We were fortunate yesterday to visit Podere al Casale, an organic farm in Tuscany. On a private tour we learning about sheeps and goats and cheese first hand. I think I need a goat.
Here is the view from the farm. You can dine outside.
Here is Sandra, the owner explaining about all the types of cheese they make on the farm.
Anywhere Artists not only paint when they travel, they also explore and discover with a sense of curiosity and wonder.
We find a mysterious garden.
We think it may have belonged to Lennie da Vinci, est. 1952.
We find a 15th Century Synagogue with a fascinating history.
I was able to go inside the sinagogue and view the rooms. The most interesting information I learned was that the Jewish population in Pitigliano (where we discovers the synagogue), had dwindled to 30 people prior to WWII and the people of Pitigliano managed to hide and save the Jewish population.
Anywhere Artists are always in search of authetic experiences. We do enjoy seeing landmarks and historic sights but we really enjoy local experiences as well. Today wr were able to stop at a ceramics factory and shop right outside Pienza. It was great to see the prices marked on the huge terra cotta planters and compare them to what they sell for in the U.S. I took many pictures of all the shapes and sizes of pottery and will have to be content with sketching them instead of buying them. I also did an in depth tasting of chicken cacciatore and need to report it tasted much better then what I have made from a recipe at home....
I love to paint laundry but until today I had found towels and standard clothing to paint in Italy.
However today I found the laundry I have been searching for.
We left Ireland at dawn to catch a 6:30 am flight to Rome.
We were greeted by sunny skies when we landed in Rome.
We are looking forward to a week of sketching and watercoloring some Tuscan scenery.
Our first stop today was Orvietto.
Last night we had our farewell dinner one night early as a few group members were going to out all day finding their ancestors in a small village 3 hours outside of Dublin.
We toasted each other and talked about the 2 week trips highlights. This trip was filled with many visits to different parts of Ireland and Scotland to get an introduction to the countries since this was our first Anywhere Art workshop to these countries.
We were so impressed with what we saw that we already have a return trip planned for next April 2017. (See the page under European tours on this website).
The dinner was held at Roly's, a traditional Irish bistro in the heart of Dublin.
It's always sad to see a wonderful workshop end and say good bye to new and old friends. Many friendships have been made on our trips and I know we will stay in touch and many of us will continue to travel together.
Everyone enjoying the dinner. On the right is Owen Flynn, our knowledgable driver and guide. He made the history of Ireland come to life for us.
Everyone at the other end of the table enjoying themselves at Roly's.
Yesterday we visited the seacoast town of Cobh where many emigrants left Ireland serking new lives in America. Cobn is also the last port of call the Titanic stopped at before it met with disaster at sea. We went to the Heritage museum and learned more about the emigrants and the Titanic. We were given names of people aboard the ships and we learned the fate of our "passenger names" in the exhibit. Eileen's person became an infamous pirate in Barbados.
Seamus, the wolfhound who lives at the Milltown hotel had me teach him to paint.
Today we spent a relaxing day, exploring the Dingle area, painting, making new friends and learning about Ireland.
Mill town Hotel, where Anywhere Art had a wonderful stay in Dingle.
Tis morning everyone got on a twin engine turbo prop plane and flew from Edinbugh to Shannon, Ireland.
We drove out to the Dingle Pennisula stopping at Tralee and Adare along the way.
The view from our hotel room window is below. I set up my art supplies so I could paint the view.
A huge Irish Wolfhound lives at this hotel and greeted us on arrival. I think tomorrow I will teach a lesson on how to paint him as well as the bay.
Quite a lot of different interesting exhibits inside the Kelvingrove Museum.
I received a picture of my book's cover just as I stepped off the airplane in NYC on the way to Scotland. The book will be available for purchase in stores and online ( from my website as well as Walter Foster/Quarto's) in March 2017.
Yesterday, we stumbled upon the coffee shop where Harry Potter was written by J.K. Rowling. A waitress pointed out the table by the window where she sat. I wonder....
I had heard the saying, "Don't get your knickers in a twist." I thought knickers were men's pants. Today when I visited the Edinburgh department store, Jenners I learned the real meaning of the word.
We are having fun in Edinburgh. Yesterday our watercolor workshop began with a visit to Edinburgh Castle. We drew in the pub last night and are enjoying the good weather.
Taken at our first pub lunch
On my way to Scotland to watercolor with a group of students and see the sight.
The sketchbook is 5"x7" and it's light weight. Eileen helped me to do a copic binding so the pages I cut from Arches 140 lb. watercolor paper shouldn't fall out. I made a faux library book pocket to make the book look official but really the book is not overdue. The pocket will hold things I find during this trip, like business cards and candy wrappers.
I noticed on the last trip that a bag with a strap long enough to go crossbody left my hands free for sketching more easily, so I acquired the black and white bag for this trip.
When I took a class on sketchbooking from Susan Abbott she said having a bag you could reach into easily was one of the keys to sketching frequently on a trip. I think my new bag with elephants painted on it will do the job and be a as chic as a Hermes bag.
Now I just have to pack the dog, iron my hair and adjust the propellers on my paintbrush and I am good to go.
I found my favorite color of ink to draw with in pen form. Its made by Maped! It's only a little water soluble so it won't mix too much with my watercolor paints and muddy their color. This pen could change my art life! Imagine the possibilities if I invested in 5 or 10 more colors?
I drew #14 of Socks, the elder beagle with the Maped pen this morning. I had to dump some water into a yogurt container I'd left lying around my kitchen in order to paint a wash on my ink lines.
Do you need any Maped pens? What color? I think they only cost around 89 cents.
