Bikers in Chianti - original Watercolor

Ciclisti 38x56cm watercolor on paper 300gsm 

 Artistically there's a lot going on this year. 

While I'm continuing to teach watercolor lessons,

(I've met so many lovely persons!)

 I've also managed to take much more time for my own painting and drawing. 

I'm absolutely enjoying the outdoor painting sessions together with other artists

painting in and around Florence and Tuscany.  

Just now we are having a break because of the summer heat, 

but I'm continuing with the life drawing, since it's in the indoor studio.

There has been a big Art Show in Fabriano, Italy, and other smaller ones - some still upcoming.

I'm not posting much of my work as I feel that I'm in a limbo.

I'm experimenting a lot. 

I know the direction, but I'm not sure about the destination.

Just like these bikers above - one of the subjects I'm exploring at the moment.

(you can see earlier ones here and here)

I enjoy the trip, even if sometimes I struggle and hope to reach 

some kind of a pit stop soon! 

I'm surely evolving, hopefully improving - 

what do you think?! 

Spring flowers in watercolors - how to paint

Narcisi dal giardino, 2016 -38x56 cm fabiano 300gsm

Lately I have been concentrating on urban sketching and painting, but I usually love painting florals.

It's easy - they grow in my garden or I keep them on my table.

Earlier I painted realistic, even if not really botanical flowers, 

while I now prefer to simplify and catch the essence.

On the painting above you can notice a clear influence by the paintings of Jean Haines ;), 

only an impression of the flowers!

Floreale, 2016. 38x56 cm

I paint quite big, real size, which means that I often just  can't fit everything into the paper. 

That's one reason why I choose to paint only a part of them; 

the main reason is that I find it more dynamic and expressive as a composition.

This is how I proceed: 

I use a big brush, a lot of water and bright colors. 

Once the first wash is dry I will add darker details, little by little - trying not to overwork - 

this is the hardest part!

Then I leave it to rest, and some hours later, or even the next day I will see if I need to add something.

I some areas are too bright, I will use a glaze, often with a complementary color.

Thank you for reading,

Hope you enjoyed my spring flowers?!

PAINTING EN PLEIN AIR

VILLA IL VENTAGLIO FIRENZE

This year has started with many pleasant news regarding arts. 

First of all my work was selected to Fabriano in Italy, 

but I will tell you more about that in another post, maybe with some photos...

Then my friend Natus had the brilliant idea 

to create a group of

watercolour painters in Florence. 

We meet regularly to paint together in different places of the city 

- urban locations - we've met in Fiesole, P.zza Santo Spirito or -

 as in this case - in a garden, Villa il Ventaglio.

Such a lovely day!

It's a great occasion of sharing your passion with lovely people.

There are already many of us, and more join every time!

And -

another nice part is when at the end we usually have lunch together!

Changing the colors for a different atmosphere!!

'A corner of Tuscany - red sky' - 28x38 cm Fabriano artistico 300gsm

If you  saw my previous post about the watercolor workshop when I painted the first version of 

 'A Corner of Tuscany', this is the same house... 

As I was waiting for the first painting to dry, I started a new one.

I usually like to change something when I paint a new version, this time I decided for a red sky.

Obviously I also had to change the other colors.

As you can see the tree is purple,

but for the plants in the pots I decided for a cool green shade, 

because I felt that I needed some contrast to all the warm colors.

It's not easy to show all the shades of color in a photo, 

but if you look at both photos you can see how the atmosphere changed!

I'd love to know what you think, which version do you prefer?!

Loose Landscape Painting

A corner of Tuscany - Fattoria Poggiopiano 2016

28x38cm

The last years I have concentrated on loosing up my paintings. 

It has been a lot of work: experimenting, making mistakes...

A lot of fun, 

but also frustrating when you don't achieve satisfying results...

Obviously I started with my favourite subject, florals.

I also aimed to capture the movement of cyclists, in an abstract way (more here).

To get a different approach to landscape painting I attended a one day workshop with  

Italian Watercolor Artist Luciano Boscaini. 

detail   

 It is always interesting to see other artists work and I got practical advice and examples that I also love to share to my students.

For example about soft and hard edges , and letting  color  bleed - like you see on the roof (detail above).

This is something I love to use, AND VERY IMPORTANT when you wish to LOOSEN UP your paintings!

But until you see it from real, you don't really get it!

(I'll prepare a tutorial on this, soon)

He's definitely not for beginners, and also the level of the other participating artists was high!

I had a great time, and actually painted 3 paintings,

- I just can't stop painting, so in order not to overwork, I usually start a new one while the first is drying! -

so I'll prepare  more photos soon!

How to paint a landscape !

28x38 cm A House in Tuscany

As I promised I have a lot of photos for you :

Easy step by step instructions how to paint a watercolor landscape.

-

Come promesso:

Sotto trovi il procedimento passo passo per dipingere un paesaggio con gli acquerelli.

First draw the subject - then start with the lightest colors...

Comincia con il disegno - poi i colori più chiari...

Keep blocking in colors - remember to save some white and lights!

Aggiungi i colori con pochi dettagli -  ricordati di conservare del bianco e dei punti luce!

  Take a break! It's always good to stop for a while ...

 Prenditi una pausa! E sempre bene soffermarsi un attimo...

 - then add the darkest shadows and details!

See the (almost) finished painting on top and let me know if this helped you?!
To see a floral step by step go here or here!

-

- poi le ombre e gli ultimi dettagli più scuri! 

Vedi il dipinto (quasi) finito in alto e fammi sapere se questo ti è stato utile?!
Per vedere come dipingo i fiori vedi qui o qui!

Let's paint more together at Ancora del Chianti EcoBB & Art Retreat in Tuscany !

Painting in Tuscany!

Fabriano artistico watercolor paper 300 gsm 28x38cm

Painting a Tuscan corner ... Such a beautiful place!

-

Un bellissimo angolo di Toscana !

Blocking in the lightest colors... then adding the middle values...

-

La stesura dei primi colori... poi i verdi...

 - and the final details

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 - gli ultimi ritocchi.

 Ancora del Chianti Eco Friendly BB & Art Retreat in Tuscany
Painting here! -  Ecco dove sono!

Inspiring watercolours! Acquerelli per ispirare!

I've been busy painting and with workshops, and once again it's a looong time since I showed any watercolours! But I've been working a lot the last months so soon there will be more to see!

-

E stato un periodo intenso, ho dipinto e lavorato tanto ma ho  presto mostrerò altri miei lavori!

This particular painting was a lot of fun exploring the negative spaces 

during the workshop with my friend and one of my teachers, swedish artist Monica Mansson one week ago!

To learn how to do the negative painting, go to vinca-rosea-step-by-step.

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Mi sono divertita tanto a realizzare questo studio (e altri)  dei spazi negativi, 

 partecipando al workshop di Monica Mansson, artista svedese, amica e una dei miei insegnanti! 

Per vedere come dipingere al negativo vai a  vinca-rosea-step-by-step.

Painting outdoors is always so peaceful and relaxing!

- 

Dipingere dal vero e en plein air è sempre bellissimo!

Chianti Poesia

I'm sharing this link with a short presentation of me in italian

here, on Chianti Poesia , 

the blog of Leonardo Manetti, a local poet and blogwriter.

A chi interessa, può leggere una mia breve presentazione

qui, su Chianti Poesia, 

il blog di Leonardo Manetti, il poeta del Chianti!