Creative week

Hubby was off fishing for the week, I had a week of unlimited creative time. I moved the watercolors and a bunch of other creative resources to the dining room table ( I can eat my meals anywhere) the light was better there. I continued work on my little travel sketchbook. The second day of the trip it was raining so hard we stayed in the hotel since plans changed. No excuses not to sketch……I had enough photos on my camera and phone I had a starting point. The first few sketches were done in Italy and not in any particular order as the computer does its own thing when uploading….

 

My sketching improved with practice and my colors are brighter with my larger paint palette. I also got out my old Artist Sketchbook magazines and reread some inspiring articles and “how to” articles. I was trying to capture the gloominess of the weather we were experiencing some sketches are better than others and the really bad sketches didn’t make the post. But it’s okay to do a bad sketch I gave myself permission to make bad art and a couple days later it doesn’t look as bad. I also sent the inner critic out the door.  

I need to improve my workspace downstairs so I spend a little time everyday sketching.  Ann

A little travel.....

 

My Sister-in-law and I went on a trip to the Amalfi Coast of Italy with the alumni association of South Dakota State University.  There were 37 in the group and I knew the names of at least a third of them but didn't know them well.  We all got aquainted!! They were a fun bunch to travel with and everyone was on  time for all the departures.  The only negative to the trip was the rainy weather, I said pretend we are in Ireland then it rained hard so pretend we are in Scotland....... One day we all wore our blue SDSU t-shirts.  We stayed 4 night on the island of Ischia and took ferries to the islands of Capri and Procida then spent 3 nights in Sorrento.

Me and sil.  We ate lots of good food, really good food and wine and limoncello.  Pasta and pizza with fresh mozzarella and more wine.  Pastries for breakfast.....too much sugar for me, they did have yogurt, cheeses, coldcuts with lots of fresh breads.  And espresso and lattes and cappuccino.  Did I mention the food was wonderful?

Just wish we would have had more blue sky and sunshine.  It was a really fun trip and great travel  companions. An interesting observation of the group the first couple days people would ask would you take our picture then it was here let me take your picture.

I’m ready to go on another trip but haven’t made any plans.  Ann

last of Italy pictures

Walkways and passages take me to such interesting places...............

 So many details to notice

The Wall of Truth that was in the movie Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.  Next time DD comes home we are watching it.

 Espresso and cannoli

 All those tempting sweets and I couldn't try them because I didn't know the names.  You pay the cashier then give the receipt to the guys behind the counter and they get your cannoli and espresso because I knew those words.

 planning our next trip.................Ann

Pomegranates

 I had never seen pomegranates growing, the top photos were taken in front of our hotel near Venice, the yellow were at the winery near San Gimignano.  I had to taste the yellow, they were not ripe so I made my sour face.

 Everything is bigger in Rome including the pomegranate by the Coliseum which was providing a big chunk of shade. --Ann--

Looking Down

Looking down was  easier on the neck than looking up.  It was like finding hundreds of little quilts at my toes in the red shoes.  There were checker boards, and a thousand pyramids, squares in squares, stars, six point stars, lots of stars, orange peels, curved piecing and diamonds,  and birds in the air.........

I have to dig in my stash of fabrics and find these colors

and then there were the stones in the streets and sidewalks.  --Ann--