The Story of Chef Anna

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A Sneak Peek at the Paintings inspried by the 2013 Storyteller Experience

I don't think I have ever been as inspired as I am right now to create a group of paintings!  I returned from Italy filled with joy, excitement, appreciation, and about 1500 photos all deserving of being translated into Paint.

So my idea for the first round of paintings is to try and capture 6 of the people who made the trip so special for our group.  There was Anna, the fabulous chef who cooked for us every day at the Casale...

(detail of Anna at the sink)

And Giacomo, the DaVinci Wine ambassador who answered every question, and shared so much of his knowledge of wine with our group.  His fabulous smile and warm spirit was so wonderful!

(detail)

One of the growers, who lives on a plot of land that can only be described as Heaven on Earth

(detail)

(detail)

And the hands of the gardener who taught us how to harvest, and also everything that needs to be considered with every cut, every trim.  I just noticed all the men are wearing blue shirts...

Two more paintings to get started this week - probably another one of the fabulous growers, and one of the vintners of DaVinci.  I'll keep you posted!

The final paintings will be revealed by the DaVinci wine company in November.  In the meantime, I hope you come by and visit the studio in November and see them in person!  

Friday Night Live

November 1st 6-9 PM

Woodstock Art and Wine Festival

12-5 Saturday November 2nd

1-5 Sunday November 3rd

Art Mob Studio Tour

Friday November 15th 6-9 PM

Saturday November 16th 12-5

Sunday November 17th 12-5

The 2013 DaVinci Storytellers' Home Away from Home

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My Fellow 2013 DaVinci Wine Storytellers...

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A special going away present

The last couple of days have been very busy, with final errands, a little bit more baking (stocking the freezer with home made bread for the kids!) a last night of figure drawing group, and lots - and I mean LOTS -  of laundry!

One project that finally got finished up was something special for my daughter, Arianna.  Arianna has one very strict rule whenever I am about to leave the house or right befor she goes to bed: Kiss and Hug. Kiss and Hug is very important.  We must kiss and hug, even if I am just running to the grocery store.

Ever since Arianna found out about me traveling to Italy, she has been asking for extra Kiss and Hugs to save for when I'm gone.  I knew I would have to do something to appease her need for Kiss and Hug for ten days.

A while back, Arianna came home from school with this adorable drawing of a frog.  Super colorful, lots of character.  I had seen something on Pinterest where an artist took a child's drawing and transformed it into a three dimensional stuffed animal.

So that's what I decided to do.  Create a stuffed frog that would be named Kiss and Hug - filled with all the extra kisses and hugs she will need while I am gone.

This was fun to shop for - the corful fabrics for the legs, Pom poms for the toes and fingers, cloth buttons for the belly.  It was harder than I thought to put it all together, but I was pretty happy with it.

I just gave it to Arianna tonight (don't worry - Jack got something too!) and she knew right away where she had seen this frog before.

Hopefully the time will pass quickly and her new friend will remind her that mom loves her, even from far away.

Two Portraits in Two Juried Exhibitions

I'm very pleased to be part of two wonderful juried exhibitions this fall.  The first is the Fall Exhibition of the Atlanta Portrait Society.   Juried by award winning portrait artist Jamie Lee McMahan, the portraits will be on display at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art through December 16th.  One of my favorite portraits, my daughter Arianna holding a baby bird, was selected.

This was based on a photo just taken this past summer.   A baby bird was on the grass, and my neighbor's little girl picked up up while playing at our house.  Ari took a turn as well.  They were fascinated by this sweet creature, new baby feathers, but not yet able to fly.  After a short while, I encouraged the girls to put the bird back in the grass, so mama bird could come back.

Well - mama bird came back, and she was angry!  Hopping up and down in front of baby bird, she squawked and chirped, obviously angry at the baby for taking a break from flying lessons.  The baby bobbed up and down a bit - trying to take flight - but no luck.

Gently, I lifted the baby bird up again and placed it on a low tree branch  A few moments later mamma bird returned, and more hopping and chirping and high pitched conversation ensued between the two birds.  I didn't stay to see the final scene, but I'm guessing the baby never left another flying lesson before he was properly dismissed.

Click for another great Ari-bird story....

I also shipped the portrait of Mona in the Turquoise Scarf to the Cumberland Society of Painters National Juried Exhibition, being held at Richland Fine Art in Nashville Tennessee.  I am honored to be among 100 beautiful paintings selected by juror Peggy Kroll Roberts. 

I will miss both openings and award ceremonies while I am in Italy, but I am hoping they are well attended and I wish all of the artists the best of luck!

I'm a 2013 DaVinci Storyteller!

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