A beautiful place to paint...

Lake Garda, Italy

If I had to pick the most beautiful place I've ever been, it would be the lake region of Northern Italy.  I've been there 4 times to paint and will be returning later this year.

Despite being in the northern part of Italy, not far from Switzerland,  the climate is quite mild. The lakes create a microclimate where the weather conditions are more like the Mediterranean. They grow lemon trees, palm trees , bougainvillea, lots of lush foliage. Charming towns and  elegant villas on the lake with a backdrop of majestic and even sometimes snowcapped mountains of the Alps take your breath away.  Incredible inspiration for painting. And it's fun to go on a quick boat ride across the lake to visit neighboring towns.

San Tomaso in Gargnano is our home base

These are some photo's I took when I taught a workshop at Lake Garda in 2010. I am arranging another workshop for this fall. If you'd like to explore and paint this lesser known area of Italy, you are welcome to join in the fun. There is a flyer with the details at  http://patfiorello.com/italianlake_fiorello_fall2011r1.pdf  or just get in touch with me. It's open to painters of all levels and mediums.  a painter's dream come true.

View of Lake Garda from San Tomaso

An extra bonus of doing art shows

                                           Callaway Azaleas
                                           Watercolor Painting by Pat Fiorello


I rarely do art shows. I'm not talking about exhibitions, gallery shows or juried art shows. I mean the selling art in a tent type of show.  I did my first and last outdoor art show about 10 years ago. It was fun in some ways, but was a big time commitment, huge of amount of work setting up and taking down the show and anxiety( for months beforehand) worrying about the weather possibly raining down on my paintings.

 I have, however, done one art show for the past 4 years -The Wesleyan Artists Market in Norcross Georgia. It's a show of about 75 artists- paintings, jewelry, pottery etc..  and a portion of the proceeds benefits the school's art program. The show is indoors ( yea!) , well run and usually pretty well attended. But beyond the opportunity to meet prospective collectors and sell art, there's a benefit I forget about till I get there.

 One of the best things about doing the show is meeting the other artists. Having gone back several years in a row, you get to see some of the same people year after year and share ideas, information,  tips and are just happy to see a familiar face of a fellow artist. There is a camaraderie among artists that is very special. And that's the hidden bonus of shows.

Here I am with my friend and wonderful fellow artist Margaret Berthold at my booth at the show at last night's opening event.  I look forward to seeing her at the show each year. We don't live very close to each other, so this show is one of the few times during year I get to see her, have fun and spend the whole weekend together.

The show runs today 9-7 and Saturday 10-4 at the Wesleyan School campus in Norcross, GA.

 For more information see:

http://www.wesleyanschool.org/parents/ArtsAlliance/ArtistMarket/Pages/default.aspx                                                             

It's never too late....to learn

                                                            "Winter Whites"
                                                   Watercolor Painting by Pat Fiorello

Yesterday was the first session of the spring semester class I teach,  Painting Flowers in Watercolor: Loose, Fresh & Easy.  The class was full with 15 students, 13 returning students and 2 new ones. One of the new students who I did not know, Jerome,  left me a message the night before that he was having some problems at home and might miss the class waiting for a repairman to show up.

Well about 15 minutes after class starts, I see the school security guard at the door. He opened the door to assist Jerome, who wheeled in on his walker , orchids and art supplies in hand. I soon learned that Jerome was 90 years old.  He had painted before, but had been sick for the past 5 years and didn't paint at all. He said" I've never been able to paint flowers. I can paint portraits, landscapes, but never flowers, so I came to learn". I was totally blown away, truly inspired and honored tot be teaching him. He had the enthusiasm and energy of a  young boy as he took on the exercises we did in class and painted his orchids.

I really thought about what it took for him to overcome the circumstances he was dealing with and show up to learn. It would have been easy to stay home and do nothing.  But here was clearly a person with a passion for learning, a love of art, a commitment to act and pursue what he wanted instead of just thinking about it.
 Jerome you are my hero.

Is there something you've always wanted to learn?  What are you waiting for??? It's not too late to start.

Art, Life & Inspiration- My TV interview is now on line

Pat Fiorello( left) and Sonja Vass( Right) at sbn show taping

Exciting news! I shared last week that I had been interviewed by Sonja Vass of sbn.tv for her  television show "The Art Corner". The 30 minute segment aired on tv last week and is now available to view on line at:


http://www.sbn.tv/archives/category/programming/the-art-corner

Just click the start arrow on the episode April 19, Pat Fiorello.

During the interview I share how I got into art, and we covered lots of topics including painting, life, learning, travel, inspiration and following your dreams. The message in the show is consistent with my intention for this blog which is that Art Elevates Life.  Art truly has enriched my life and I believe it can enrich everyone's life  whether you are an artist,  aspiring artist or anyone who is open to a deeper appreciation of the beauty around us.

If you have a chance to view the show, let me now what you think and please share it with others who might be inspired to include more art in their live and follow their passions.


The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
- Eleanor Roosevelt  

Are you opening or closing doors?

                                                      Beyond the Poppies
                                               Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello
                                                              Sold

In the book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Hirakowa,  the author shares a very powerful lesson. When he was a kid,  and wanted something, like a new bike, his biological dad (a.k.a. the Poor dad) would say  "We can't afford that". And that was the end of it.

 But he was lucky to have the guidance of his best friend's dad ( a.k.a. the Rich dad) , who instead of saying, "We can't afford that," would turn the table and ask "How can we afford that?"

Can you see the difference?  The first approach is a conclusion and closed a door.  It occurs like a fact- we cannot afford that.  There is no possibility or even opening to look at creating anything. But by asking instead of concluding, it opens the door to explore. If I really wanted that what are some ways to get there. Concluding closes the door and asking opens up creative solutions.

Where does this show up as it relates to your art (or other areas of life that are important to you)? Are there places where you tell yourself  " I can't ..., I'll never"?  What would happen if you changed it around to "How could I"?

Art & Inspiration on TV

Pat Fiorello and Sonja Vass at sbn TV show taping

                                        

 I was recently interviewed  by host Sonja Vass for "The Art Corner" , a television show which features artists sharing about art & inspiration.

 The half hour segment will air on sbn.tv this coming week. The show can be seen on channel 22  which serves 7 counties in Georgia: Henry, Butts, Lamar, Rockdale, Newton, Clayton & Spalding.The show will air a total of 27 times during the week, so check your local listings for times.

If you are not in an area where this station is available, the show will  be posted in it's entirely on the Internet at http://www.sbn.tv/ later on this month. I'll send a link to the website once it goes live.

If you are able to catch it, hope it provides some inspiration for you!

P.S. Artists if you are interested in being  featured on a future show, please contact sonja@sbn.tv 

Make an Art Date- Part II

Spring Bouquet

Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello

After spending the past 2 days working on a commission painting, I had time today to finish the painting I started on Tuesday ( see blogpost on 4/13/11) when I had my painting date with my friend Valee.

  The finished piece is above.It was fun and thank you Valee for supplying the beautiful flowers. I love the combination of yellow, purple and green and I will remember our fun time painting together whenever I see this painting.

The State of Art

"Mums the Word"

Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello

12 x 12

“The object is not to make art, but to be in the wonderful state that makes art inevitable”   

  - Robert Henri

Lately, I've been painting a lot more still lives and I'm really enjoying them. Not only do you get to choose and arrange the elements you are painting, but it also forces you to slow down and really observe what's in front of you. I find myself slowing down even  more with still lives than when I do a landscape plein air when I'm moving quickly before the light or weather changes. 

When I have that much focus , I'm in the zone, not really aware of what's going on around me or how much time has passed. It's a wonderful state to be in.

Reflecting on the experience, reminded me of a favorite quote  from the artist Robert Henri noted above. Creating art can offer a state change- being fully present in the moment and absorbed in the flow. Maybe that's what it's all about.

Make an Art Date

In the book, the Artist's Way, Julia Cameron suggests making an art date with yourself each week to do something art related to break out of a slump or artistic block. I think it's a great idea even when you're not blocked.

Making a "date" with someone else may have you more likely to show up to paint if you are the type that continually puts other things ahead of painting time. We sometimes are more likely to keep our commitments to others than to ourselves. Studies have shown people who commit to exercise with a buddy end up being more consistent and getting better results than those going it alone. I would venture to say that it applies to other areas as well . Painting with a friend also interrupts the solitariness of being in your studio day after day alone. Most of all it's fun and an opportunity to learn from one another.

 Today I painted with a good friend of mine, fellow artist Valee Penn. We spent about 3 hours painting the beautiful flowers above.  It was a great afternoon . I'll post the finished painting as soon as it's completed.

Today it's back in my home studio to work on a commission project. Have a great and creative day!

Inspiration - the Chicken or the Egg?

Garden at Isola Bella

Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello

If you are waiting to feel inspired to get into your studio and paint ( or substitute any activity you may be resisting)  you may be looking in the wrong place. Maybe rather than waiting for a feeling to show up, the key it to get into action- just because you said you would.

Here's a quote that I have found useful which echoes that view:

"We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action. "
- Frank Tibolt

I have found this to be true- I love painting, but I am not necessarily excited to paint 100% of the time. Some days I'm tired, distracted or procrastinating. But I know if I get that brush in my hand, I will soon be in a much better state.

Another artist, Chuck Close, had this to say on the subject:

                   "Inspiration is for amateurs--the rest of us just show up and get to work." 


So the next time you are debating whether to get in the studio,  perhaps waiting for the right mood to strike, just go paint.  That may be the very thing you need to elevate your mood.

Painting En Plein Air- Callaway Gardens

I spent the past couple of days at Callaway Gardens in Georgia, teaching a watercolor workshop. I've taught there for the past 6 or 7 years and typically go in April which is prime time for azaleas. Each year the flowers are different depending on the weather that season, but this year is particularly colorful and we may have caught things at their peak.

Most of the students were  pretty new to painting outdoors . We spent the morning working on painting an azalea bush as a mass rather than individual pieces and also working on how to mix a variety of natural greens ( as opposed to many of the green paints which straight from the tube look very unnatural).

Then in the afternoon we examined reflections of the flowers in the lake 

The highlight of the day for me was seeing my students amidst the flowers, immersed in painting on an absolutely beautiful day.

An Oasis in the City

Yesterday, I took an hour out of my day to visit the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. What always strikes me when I'm there is how wonderful it feels to be surrounded by nature - and then I look up and see the skyline right nearby- it's like an oasis of beauty and serenity right in the heart of the city.

I don't know where you live, but chances are there is someplace like this near you. If you haven't been there for awhile ( or maybe ever) now's a great time to go. Enjoy the aliveness and energy of all the new spring plants popping up and give yourself the wonderful calming benefits that nature can provide.

And who knows you might find some inspiration for your next painting, decorating project or even come up with a new solution to a problem that's been bothering you by having a change of scenery and new view on things.

Boundless Enthusiasm

Giverny Trellis

Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello

(sold)

One thing I love about meeting other artists is their passion for art. When people are sharing about something they are passionate about,you can feel the heightened energy and aliveness.

Talking about art supplies, classes, mixing colors etc.. can go on for hours.

 You can substitute in anything you are passionate about- music, cooking, traveling, dancing...

At one point I asked myself - what exactly is passion?  I found this definition in the dictionary which I felt captured it pretty well.

Passion =unbounded enthusiasm

 That lead to what is enthusiasm?

Enthusiasm-  from the Greek en theos- “inspired by God”

When we are engaged in what we are passionate about, we are consumed. We love to share with like minded individuals( and anyone else who will listen) . We are present to our own enthusiasm and sense of aliveness when we share our passion with others.

The painting above is one I did based on some photo's form my trip to Monet's gardens in Giverny  France. When I think of Monet', not only do I thin of his great paintings, but also his passion for gardening. he created that garden at Giverny over the 40+ years he lived there and used it as his muse for painting.

Here's another quote I like on success- passion is a key ingredient.


"A Man (or woman, or artist) can succeed at...anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm". ~ Charles Schwab


What are you passionate about? If you haven't shared about it in awhile, I invite you to do so today- it will make your day and someone else's a little brighter. Have fun spreading your enthusiasm!