Tuscany Bliss

It finally happened!! We made it to Tuscany! For a month...just Tuscany...to live and explore and enjoy and all the other things. It's been a dream that became a dream trip with every day bringing new and wonderful experiences. Our main stays were Florence, Lucca, Buonconvento, and Farnetella. I feel sure those last two aren't as familiar sounding; they were in the country, where the olive groves and vineyards live.

But, since this isn't a travelblog, let's move on to the painting thing. I wanted so much to paint in Tuscany and hoped for the beautiful architecture and vistas and vineyards, "Under the Tuscan Sun"-style. And it all happened! Maybe not exactly as imagined because much of the time was spent eating pasta and drinking wine, but I did produce several decent small paintings (and a few other 'meh' ones that I won't display 🤪)

a wooden garage door hidden behind so much foliage in the middle of old Florence □

a tiny florist with the sweetest neon signage and flowers pouring out the doorway

 We did SO much walking in Florence, mesmerized by every single thing, including garage doors and flower shops. Yes, we saw museums, statues, the Arno, but it's the secret places I love the best so that's what ends up on my easel.

an iron gate, old bricks with lumpy mortar, and stairs leading to ?

We stayed two weeks in Lucca where we walked MORE, averaging about 8000 steps a day. Lucca is a walled city south of Florence, a little larger than Pisa. It is not an especially touristy place and felt very lovely, with a walkable wall encircling the old city. We lived within the wall in an apartment above Piazza Cittadella and walked out the door to see the statue of Puccini. (Let's not talk about the steep and deep concrete stairs we went down to get to that door.) Lucky for me, doors and stairs and blocky architecture is inspiring. I started the first paintings inside our charming apartment, using the photos I had taken in Florence.

the view from our Podere Cunina window! cypress and olive trees galore!

beauty and inspiration in all directions!

and little gardens! in all the little villages! with gardeners!

for a few days we lived in a lovely olive grove

In the quieter and more private environment outside the bustling city, I found cozy places to paint outside, en Plein Aire, where all the senses come alive: the sound of birds and bees, the smell of garden herbs, feel of the warmth and breeze. Looking at these paintings transports me right back to those hours and feels.

it's hard to resist an outdoor still life (can you spot the tiny saint?)

Oh, what an awesome and precious time we had on our month in Tuscany and now feel so blessed and grateful reflecting on the memories. Thank you for letting me share my art and thoughts with you ❤️