Seattle...Full of Surprises!

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Last week, I went to Seattle for Salon-an international gathering of decorative artists from around the world. I stayed in a charming B & B- the Pensione Nichols with Helen Morris , the fabulous owner of the Stencil Library and her blog -from the United Kingdom.

Staying in a pensione allows a more intimate travel experience. We were greeted each morning by Theo the dog and the owner, Lindsey. Guests meet in a common area for breakfast ,  best view of the waterfront , good music and chatting.

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This is where we met artists  Loredano Rizzotti and Maureen Hoffmann. Loredano was having a show at a nearby gallery and Helen and I were invited to the opening!

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The Christian Grevstad gallery was hosting a wonderful representation of Rizzotti's overscaled work. Helen and I walked in and swooned!

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Rizzotti's father was a mosaic artist and Loredano began his career as a lithographer.."something which yielded a precise and technical training.."  This exhibition consisted of larger than life images of shoes, purses, books and more from his series-The Gated Doors, The Books, The Journey and The Musical Instruments.

The detail was incredible!

To me, it was a combination of fine art, decorative art techniques and trompe l'oeil. I was in heaven!

Maureen posed with the beaded bag used in this painting.

Nothing was left to imagination, every bead painted with a glassy reflection...

...and the strings exposed showing the sewing of the rows of beads.

Then there were the books! Painted , time worn books stacked haphazardly showing their worn edges and leather spines.

One of the largest pieces was this incredible painting of broken musical instruments...Loredano says..."destroyed, dusty, now unusable. As if to say that the music is over...that there is no more music in our world...that it is time to be silent"

Thank you Maureen Hoffmann for talking to me about Loredano's work. What a pleasant surprise it was to meet you both.

...and the view from the balcony was not bad either!

Tea and Da Vinci...only in Texas!

A friend invited me to High Tea at a nearby old plantation home today.....

 Promptly at 2:00, sixteen women were seated to a lovely menu of fruit, scones, tea sandwiches and desserts.

On the left of me were two women from Louisiana(friends since college) and a woman originally from New Jersey celebrating her birthday. These teas book early and are only offered three times a year. Look at those unusual tea spoon rests, aren't they fabulous!

The owners of the plantation live in this home and keep it spotless for tours and teas. The grounds include a log cabin, chapel and other buildings.

I kept wandering off from the group, shooting pictures of the original bricks made on the plantation in the 1800's....

...and the old cast iron vents for the pier and beam structure. I have been to this home over the years for parties and other events, but never a tea.

One treat on the tour is a 15 feet by 28 feet life size copy of the Last Supper..who knew?

An earlier home owner had traveled to Milan and was so taken with the original, they hired artists from Greece to come to Texas and produce this oil copy on canvas.

Never turn down an opportunity to spend time with a good friend, you never know where it can lead!

The Sweet Smell of History...

Step off via della Scala into the perfumed world of the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica . Florence is full of many treasures waiting to be discovered and this is certainly one of them.

Over 400 years old, this pharmacy has operated, first serving the needs of the monastery and later, the world. Herbs and potions made by Dominican Friars and backed by the Medici family were the basis of the business.

Creams, lotions, soaps and perfumes are viewed through glass cases. I choose to see the soaps. A wooden tray is brought out with all scents represented. You may touch the samples and smell the scents.

Once a decision is made, your purchase is transferred to a plastic card that you take to another room to pay for and receive.

Even if you are not shopping, the building is worth visiting to see the virtual explosion of decorative ornament.

Five rooms are open to the public -Antica Spezieria, Sala Vendita(sales room), Sala Verde(Green room), Sacrestia(Sacristy) and the Museo. 

Take time to visit this historical building while visiting Firenze!

Postcards from Venice...

On my last trip to Venice, I wanted to find the Libreria Acqua Alta touted as "the most beautiful bookshop in the world".

I have a penchant for jumbled, chaotic bookshops that have stacks of books with a few stray cats roaming the aisles.....throwing a gondola in the middle of the room was just icing on the cake!

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I picked an overcast day to find the shop. Located in the Castello sestiere, I wound through tiny calles , some so small that as the rain started, my umbrella scraped both sides of the stone walls.

And then I found it! The tables outside were covered with plastic due to the rain and the cats took refuge inside...a soft rain was falling....perfect book browsing weather!

Luigi Frizzo, owner of the shop, was very kind as he allowed me to dig freely in the two rooms of books. I found a rare book that caught my eye, some art prints and then I found the boxes of postcards!

I was fascinated. I bought way too many, but the artwork and writing on the back was intriguing.

The ones I bought had postmarks from 1910 -1925. They represented people just like me who traveled to Venice to see the same buildings I was seeing. Not much has changed in Venice for hundreds of years.

The postcards will be used for reference when I am painting. Some are photos and some are lovely artist's illustrations of gondolas and other iconic images of Venice.

What things do you gather on your journeys? If ever in Venice, I highly recommend visiting the Acqua Alta bookshop....the most beautiful bookshop in the world!

Buona Pasqua!

I just returned from Venice two days before Easter and the shops were full of decorated eggs!

The Pasticceria Marchini; one of Venice finest pasticcerias, had an explosion of heavily decorated chocolate eggs and candies.

Small ones with spring themes and holiday decorations....

Large ones in the window with Happy Easter written on them....

 And the sweetest bouquet of flowers and butterflies on a larger one inside to lure you in from the street....( as is the pungent smell of chocolate in the air isn't enough!)

Walking over by the Rialto, Drogheria Mascari had a mammoth chocolate egg in their display window.

These two pasticcerias still carry on the tradition of the serious art of confection. I hope you all have a happy Easter and maybe some chocolate on the corners of your mouth!

Alexander Hamilton

British born decorative artist Alexander Hamilton uses lime paints to create the illusion of Italian frescoes.

Alexander now lives between Florence and Siena with his family and paints and does restoration in private homes in the area.

His work is precise and based in traditional methods.

If you enjoy decorative painting, his website is a treasure!

These painted raw linen panels combine several techniques to achieve an authentic aged design.

(all photos are property of Alexander Hamilton)

Be sure to watch the video of the artist in action on his website!