Garden Rose

Garden Rose
6 x 6 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Day 30 of the 30 in 30 Challenge.
It has been a busy month and the challenge has stretched me in new ways beyond being "reasonable" about finding time to paint. In addition to being in Italy for 10 days, I had 2 other conferences where I was tied up for the entire weekend, so it was really more like 30 in 15 days. So most of the paintings were small studies, a few of which I may scale up to larger versions.  and I had to get creative about getting up early to paint or painting in the evenings after I would have usually quit for the day. I'm  anxious to get back to painting a little bigger and having the luxury of no time constraints. I went out and bought a 24 x 24 canvas today for a painting I'll work on in October.  But tomorrow I think I'll take a break form painting for a day and come back fresh to start something new on Weds.

Rose Impressions

Rose Impressions
6 x 8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Just got back from Italy late last night . I have posted all the work I've done so far this month, but still have 2 days left for the 30 in 30 challenge so got into the studio early this morning to create this small study of roses. 29 down, 1 more to go.  It's been a great motivation to paint, even on days when it would ordinarily seem inconvenient. I am looking forward to a little slower pace in October though, and the opportunity to get back to working on some larger pieces, including some inspired by the smaller studies I've done this month that have opened up some new ideas an approaches I want to explore further.

Inspired by Limone

Inspired by Limone

9 x 12 Watercolor Painting

by Pat Fiorello

This was a painting I did with my students at Lake Garda as a " paint-along" . I designed the scene and then broke it down area by area so that students could follow along and paint with me.  Since a number of the students were new to watercolor, this approach was helpful to have them see the sequencing of things and how to approach a variety of types of subject matter they may encounter in this area when painting on their own later in the week.

Heading home soon after a wonderful workshop week in Italy. Thanks to all the students for stretching out of their comfort zones to try some new things and being open to learn and grow. And thanks to our hosts from Il Chiostro, Michael Mele and Linda Mironti for an amazing program, as always.

View to Lake Garda

                                                                 View to Lake Garda
                                                               9 x 12 watercolor painting
                                                                       by Pat Fiorello

This is a small painting I did for my class as a demonstration on our first day of the workshop here in Lake Garda, Italy.  We are staying at a hundred +  year  old convent high on a hill overlooking the lake. There are beautiful views from every direction.  I liked this one with the flower filled urn as a focal point which was not overly complex since I've got a number of beginning painters as well as those more experienced artists here.  Today we stressed the importance of simplifying and not trying to include everything you see into the painting.  For those new to painting in location, it can be overwhelming, so it is crucial to pick one idea and a few large shapes and leave everything else out.

Lilac Pot

Lilac Pot
10 x 8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$300

A little closer in view of one of the lilac arrangements from France which I did last week before leaving for Italy.  I hope to figure out how to upload some of my new paintings from Italy while away ,since this is the last of the paintings I did  and had stored on my computer before I left. So keep your fingers crossed, tomorrow should be a scene of Italy.

Azalea Light 2

Azalea Light
6 x 8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Day 24 of the 30 in 30 challenge. This is a scene of  Callaway Gardens, the same location as yesterday's post.

Azalea Light I

   

Azalea Light 1
8 x 6 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello

Day 23 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge I'm participating in this month.  I knew I'd be traveling and teaching a workshop in Italy this month, so doubled up on some paintings last week to keep posting till I started painting on location. This is one of the quick studies I did last week of azaleas in sunlight at Callaway Gardens from a photo I took when I taught there last. There are a few things I want to revisit in this painting when I get back to my studio  especially on the ground plane and area beneath the bushes, but that will have to wait till I return. 

Today I'll be doing a demo on location in my workshop, so will post some watercolor paintings of Italy later this week. 

Elegance

Elegance
8 x 8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$200

Experimenting more with neutral background. I liked the feeling of these white flowers with green foliage agains the silvery grey background. I definitely would like to try this one over on a larger scale soon.

Hydrangeas in Blue

Hydrangeas in Blue
6 x 8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Did a little experimenting after the last painting-  kept the same composition, but wondered what if I changed the colors to blue and changed the background?
 Same inspiration, a totally different feel.

Hydrangeas in Lavender

Hydrangeas in Lavender
6 x 8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Love the rich color of these hydrangeas Experimenting with creating a neutral color for background.

Pansy Row

Pansy Row
10 x 20 Oil Painting
 by Pat Fiorello

The pansies looked so friendly and innocent- till I tried to paint them. The scene turned out to be more complex than I had expected, but I tried to keep it simple and not worry too much about what was actually there, but to capture the spirit of it.

I just arrived in Italy today. Getting ready for the workshop I'm teaching which starts on Saturday.  I painted a few extra paintings last week so I could post on travel days. And if I can figure out the technology end of things hope to post some I am doing in Italy next week.

Classic Lilacs

Classic Lilacs
6 x 8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Day 18 of the 30 in 30 challenge. I think this is my favorite painting so far.
 I can see how the earlier lilac studies helped me have a sense of freedom with this one.

Blue & White

Blue & White
8 x 8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$200

I just sold a larger version of a similar arrangement and wanted to revisit  another study of the color palette for future reference. Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers to paint. The cool colors are peaceful and feel happy to me.

Fresh Morning

Fresh Morning
 6 x 8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Simple, but love the color combinations on this one- white lilacs and raspberry colored, red-violet pot with blue-green background.

Delight

Delight
6 x 6 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Delight- hydrangeas are a delight to look at and paint!

Lilacs in Burgundy

Lilacs in Burgundy
12 x 16 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$650

This is another painting I started in France back in May, but never completed. So I picked it up again to see if I could enhance it from where I left off several months ago.  I always encourage my students not to abandon or give up on a painting part of the way through. By doing so, you might miss out on the very lesson of this painting on how to address whatever issues you encountered.

Wisteria Garden

Wisteria Garden
8 x 10 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$300

This is one I started on location in France, scraped down and never finished. Picked it up again this week and continued to work on it. The excitement of the wisteria is what attracted me to this scene.

Roses in Silver

Roses in Silver
8 x 10 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$300

Day 12 of the 30 in 30 painting challenge.  Roses can be complex, but tried to do this one very directly and keep it relatively simple.

A little piece of Joy

 A little piece of Joy
6 x 6  Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Here's small study I decided to do inspired by a larger painting I'd done earlier this year.  I  simplified it a bit since the size is much smaller and changed the background from light to dark. It has a different feel, but  think it works just as well.  It's amazing how changing a few things can change the whole mood of a painting. I'll show the original below for a comparison.

Which do you prefer?

 I invite you to click on "comments" and leave your vote and why.

Joy
 16 x 16 Oil Painting
 by Pat Fiorello
$1000

Tulip Morning

Tulip Morning
6 x 8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello

$100

A quick study of tulips today...

Some news to share:

In conjunction with the Southern Living Showcase Home Show, The Burton Gallery has been asked to to create and exhibition of work at the Currahee Club. Currahee is located on Lake Hartwell just 8 minutes from the beautiful historic town of Toccoa, Georgia. I will be one of 4 artists whose work is featured in the show that opens on September 20, 6-8pm and runs thru October 20. 

Pansy Pot

Pansy Pot
6 x 6 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Day 9 of the 30 in 30 challenge. I have a larger, more complex scene of a row of pansy pots I am planning to  do soon, but thought as a warm up I would start with  just a single pot to refamiliarize myself with the essence of pansies as it's been awhile since I have painted them.

Lilac Moment

Lilac Moment
6 x8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Another study inspired by my photo's from the May France trip. It was a wonderful treat to have an abundance of fresh lilacs to paint every day while there, plus have photos to take home and continue to use as a source of inspiration.

Lilac Trio

Lilac Trio
6 x 8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

This is another study based on photo's of the flowers in France.  It was actually quite cold and rainy where we were back in May, so I have to admit, much more comfortable to be painting in the studio this time.

P.S. If you missed my interview on Daily Paint Works this week, you can still check it out at: DPW blog

Impressions in White

Impressions in White
8 x 10 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$300

Painting white flowers always seems a little daunting to me. Painting this one seemed a little like I was feeling my way thru a room with a blindfold on for most of the time I was working on it- then suddenly at the end it started to come together. Creating each painting is a unique experience and challenge. I felt lost most of the time on this one, but in the end did feel I achieved my aim of having them look and feel sunlit.

P.S. My interview on Daily Paintworks was posted last night:
http://dpwnews.blogspot.com/

Beyond the Poppies Study

Beyond the Poppies Study
8 x 6 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
NFS

This painting is similar to something I've done before , but I had a request to create a much larger version, so I did a little warm up painting today. This painting will be featured as a giveaway to a lucky customer of Daily Paintworks.

 This week I am the featured artist in DPW's  Spotlight on Artist article. The interview will go live tomorrow,  Friday morning 9/6.
 For more info see  http://dpwnews.blogspot.com/2013/09/dpw-spotlight-interview-pat-fiorello.html

French Fields

French Fields
6 x8 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Day 4 of the 30 in 30 challenge. This is a small study from a scene in France. Loved the  color harmony of the bright yellow wild flowers and the lavender-colored lilacs.

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” This is one of my favorite quotes by Howard Thurman.   

And on the subject of being fully alive, I wanted to share a new website developed by a friend of mine. It's a not for profit initiative that is out to expand people's experience of being fully alive each and every day.  It encourages expanding participation, joy and gratitude and making the most of each and every day.  It's a wonderful resource for inspiration and information on the myriad of ways- physical, mental, spiritual and the arts -to enliven and enrich your life.

 Check out the site at www.fullyaliveoutreach.com .

Delicacy

Delicacy
8 x 10 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$300

Day 3 of  the 30 in 30 painting challenge.
 This was inspired by another photo from my summer travels. Delicate pink roses against the wall at the Getty Villa in California. Tried to keep it loose and fresh with the feeling of being sunlit.

In case you missed my original interview,  entitled "When You're Creating You're Alive",  on "Art as Worship" last year, they are re-broadcasting it this week. It will be running again this Wed, Sept 4th, at 9am Eastern on Empower Radio.  Click here for link