Canvas ~ Tuscan Series

la Porta Rossa de Annie

 
The Artist’s Insipration:

Many of my childhood summers were spent in Sonoma County. Somehow this area has always been a deep source of inspiration for my heart & soul.

As an adult I dreamt for over 40 years, about going to my ancestors homeland, Italy. The birthplace of the world’s passion for art, music, food & wine, or at least I think so. It wasn’t until the age of 47, on a long awaited trip to Italy with my family, totally understood why Sonoma always felt like home to me.

Italy reminds me of Napa, Glen Ellen, Santa Rosa, Sonoma… the way the sun hits the mountains, the light of the morning, the deep blue skies, white puffy clouds, misty mornings.

 Is it that Italy reminds me of Sonoma or that Sonoma county reminded me of my ancestral past life existence in the homeland of my family?

With warm invitation this piece to me is like coming home. Created from an imagined place, inspired by the lush agricultural fields in which I grew up & my Italian/Irish heritage.

The fog that gently falls on the mountain tops, like a blanket of love and comfort for the soul. An old family vineyard celebrating tradition values inspiring the future generations to come. 

Lastly, the perfect red door a splash of pure love, an invitation for your soul.

This piece is dedicated to my cousin Annie, my soul sister. I litterally took over her entire dining room to paint my first two landscapes for several weeks. As I was painting the red door, which she always wanted a red door on her house, I said, "Annie I am painting you a red door", she laughed and said, "GOOD! I finally get my red door!"  Annie has been an amazing inspiration and best friend through out the majority of my life and any of you who know her, know exactly how much I love, adore and appreciate her. Some of my most challenging and personal pieces have been painted at Annies house, some how her unconditional love and support create the most amazing environment for me to birth my own master pieces.