Thursday, September 29, 2011

Reflecting on my trip to Italy, Saint Peters’s Basilica


Saint Peters’s Basilica
And nothing I’ve seen up until this point in my life could have prepared me for what my eyes were about to see. Saint Peters’s Basilica at the Vatican is truly overwhelming.

My experience there was quite spiritual and a bit difficult to put into words but I’ll give it a shot.

Saint Peters’s Basilica is a place, where if the walls could talk they would speak volumes, but the voices weren’t coming from the walls. They were coming from with in my heart, as I could literally feel the presence of God flowing through the passionate labor and heavenly creations adorning this vast testament to the Catholic faith.

I slowly walked with trepidation trying to comprehend the enormity of my setting. Engulfed in such immense beauty is startling at first and my only mental reference for comparison, would be to have all the people I’ve ever loved and lost together in the same room.

A life time of their memories began to swirled inside of me. I miss them all so dearly and my heart grows heavy as I reflected upon their final days of suffering. Tears pooled in my eyes as I began to feel that big lump you get in your throat just before your about to cry. Then like a gift from heaven an enormous sense of relief washed over me, and I knew in my heart that they were all in a better place. With no more pain, they are at peace. A heavy weight was lifted from my heart replaced with a sense of joy..... I began to smile.

I may have appeared incredibly small walking through Saint Peters’s Basilica that day, but with each step I felt closer to divine knowing that in some small way, I too am part of God's immaculate plan.

I never felt more humbled.

I never felt more alive.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Oil paintings from vacation pictures, Italy

I took a ton of pictures while on vacation it Italy with the good intention of producing some oil paintings from them, so while my other painting dries I thought it would be a good idea to get a move on in that direction.


I started this painting in a loose impressionist manner and I may break the brush strokes up even more but I think I’ll wait till it dries before I make my decision.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

rendering with light, shadow and color

I started a new painting this morning. After getting the basic idea for this painting, I worked out the composition with some small thumbnail sketches.This made it easier for me to sketch it out on the 16"x 20" canvas.

I’ve been reading Dan McCaw’s book this week “A Proven Strategy for Creating Great Art”. Dan’s method for rendering with light, shadow and color have been very helpful. I’m sure I will look at the development of my future paintings with his advice in mind.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Irene hits New Jersey

Life gets in the way of art or should I say "Irene" got in the way this time . No water in the house just downed trees in my yard. One of my trees fell on my neighbors house and one of hers fell on top of the one that fell on her house....what a mess!  I consider myself very lucky just minimal damage and a whole lot of clean up. So many people in New Jersey lost so much .