Image of the Day: Rome, again

Rome Madonna

One of the wonders of walking around Rome:  not a famous architect nor painter; just everyday beauty.

This photo is in my show, Sempre Italiani,  at RiverWinds Gallery, www.riverwindsgallery.com.

Hudson Valley Workshop: Make Art, Have Fun!

Ducks at Plum Point, at sunrise

Pastel painter Linda Richichi and I are holding an instructional workshop this October 19-21, for painters and photographers -- open to all  levels -- that will visit many of the famous Hudson Valley vistas that artists have been inspired by for more than 100 years.

Beacon waterfront, late afternoon

Our base cities will be Beacon/Newburgh, NY.  From there we plan to spend time at Olana, Hudson, my house for Saturday dinner!, Plum Point, Iona Marsh, Bear Mountain and the Beacon waterfront.  All those places you've always been meaning to visit, but never get around to going to!

On top of Bear Mountain

You can sign up for the whole weekend -- Friday evening to Sunday afternoon - or just one of the days.  We will paint/photograph -- either or both, learn technique to bring our images up to the next level, and enjoy ourselves.  Contact me for more info -- space is limited! 

$395 All-Inclusive Weekend Plan includes:
·      instruction for the weekend from two instructors,
·      wine and hors d’oeuvres Friday night:
·      dinner Saturday night:
·      all transportation during workshop.
·      brunch on Sunday
·      admission to sites
The Day-to-Day Flexible Plan:
.      Friday night instruction only: $75
.      Saturday, all day - instruction/transportation/admission fees/dinner: $225
.      Sunday, from dawn to round-up - instruction/transportation/brunch: $175

Image of the Day: Heart Barn

Another barn from Upstate New York

Road Trip: Hudson NY

Needed to get out of the house and away from the laptop!  Rounded up a friend and drove up to Hudson, NY.  Hudson is one of those towns that had wealth, got really poor, and then was rediscovered by people with enough money to restore the old architecture, open good restaurants, run art galleries, sell expensive antiques.  Hudson is just north of Olana, Frederick Church's house, right on the Hudson River, and the town has great light.  It's a wonderful place in which to photoraph, shop, dine.  Which is why we've included it in our October Hudson Valley Workshop, Oct 19-21.  After spending the morning at Olana, sketching/painting/photographing that famous view of the Hudson, we will spend the afternoon in Hudson.

Window reflection at Hudson NY

I always find great window shots in Hudson.

Double reflection, Hudson NY

And I love wandering through the stores and galleries in town.

The Red Chair, a favorite store.  Lots of patina.

But most of all, great light.

Calendar Candidate for October

Nice white house in Maine

I've started working on my 2013 calendar, and this image is a candidate for October.  I took the photo a couple of years ago in Maine.  I'm drawn to these simple white houses -- I have photographed a number of them.  The problem is to make them as compelling to the viewer as they are to me.  I like the simple geometry of the 3 windows and the door, and the nicely quartered window on the 2nd story, echoing the upper panes of the lower windows.  The tree on the right looks like it's extending itself to protect the little house from a strangers' gaze.   I used Lightroom to soften the image and make it look more dreamlike.

Join us for October Worskhop

Plum Point Sunrise, on a foggy day

Pastel painter Linda Richichi and I are holding an instructional workshop this October 19-21, for painters and photographers -- open to all  levels -- that will visit many of the famous Hudson Valley vistas that artists have been inspired by for more than 100 years.  Our base cities will be Beacon/Newburgh, NY.  From there we plan to spend time at Olana, Hudson, my house for Saturday dinner!, Plum Point, Iona Marsh, Bear Mountain and the Beacon waterfront.  All those places you've always been meaning to visit, but never get around to going to!   We will paint/photograph -- either or both, learn technique to bring our images up to the next level, and enjoy ourselves.  Contact me for more info -- space is limited! 

You are Invited: Artists' Talk Thursday, Sept 13

Italian Cypress, City Walls

This Thursday, at 7 pm, Linda Richichi and I will be talking about art and travel and making images that speak and taking questions and drinking wine.  We'll be meeting at RiverWinds Gallery, 172 Main Street, Beacon NY www.riverwindsgallery.com.  The talk will be illustrated by our show, Sempre Italiani -- photographs and paintings inspired by our recent trip to Italy.  Hope to see you there -- it should be fun!

Trevi Fountain at night, Rome

Italy: City/Country II

I'm revving up for my show at RiverWinds Gallery, www.riverwindsgallery.com, in Beacon. The opening is this Saturday, from 5-8 pm, and y'all are welcome!  The show runs through the first weekend in October, and RiverWinds is open every day but Tuesdays, from 12-6.

Weathered but still beautiful saint on a Roman wall

Mown wheat field in Umbria

Also showing at RiverWinds this month is Linda Richichi, www.lindarichichi.com.  She will be exhibiting/selling her beautiful pastel paintings -- minis as well as full-size paintings.

Tuscan Lanscape by Linda Richichi

Linda and I will be hosting an artists' talk at RiverWinds Thursday, Sept 13, at 7.  Please join us for wine and conversation!