Season of the Bucket List
Spring 2014 was the season of the bucket list. When I first began painting, I would pour over articles in the Pastel Journal and wonder about the featured artists, fantasizing about their studios and lifestyles. When I began teaching, I would look at advertisements for overseas workshops and imagine teaching a workshop in an exotic locale. When I began entering shows I wondered what it would be like to take the top prize, or to take the top prize a couple of times in a row?
When it rains is pours and this spring my bucket list runneth over. Last year at the International Association of Pastel Societies conference I met with Anne Hevener, the editor of the Pastel Journal. I had sent her an article about how raising my children had influenced my artistic journey. When I showed her my portfolio her comment was, “Let’s make you a featured artist:” I spent last December creating a demonstration painting titled “Two Hearts” and I photographed the progression. Then I was interviewed by a woman named Michelle Taute. Her and Anne did a wonderful job of taking my hour long blah-blah and turning it into an entertaining and informative article. It is still on the newsstands or can be purchased online by clicking here.
Next on the list was my award for the Great Lakes Pastel Society National Juried Show. I submitted the painting I had created for the magazine article and was lucky enough to take Best of Show. This was especially exciting because I had taken the same prize last year at the members show. The award was given during the GLPS conference in Traverse City. I did a demonstration on light and color and heard a great talk by William Hosner on plein air painting. The GLPS is full of generous and talented artists and it was great to visit with so many of them in one place. I would have liked to paint up there but had to return home quickly to prepare for the third bucket list event, teaching a workshop in Florence, Italy.
This was my demo for the GLPS Oneida Light, 16x20 Sold!
The workshop in Italy was a life changing experience. If my blog and newsletter have been quiet, please forgive me, but I have spent a lot of time trying to absorb and process all that I saw and learned during my three weeks in this beautiful country. We left for Florence four days after the conference. The “we” is my husband and daughter, also known as schelpper and model. This was our first time traveling outside of North America and after months of preparation all I could hope was that I was ready for it.
Our friends and workshop hosts, Debra and Ivano Zamperla, did an remarkable job of making the nine day workshop exceptional. The days were filled with focused hard work, and trips to museums. The nights were full of great food and wine, laughter and singing, yes, I said singing.
We stayed in the heart of Florence in a lovely family owned hotel right across the street from the workshop room. There were eight students, who were eager and enthusiastic to learn and we covered a vast amount of information in a short amount of time. I thank each and every one of them for attending and adding their personal touch to the workshop. Usually when I teach figure and portrait we take breaks and I show examples of master works in books. During this workshop we would break and have a guided tour of one of the great museums of the world. Nothing like looking at a real life Raphael, Caravaggio, or Michelangelo to see how it is done! The workshop also included side trips and group dinners that included some of the best food I have ever eaten.
The workshop started with a city tour. 
Ended with a paint out in Fiesole.
The workshop students and model. 
Out to Dinner!
After the workshop ended my husband and I stayed on and traveled through Tuscany. We visited Sienna, and Bologna, stayed at an organic farmhouse in the country side, rented a villa with Debra and Ivano in Pisa and traveled with them to Lucca and spent an afternoon at the sea. I spent a couple of days plein air painting but mostly I looked and enjoyed what Italy had to offer. It is an old and proud country, where beauty is an integral part of everyday life. I am still absorbing all that I saw and experienced and now that I am home and settled I would like to share it on this blog. I plan on writing a couple of posts each week describing what I learned: how the light there changed my palette, how design is paramount to great work, and why an Italian phrase book should be left at home.
I appreciate those of you following my blog and leaving comments. I am off to paint and write a new bucket list!
Ciao,
Vianna
P.S. If you would like to read the Pastel Journal Article click Here
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