Positano Plants - Watercolor Sketch

Well, this is my last sketch from the Amalfi coast trip.  This large potted plant was right outside a little cafe on the beach.  It was also a stopping point for a wonderfully luxurious cappuccino.   I can hardly get thru a day now without thinking of those cappuccinos.  There's something different about them in Italy.  I don't know exactly what it is, but I sure do miss them. 

Window - Watercolor Sketch

One thing that has always fascinated me about France and Italy are their shuttered windows and doorways.  I have noticed over the years that they take great pride in their entries and windows.  There are always fresh flowers and I just want to peek inside.  Porches and entrances are always swept and kept clean. What other neat things are on the other side if they present such a clean attractive entrance or window?  I guess I'll never know unless someone invites me in some day. 

Positano Italy - Watercolor Sketch

Not far from Sorrento along the coast is another wonderful town called Positano.  Of course it had a wonderful church (pictured) and was a beautiful town.  It's very hilly and after a day of walking down to the beach and back up to the town and shops - it was a day!! 

Isle of Capri - Watercolor Sketch

The next great side trip took us to the Isle of Capri which was pretty amazing.  You must be quite wealthy to live on this little island and it was beautiful.  There's a high and low end to the island and I couldn't resist heading straight to the high end first.  There's a chair lift that takes you to the very tip top of the island where you can see a fabulous 360 degree view for miles.  This sketch is of a couple of famous rocks that are perched right off the coastline and are painted quite often.  We didn't do any shopping here because all the stores were high end designer.  I saw a fabulous pair of shoes in a window but was a bit taken back at the $400+ price tag.  So off we went to the other side of the island.  I have so many photos I'd like to paint - wish I had the time to do them all. 

Amalfi Coast - Watercolor Sketch

Amalfi is the first town we visited from Sorrento.  This sketch is from the curvy little road that runs along the coastline.  What is interesting about this scene is the little house is backed up and attached to the natural rocks.  Kind of hard to tell from this sketch but I found it fascinating.  I guess that insures you will never have a neighbor behind you. 

Sorrento Harbor, Italy - Watercolor Sketch

I'm baaack!  For those of you that didn't know I was missing - - I just returned from 2 wonderful weeks on the Amalfi coast of Italy.  We based out of Sorrento which is a lovely town.  The Amalfi coast specializes in producing that beautiful inlaid wood you all know and love from Italy.  They also produce the liquore "Limoncello" as they have a coast full of lemon trees.  This year I traveled with a large group of artists - a grand total of 32!  We had a full size charter bus take us to different coastal towns daily.  All nice and easy.  I only did postcard size watercolor sketches while on this trip.  There was just too much to see and do to spend all day in just one particular painting spot.  Some of the artists did just that, but they missed a lot of secret spots I found.  Ha

Collage in Blues - SOLD

This is another little 5x7 heavily textured collage.  Unfortunately the photo of this painting just doesn't represent well.  The original is on display this month at ArtSpace in Round Rock and you'll have a totally different experience seeing it in person.

Collage in Reds I - SOLD

I've been doing a lot of abstract collage paintings lately.  Some are very small like this one (5 x 7).  This was made from painted papers, acrylics, watercolors, oil pastels and whatever else I happened to grab and throw in.  Beginning November 1st there will be the Group of Four exhibit at ArtSpace in downtown RR.  The reception is Thursday, 11/1/12 from 5:30-7:00.  Come join us for wine & cheese if you can. 

Spirit Horse

I'm still playing around and experimenting.  I'm trying to add "spirit" designs to my little horse.  He has spirits within and behind him.  It's a fun experiment and makes an ordinary horse a bit different.  Coming soon - -  Group of Four Exhibit at ArtSpace for the month of November.

Identity Crisis - Collage

This is a collage I did one night wondering what Bevo might look like if he snuggled a giraffe.  This is not one of my "serious" art works but I thoroughly enjoyed doing it.  It's a collage of many pieces of painted watercolor tissues and papers.  Sometimes I just have a great time playing with my imagination.  Hope it make you smile!