Roses & Teal 2 6 x 8 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello |
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Roses & Teal 2
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Roses & Teal
Roses & Teal 6 x 8 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello $100 |
Best wishes to everyone for a happy holiday filled with love and beauty and lots to look forward to in the coming year.
Thank you for your interest in art and for your support over this past year. I look forward to sharing the new art I create and any exciting news with you in 2013!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Chateau Garden
Monday, December 10, 2012
Winter Whites & Berries
Winter Whites & Berries II 12 x 16 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello Sold |
This is a different version of a similar painting I did earlier this year. I love the white hydrangeas with the red berries. This one sold at the Spencer Gallery in Charleston a few months back, but I realized I had never shared it and the colors seemed fitting for the season. With all the holiday preparations and festivities last week, I did not paint since last Monday, so anxious to get back into the studio this afternoon.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Florence- Duomo Study
Duomo Study 9 x 12 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello $400 |
This week, I finally attempted this subject in a small 9 x 12 study which required me substantially simplifying things. I was tempted to put in all the green marble design, but I gave up on that for something this small, just trying to capture the essence of the building shape in the context of the hills of Florence as a start.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Benvenuta
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Sunny Spot
Sunny Spot 12 x 16 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello $600 |
Monday, November 26, 2012
Hydrangeas in Stresa
Hydrangeas in Stresa II 12 x 16 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello $600 |
Friday, November 23, 2012
Siena Cat
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Tuscan Corner
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Roses in Tuscany
Monday, November 12, 2012
Radda Afternoon
Radda Afternoon 12 x 16 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello $600 |
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Villa Borghese Garden
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Limone
Limone 9 x 12 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello $350 |
I'll be returning to teach another workshop there next fall. If you'd like to come paint with us, please let me know. Details are on this flyer and you can save your space by registering on the Il Chiostro website .
Monday, November 5, 2012
Golden Arches - Italian Style
Golden Arches- Italian Style 8 x 10 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello $300 |
I'll be returning to teach another workshop on beautiful Lake Garda September 2013. The workshop is starting to fill up and the price is guaranteed till year end, so if interested, please get in touch soon at patfiorello@aol.com. For more info see: Lake Garda flyer
Friday, November 2, 2012
Inspired by Italy- Pienza Garden
Pienza Garden 12 x 12 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello $500 |
I've just begun a new series of paintings from my most recent trip to Italy When I returned last week, I loaded the 1100+ photo's I took on to my computer culled thru to get down to the top 85 or so and form there printed out about 15 that I could not wait to paint. Those are typically the images that grab me emotionally and also have good design potential in terms of light and shadow patterns. I put those photo's in a binder and then each day that I am ready to paint it's like going into a box of chocolates. I know I love them all, but which one will I choose today?
I find this prescreening process helps me to have ready reference material for inspiration yet gives me some freedom to choose what I am in the mood and excited to take on any particular day.
Pienza Garden is first one I chose to do. Pienza was a new town I visited and I fell in love with it. Up till then I had taken 500 photo's on my trip and that afternoon I took 300 just in Pienza. It exudes classic Italian charm. A pretty little town with lots of great architecture, great views and I even found a little hidden garden. The sunlight was great which always helps me find interesting compositions. The photo I took of this particular area had started out as a rectangle( original photos is below) but I wanted to see how it would look as a square format.
I was pretty happy with the first in this series. At least for me, it did capture the feeling of joy that I had standing in that sunny garden spot.
Original photo |
Value sketch |
Initial block -in |
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Hurricane Sandy- Here's a way you can help
Flower Study 8 Roses & Lilacs 6 x8 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello Opening auction bid $25 To bid click here:
I just posted this painting in conjunction with an on-line art fundraiser to contribute to Hurricane Sandy.
It's always difficult to see and comprehend the destruction, disruption and impact these types of events have on people and communities, but this one hits close to home for me. I grew up in NYC and lived in NJ for many years before moving to Atlanta. All my family lives in Brooklyn, Staten Island, NJ, Connecticut- everyone is okay, just shaken up and all still without power.
My heart goes out to those who have lost family, homes and their sense of life as they once knew it. A number of artists are contributing work to raise funds to help.
I contributed this painting for auction with a starting bid of $25. It will be open for bid for 7 days with 100% of the proceeds going to the recovery fund.
To bid on this or other artworks see Hurricane Sandy auction
Thanks for your concern and compassion in the face of this disaster, in whatever way you choose to express it.
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Thursday, October 25, 2012
Yellow Roses- Light Study
Yellow Roses- Light Study 6 x 8 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello |
I haven't gotten back in the studio yet since returning on Monday night. Thought I might do so today but instead I spent the day culling thru my new photo's from this latest trip to Tuscany. I went thru over 1100 photo's, selected the top 85 and then from those picked about 14 that seem to have the most potential for strong paintings. Been working with those images today, printing, cropping, looking at value patterns etc..
Did a small value sketch of the one I want to do first, so hope to get started tomorrow. I'll post new work as this new series unfolds.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Eat, Paint, Shop
Sunny Piensa 9 x 12 Watercolor Painting by Pat Fiorello $200 |
I've taught at the same location for the past 5 years, and the familiarity is nice, but it's also fun to visit some new towns. This scene is from Piensa. It was my first time there and it was probably the highlight of the week. Great sun and shadows and I took over 300 photo's there that day. The title of this post "Eat, Paint, Shop" pretty well sums up a perfect trip.
Below are some photo's of my students painting on location in Piensa.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Catching the Light
Friday, October 5, 2012
The difference a background makes...
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
And now for something completely different...
Richard's Ride 9 x 12 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello SOLD |
Well this one was definitely outside my comfort zone. I paint a lot of green things - landscapes, flowers, but this is the first oil painting of a car I've ever done. I did a watercolor which included a car many years ago, but it was a minor element of the painting, not the focus. Recently, I had a collector of mine, who I just finished 3 commissions for, ask if I could paint her husband's car for a gift.
I was a little unsure since I hadn't done that type of subject before, but I said I'd give it a shot. To get over my initial skepticism, I tried to convince myself it was just a shiny rectangle with some details. Once I got started, the challenge was actually fun. I've heard it said, learning doesn't happen when you are in your "comfort zone" nor in the "panic zone". Only when you are between those 2 spaces are you in the " learning zone". I have to admit it was fun to figure out how to get started and how to depict certain elements like a sense of reflected light on the side of the car and try to keep it not too overly detailed. The tires were the toughest part to simplify- there were tons of spokes which I tried to suggest but not report precisely without losing the spirit of the car. I delivered it today and my client was very happy.
On another note, I was recently asked to put some of my small paintings into floater frames. I looked on-line and found some options, but many were deep and I typically work on panels rather than thick stretched canvas, so that type wouldn't work. I did discover a wonderful framer, Mike Schmidt of Framer's Outlet in Lawrenceville , GA. He put them together for me exactly as I needed them and did so quickly and at a reasonable price. Even if you don't live nearby, he will ship to you. He's been framing for 30 years.
His info is: framers@att.net, 1-800-228-8527, 770-822-6388
www.framersoutlet.com.
Here's an example of one of my 6x8 paintings in the floater frame. This one is walnut, but he had several other options.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Simplifying Light and Shadow
White & Yellow 6 x 8 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello $100 |
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Painting Flowers Alla Prima Workshop
Here was the arrangement I set up. |
Here was the start of the block in. |
Here's the finished block in with the set up |
Here are some of my students doing rose studies on day 1. |
Friday, September 21, 2012
What will you be doing 1 year from today?
I'm a firm believer that we need to create things to look forward to in life. I find that even though it my be a plan for something in the future, it often generates enthusiasm and energy in the here and now. ( If you're as old as I am you might remember Heinz ketchup tapped into that feeling with it's "Anticipation" advertising campaign).
So I have an invitation for you.
Imagine one year from today, you are on the shores of beautiful Lake Garda in northern Italy, painting the enchanting landscape, enjoying some amazing Italian food in the company of a small group of other fun loving artists.
Well you can be there!
I'm excited to announce that my next International painting workshop starts exactly one year from today. It runs from September 21-28, 2013 and we'll be going to Northern Italy. We'll spend a night in Milan then the rest of the week in Lake Garda with field trips to Verona and several other nearby towns. So you have time to clear your calendar, get your passport, plan, pack, save up and do whatever you need to to make it happen and have an amazing experience to look forward to and enjoy.
Whether you're an experienced painter, or are just finally ready to learn to paint, this will be a week of growth, fun and beauty- a creative and cultural immersion in a very special place.
For more information see Lake Garda details.
So I have an invitation for you.
Imagine one year from today, you are on the shores of beautiful Lake Garda in northern Italy, painting the enchanting landscape, enjoying some amazing Italian food in the company of a small group of other fun loving artists.
Well you can be there!
I'm excited to announce that my next International painting workshop starts exactly one year from today. It runs from September 21-28, 2013 and we'll be going to Northern Italy. We'll spend a night in Milan then the rest of the week in Lake Garda with field trips to Verona and several other nearby towns. So you have time to clear your calendar, get your passport, plan, pack, save up and do whatever you need to to make it happen and have an amazing experience to look forward to and enjoy.
Whether you're an experienced painter, or are just finally ready to learn to paint, this will be a week of growth, fun and beauty- a creative and cultural immersion in a very special place.
View from the dock in Gargnano- a small town in walking distance of where we stay. |
A past student, Mary Jo, spending an afternoon painting the town |
The lake provides a warm climate for lots of lush and even tropical foliage |
Near the dock where we take boats to neighboring villages |
The front of San Tomaso, our home for the week. Up on the hill with a majestic view of the lake. |
For more information see Lake Garda details.
The price of $2,295 which includes lodging in Milan and Lake Garda, all breakfasts and dinners, local transportation within Italy, and the workshop is valid through 12/31/12 and space is limited so register now. A deposit of $500 is all that's needed to reserve your spot. If you are ready to register you can simply go to: I'm on my way to Italy!
If you need a little more enticing, listen here to my friend Shelly Steele of MosaicVoice who joined me on the last trip there.
Please contact me to be on the "interested" list or if you have any questions.
patfiorello@aol.com or (404)531-4160.
Thank you. I hope you will join me on this exciting artistic adventure!