Cinque Terre

For fans of Cinque Terre, Italy, you might recognize this slice of Riomaggiore.  This town is the most southern of the 5 towns, and if you took the walk from north to south you probably caught a boat just below where the photo for this painting was taken.  For your journey back to your starting point.  Next up another Italy landscape - a Tuscan setting.  Thanks for checking in...Mark

Riomaggiore

A few years back when Elke and I were in Cinque Terra, Italy with our friends Dennis and Chris we took that great walk from town to town along the Mediterrenean.  The most southern town is Riomaggiore.  This is a painting from a photo Elke took.  What I like about the composition of this painting is that it is tall and narrow - very similar to the feeling you get standing at the foot of the town.  It feels like they crammed this beautiful little town into a narrow valley that runs straight down into the sea.

You'll get a better sense of the proportions when I hopefully wrap this up later next week.  I can't wait to paint the boats at the bottom of this scene.  Merry Christmas!  Mark

Monterey wharf pelican

It's been a busy month since my last post.  Travels to Ecuador, 4 failed paintings, finally something finished.  I was down to visit an artist friend of mine in Carmel a couple of months ago.  I missed him, but I had my camera with me and headed over to the Monterey wharf.  It was pelican day or so it seemed.  For me pelicans are a real joy to paint.  The feathers are a test, their bills are just so colorful and unique.  And their eyes seem very friendly.  Maybe the fact that they let you get so near helps you feel like they are friends.  This white pelican has great colors in its feathers.  Oh yea, I also like his/her little cormorant buddy.

Thanks for checking in...and a very MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!!!   Mark