foot. I came around a corner and saw this tall narrow rock with a tree growing out of the top. Strange to think this is even possible. The locals call it “La Caraga” which means The Chair.

I have been waking with the sun everyday and this particular morning I went for a walk just as the sun was rising. The light was soft and hazy and the streets were quiet. This is my favourite time of day. The only others I saw were fisherman preparing their nets for the day. 

Now to explore more of the town and the narrow streets. Another day to be filled with painting and writing...it's great to be alive! 

Cinque Terre ~ Italy

I have been staying in the Port of Santa Margherita. She is a spectacle of colour tucked away between many jewel like villages along the north western coast of Italy. On my first day here I simply wandered the streets admiring the beautiful frescoes on these tall narrow buildings. How in the world am I ever going to be able to get the perspective right! 

A few days after getting to know this wonderful seaside town I caught a bus to Portofino. This is another little gem of a village waiting to be painted a few kilometers away along this northern coast. There were such wonderful colours and light to be explored but unfortunately many tourists as well. I am told if I were here a week earlier I practically would have had the place to myself. I find that hard to believe looking out now across a sea of people!

Today the sun shines again and I decided to go for a hike. I came around the corner and saw this picturesque scene. What a perfect day!

                                                                       
 


Since returning to the hotel I have worked on a couple of sketches of a particular cove between these villages. My view was from several meters above looking down into the deep aqua blue waters that was surrounded by towering pines. Very difficult to portray in paint as it was such a majestic sight and tricky for me to convey the height from which I was standing.

I plan to do a large painting of this in oils when back in my studio. I do love a good challenge!

Memories ~ Italy - Poem

Sitting in the gardens

Birds singing, warm sun upon my back

The water gently ripples as a sculler passes in silence

Church bells ring eight

As a new day is born

I am now caught in her rhythm

This timeless endless quality of life

Living in a moment that is true and perfect

Lighthouse Lookout ~ Portofino

My mind drifts back to days gone by
Of when life was as new for me
As this day that now unfolds
Marbles with colour swirls
Fresh new box of crayons
Mud pies with my sister
Exploring with my brothers
Always curious about the day

Door to the Past ~ Santa Margherita

Now back in the present 

I find myself asking questions

For which there are no answers

I believe at least none of which I am meant to fully understand

For this I am grateful for I really don’t want to know all

Only to accept and live this life I've been given

Full of hope ~ the way it was intended 

Portofino Afternoon

One day this day will be a memory

From days long passed

The thought of this makes me smile

I hope I will still be wondering

In my future life

With childlike innocence

Of this day, this gift we each have been given

May I always see the hope in a sunrise and comfort in the setting sun

Now to get out there and enjoy another day of sunshine, painting, writing and perhaps just a little more good Italian cooking!

Emerald Isle

I met Joan and Patty while waiting for the Dublin train to Belfast. She and I really hit it off talking about children and the joys (and challenges) of raising them. The more we talked the more I liked her. Her hubby was in line getting their tickets and when he came over I immediately liked him too. “Great fun loving couple they are” as they say here on the Emerald Isle. Lots of laughter and teasing between them as the green grass and stone houses passed by my window. Dublin is the place of my mother’s birth father. I will be exploring this city during my final days in Ireland and plan now to make my way up to Belfast. After a much needed sleep I will travel through the countryside to the northern town of Bushmills then back down to Belfast along the coast then fly over to the Isle of Man where my other grandfather’s family was from. Hmmmm seems like a lot of moving around but I do want to experience as much of this part of the world as I can.

The combination of the rhythmic motion of the train and the fact I have been on the “road” now for over 24 hours is making it hard to stay awake. The best way to get on track with sleep patterns is to stay awake for the first day for as long as possible and try to go to bed at the regular time.

....It seems I have failed as an hour has passed as I nodded off to dreamland but I must admit to feeling a bit more human after my “wee” rest. I must say I do love the way the Irish are so musical with their words!

The announcement has been made as the train slows and now I feel like I have truly arrived to this land where my grandfather was from.

Top of the mornin’ to ya!