A Postcard From My Walk

6" x 4" my watercolour postcard to Liz Steel in Australia

One of the great things for me about 2011 is a postcard exchange by our Sketchercise group. It's called A Postcard From My Walk. Each month I will paint a postcard during one of my walks and send it off to another Sketcherciser, by this time next year I will have received, in return, thirteen beautiful little original works of art from all over the world.

You can see the delightful postcard I've received from my Sydney friend, Liz Steel HERE on our official group blog.

6" x 4" my watercolour postcard to Martin Stankewitz in Germany

Both the above postcards have been a challenge in that they were painted outside here in Castiglion Fiorentino (Italy) in the winter. Roll on Spring!

None of us knows where our next postcard is coming from so that's a surprise to look forward to each month.

Many thanks to Katherine Tyrrell (Making a Mark) for creating the wonderful Sketchercise Group and to Ronell van Wyk (Africantapestry) for her dedication in getting this exchange up and running.

You can read about all the artists involved and see their postcards as they arrive HERE on A Postcard From My Walk.

Wednesday's Fruit

Still Life with Oranges - After Arthur Easton

I finished my first oil painting today at our Wednesday art group.

My reference was a tutorial by Arthur Easton in the book An Introduction To Painting Still Life by Peter Graham. I found it very difficult to work out the values in the lovely subtle original. I would have found it easier with a photograph or, better still, setting up my own composition. I'm sure it wouldn't have looked as good but I'd have had a better idea of what I was doing.

I love Arthur Easton's paintings and it was a joy just looking at the reference in the book.

Everything's Coming Up Poppies

Yes, I know I should have painted this instead of photographing, but it was a quick stop at the side of the road.

Yesterday was Art Group and my second session with oil paints. I have stopped whining, the 'grease' is beginning to look like a painting. Delightful group of artists so I am really feeling blessed.

I love Wednesdays

Wednesday is the day my Art Group meets. I love saying that!

It's taken almost two years for me to find a local art group. Now, thanks to generous friends, each Wednesday afternoon I will spend three hours in the art studio of a beautifully restored 13th century convent owned by the Tanganelli family.

Back in September the first sketch I did in my Moleskine was the restored convent, Residence Le Santucce.


I had no idea there was an art studio behind those walls. Fate!

At present everyone is painting in oils - the only medium I don't have in my mini-warehouse of art supplies. Yet!


This week I just sat quietly and sketched. Quietly, because only my gracious hostess, Miranda, speaks English. Everyone hopes this is going to help my Italian. If this doesn't motivate me, nothing will! On the other hand my companions are more likely to improve their English.

Next Wednesday I'm going to dip a toe into the world of classic oil painting. To say I'm excited would be an understatement.