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With each step, the snow beneath the Wanderer's shoes crackles like breaking glass. Somewhere off in the dark distance, breaking the solemn silence, a lone wolf's howl greets the silvery full  moon as it quietly rises in the January still, subzero night.  The luminous moonlight, casting unearthly giant shadowy fingers across the frozen landscape, challenges the limit of the strongest, bravest soul.  Notwithstanding, determined to reach the destination, the Wanderer unswervingly carries on.

The Patience of Trees

 

O look at the trees in Winter, that stand so barren and brown,

Silently waiting with utmost patience, for the emeralds of Springtime's crown.

 

Though dreary days assail them, they do not lament or dismay,

But patiently wait for winter to pass, and know there will come a brighter day.

 

The snow will fall, the winds will blow, making the days seem trifle,

But winter clouds pass, the spring sun comes at last, and

New days will be born more delightful.

 

O to be like the trees in Winter, and know how to patiently wait,

For the desires of our heart wants to bloom right now, but the

Season is inside Winter's gate.

 

Pastel Painting 9 x 12 - and poem - by Arlene

 

Many years ago I worked in a job that was not who I was.  But....bills needed to be paid so the golden handcuffs stayed locked.  One dreary wintry day as I was driving in my silent car to the place, and starring blankly at the gray sky while waiting at a stoplight, I became aware of the surrounding trees.  And the above poem was born.....   Now....decades after I left  that place, I was flipping through some old papers and stumbled upon the poem I wrote back then.... and this painting was born to accompany it. 

 

Winter is almost over.  March 20th heralds the onset of Springtime with the Vernal Equinox, but our inner life can remain in the dreary, bleak, landscape of Winter anytime during the year.  Throughout life, the dots all connect..... but yet, it can seem that many don't or won't.   But I do know one thing ....nothing is accidental....all things happen for a reason.   We may not see it at the moment as the vortex of gray or dark emotions cloud our emotional terrain.  But.....one thing is for certain.....change.  It's always with us, and will forever descend upon us.....all we need to do is to learn the Patience of Trees, and we'll be ok.  

 

 

My first attempt at pastel plein air!  Wow.... challenging; 

frustrating; difficult; and the other side of the coin was:

wonderful; uplifting; satisfying.   It was a rare beautiful 

summer day.  A tad warm but acceptable.  Of course the

shade this friendly tree offered was a big help!  Sue, Judy,

and Charlotte, whose photos I forgot to take because I was

so wrapped up in what I was doing, were on the scene as 

well and it made for one lovely day, not only painting, but being 

with fellow artists sharing the experience and having nothing but fun.

 

Here's a few more of me.....at work......

 

       

 

And my creation......'Come and Rest'

 

The empty bench spoke to me.  Nestled in the green foliage under a quaint arbor, it

invitingly seemed to say, "Come and sit a while.  Breathe.  Contemplate on the

beauty of the day. and in the artistry by The Great Artist in the myriad of blooms

surrounding you.  Let go. Be still.  Listen."

 

 

 

 

May 20 - June 8, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since I've been home, it has been a whirlwind of activity catching up on so many mundane things.  But prompted by friends who want to know about my travel there, the workshop, and what did I paint, I am setting aside time to post it before an entire year is gone and the now recent memory will become a long lost ghost of the past.  

 

   

So here I am, ready to go, carry-on packed with my pastels and other art supplies instead of the usual.  It was heavy as could be!  Needed help every time to hoist it over  my head into the overhead carry-on compartment.  

 

        

 Approaching Rome.  Landing was only 30 minutes tops.

Nice direct flight on AA.  9 1/2 hours to get there!

 

And here we are....just about to touch ground.

Once landed, I had a 6 hour wait in the Rome Airport before my connecting flight took me on to Florence.  Not too bad.  But I was tired!

Flight to Florence took only 30 minutes where I was met by the directors of the workshop, Debra and Ivano, and our teacher Vianna and her husband Mark Szabo. 

 

 

Our first night at dinner, Thursday, was in the food market cafe and we are celebrating our beginning journey with good wine!  The rest of the students came in on Saturday.  Had these great people to myself for a while!

 

Since I cannot post all 842 photos I took, here is the story in highlights:

 

Our place of lodging.  Can't call it a hotel, motel, or B&B.  But it was great!

          

Doorway into our place.                      Rooms on the sides of the courtyard. 

 

         

                                                            Breakfast every morning!

 

Then our 25 minute walk to the school where we painted starting on Monday through Friday.  We had a few breaks in between.  Visits to the Uffizi Museum, the Accademia, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, a two hour walking tour of Florence, and free time for lunch and some shopping.  There were a lot of fun shops along the way.  Hand made leather Sketch books and art supplies were among my weakness.......

       

Santa Maria Novella Basilica, also called the Duomo (passed by it every day!) 

It became my navigation landmark and I never got lost!

 

                         

              Street our school was on                               Entrance to our school.

 

 

And the school itself.....

    

                                                                              Entrance to school had this replica of David's head.

 

       

                      Oil painters worked here                               Sculptors worked here

 

              

                  Our studio                                                      Found a great brush in an art store.  

                                                                                         However, too big for my suitcase.  

                                                                                         Had to take a pass.  :(   But I found

                                                                                         other great treasures in here.  :)

 

Now for some sight seeing highlights .......

 

 

This is the Bargello Museum noted for its many sculptures by the great masters, Michelangelo, Giambologna, and more.

       

           A haunting looking place - loved it!          Hermes Trimegistus by Giambologna 

 

       

  Oceanus by Giambologna 1504                    didn't get the name of this one - but I sure like it

 

 

    

                      At the Accademia                         Guess.........

 

           

                    Palazzo Vecchio                                              Hercules

 

 

     

Standing on the Pontevecchio bridge                   At the Pitti Palace  Original Michelangelo  

            over the Arno River

 

      

           Original Raphael                      The art and sculptures were amazing....

 

 

 

        

The Boboli Gardens - filled with sculptures                             Long walk up..  

surrounded by bushes, placed in nooks, or by fountains....... 

 

        

                                              When we got to the top, here is the view.

 

 

          

                                 Siena  -    home town of St. Catherine of Siena

 

           

                     Siena Duomo                 This place is incredible!  The art work - jaw dropping..... 

                                                                  This is a side chapel done by Raphael. 

                                                            There were also many sculptures by Michelangelo.

 

 

       

                     My feeble work in pastels of our models    

 

   Done with a limited palette 

 

         

           Celebration dinner                                                              Our class

 

Back home on a 10 hour plus flight all too soon.......  The memories will stay with me forever.  I loved the city, loved being there, and felt at home.  Perhaps, just perhaps, one day I will return to the Art Center of the World....beautiful Firenze.    Visit again.  I may just post more....a contemplation or an insight gleaned as I still gaze at the 842 photos I took.  (and so many references for great future paintings and drawings!)   Ciao!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This drawing is of Beata Beatrix, taken from an oil painting (in public domain) by Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti, completed in 1870.  It depicts Beatrice Portinari from Dante Alighieri's poem La Vita Nuova at the moment of her death.  

 

As she materialized from the tip of my pencil scratching across the paper, I could not help but wonder..... what was she saying to God.  What was she pleading for to Him.  For her life?  For an unrequited love?  For salvation of her soul?  Her hands so gently placed in each other, open and receiving...... His will?  Her slightly opened mouth..... perhaps silent words whispering forth as in a sacred monastery chant.  A woman's heart holds an ocean of secrets.  What is there that she places before her God.  And when I finished the drawing, and contemplated on her countenance, I heard my heart whispering over and over like a glitch on a music CD...... Please God.   Please God.   Please. God!    Yet the knowing deep within said, not my will but Thine.......