It's day 4? 5? Of my 10 day art course here at this villa on top of a hill. We've been panting, drawing, and taking photos between day trips to little hill towns where we visit churches and museums. Yesterday we went to Cortona where we even had a little while to shop. I didn't buy anything, but I was sure looking. Later this week we'll go to Florence, a leather capital, where I will probably buy a bag to replace my lost one. After all, I'm a traveling artist now, I need something in which to carry my supplies.
We're 7 guests here at Julian's house. He's from Malta. First Maltese person I've ever met. Anyway, he and his English wife bought this place in 2006 and spent years renovating it and finally, now it's ready for guests. It's a beautiful spot at the top of a hill, surrounded by trees, rolling fields of sunflowers and wheat and distant dark peaks. Honey colored villages dot the nearby hilltops and occasionally I can hear a train speeding through the valley.
Today we're to go out to paint in "plain air". Which means out in the open. Of course, every time we go to a village, we bring our notebooks, in which to sketch or draw, but the weather threatens, or we'd rather have a coffee or something. So we don't really draw when we go out. Julian's quite easy going, and a good teacher as well. He has a gentle way of being able to critique without crushing someone's fragile artist soul. He's got a knack for feeling out the needs of each student and pushing or encouraging.
The student body are 3 from UK, 1 Aussie, 1 Kiwi, and 2 Yankees. We range in age from 70 to late 20's. I'm getting quite a language lesson, to be sure. Today, I learned "like a stick of rock"- which is a candy stick in England. It means, something is in you to your bones. i.e. a talent or belief. "I'm an artist like a stick of rock."
Around 8:30, 1:30 and 8:00 they provide for us the most fabulous meals, cooked in the typical Italian style of the beautiful fresh produce which is abundant here. Wine flows freely around the table and we're always delighted to see whats on our plates. Julian's sister in law had a restaurant in France until recently, and now she's cooking for us!! Aren't we lucky? It's such a luxury to be served beautiful food, in an amazing place in good company. All I have to do is create art...
So, you can imagine my surprise when a couple of days ago I was in breakdown...full on Zarvos worthy breakdown. I suddenly felt so sensitive and teary. I don't know what brought it on, but I let myself experience my experience, kept away from the others and let the tears flow. Bless Julian's heart, he asked, "Are you ok? You seem a bit fragile?" I said yes while my cheeks were still wet.
Anyway, I feel more settled today and did a couple of drawings this morning in the shade of the umbrella pines. I'm supposed to be painting now, but I needed a nap this afternoon, so I gave myself permission to just take a break. (Yes, take a break from the grueling schedule of eating and painting-- believe me, I can hear how decadent this sounds!)
I'm ready to go back and join my class in the studio, so I'll say ciao for now.
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