A Little Easter Sketch

Deep conversations...

Although I am paying due penance for taking a vacation in the form of a mountain of deadlines, I sneaked out this little Easter doodle.

The titmouse and bunny are discussing how long it will be until we see those darn cherry blossoms...

Florence Part 1

Family who traveled with me: Tom, Maria, Gaby, Susan(Mom), Rosie and me peeking from behind. This was in Greve in Chianti as part of our wine tour. This is the Chianti Rooster. Only wines from this region can bear the black rooster seal.

The official Chianti seal

I just got back Tuesday. What a wonderful experience. If I had my druthers, I would only sketch and travel, but occasionally will have to do.

We left Monday, March 11th. As part of the urban sketching fun, I took Vine videos of my locations. Here is the airport one: https://vine.co/v/bwP25FH9avd

Sketch while waiting to fly to JFK from O' Hare

We arrived in Milan early Tuesday. It was rainy, but that is spring for you. We took a high speed train to Florence. I so wish we had these types of trains in the USA. Imagine a train ride to Chicago in under 2 hours from Cincinnati. One can dream...

The train station in Milan is a fortress. It was built in the 1930's by Mussolini.

Quickie sketch in Milano Centrale

We finally reached our apartment behind the Medici Chapel. This is the awesome view from our apartment. https://vine.co/v/bwl0aObi0qt

Medici Chapel from our apartment...

Pano of our apartment dining room and living room

Cat Study and Prep for Italy

Siena circa 2006

This is a crazy week of deadlines and prep to head out to Italy next week. To warm up since the weather has kept me from a lot of urban sketching (yes, I am a wimp when it comes to cold), I did this from my 2006 photos. Boy, my photos were mostly awful. I am glad to get a second chance. At least I have a better "real" camera now (sorry iPhone).

I just signed up for Vine video so I hope to show some little videos of the sketchbook panning to location.

I have got all my sketchbooks together and replenished some of the half pans in my watercolor set. I even got some ice-fishing fingerless gloves to use (I suspect it will still be a little chilly).

I am going with my mother, aunt and a couple cousins so it will be a fun trip, except for the fact that Italy currently has no pope, no government...  Interesting times...

Fortunately, our travel keeps us away from Rome, but my Aunt and cousins are meeting us in Florence via Rome. We are going via Milan because I have always wanted to go there. It is a design capitol of the world! Troy will be here in Cincinnati to hold down the fort.

Finally, here is a picture of our car Miffy from my sketchbook. She was doing that wonderful kneading the air thing. I am painting a lot of furry pawed critters this a year so it was good practice. Her fur is short enough that you can really see the toe/claw articulation.

Miffy, Always a Star...