Tuscany: The Road Home

Tuscany: The Road Home
9 x 12 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$400

Sunday, I  did a painting demonstration at The Chop House at La Prade's Marina, a wonderful restaurant on Lake Burton in North Georgia.   The demonstration was coordinated by one of my galleries, The Burton Gallery, who has developed ano ongoing partnership with the restaurant including showing paintings there as well as creating art events, like monthly artists demo's. The restaurant even coordinate themes with the artists. My painting was of Italy and they had a special on Italian wines for the event.

Above is the finished version of the demonstration painting. I call it Tuscany :The Road Home because of the path, but it also has special meaning for me because this year I'll be returning for the 5th year to teach another workshop in Tuscany from October 13-20.   Going back to the same place is like going to camp each year( with better food and wine!)  Getting reacquainted with familiar places and discovering what's changed since I was there last. The workshop is open to painters of any medium and all skill levels. I've even had beginners come on the trips and leave jump started with new skills and a new passion. If you are interested in joining in on the fun, please email me at patfiorello@aol.com or click here for flyer with the details.

Here I am painting in open patio area of the restaurant overlooking beautiful Lake Burton.

Tuscany: The Road Home -Study

Tuscany The Road Home
 6 x8 Oil Painting Study
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Was scheduled to do a painting demo of an Italian scene this past Sunday.  I had some different photo's  and wanted to combine them,  so  did a little "test drive" with this miniature 6 x 8 to see if I liked the composition, colors etc...

 Will share the final larger painting in my next post. Stay tuned.

Sunflower 2

Sunflower 2
6 x 6 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

Here's another take on a sunflower. Tried a cooler background compared to the last one.  Background give's it a whole different feel. 

Sunflower 1

Sunflower 1
6 x 6 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$100

I'm in pretty good shape with larger paintings for my upcoming show at Callaway Gardens, so decided to get back to some smaller studies for awhile.

Here's one of a Sunflower. No matter how many I do, they are always harder than I expect. Balancing keeping it simple with suggesting multiple layers of petals is a delicate balance.

Also, I think yellow flowers are one of the most challenging colors.  You have a more limited value range to work within since yellow in it's most intense state is so high key by nature, say compare to a red flower where you have a broader range of values to work with.

Roses & Gold

Roses & Gold
 6 x 8
Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello
$100

Did this little painting of some roses and a small gold pitcher  a few weeks  back. It's amazing how you can get the illusion of metallic gold without gold paint.
Okay... if I can only remember how I got that...

Carnations

Carnations
12 x 12 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello
$550

This is one of the few times I've attempted carnations. They are not necessarily my favorite flowers ( I think a lot of people feel that way- remember the "Sex and the City" episode where Berger gets Carrie carnations).  They are not as big and showy as sunflowers or hydrangeas or roses, but they do have their own charm- and last a long time which is helpful when painting from life. One of their essential characteristics is a lot of frilly, almost serrated edges which is important to try to suggest.