Sending Holiday Greetings Your Way

Tuscan Poms and Grapes

Oil on linen

2010

It has been my tradition to paint or draw my own holiday card image since I was in college. Some years I have ideas in the summer months and have the cards at the printer's in October. Most years I am painting at the last minute and the printer worries that the cards won't be ready Christmas week. As with most people I know, I don't send out as many cards as I once did. I am sure most people think that sending cards will become a thing of the past since so many send email messages now. I still believe that people enjoy receiving a "hard copy" of a greeting. You can look at them more than once, they don't take up memory space on your computer, and they can be shared with others without having to type or click a key. I like seeing the family photos that many send.

My image this year is from a table setting in Tuscany. While going through my photographs to find something to paint, I came across my shot of the bowl of fruit. Very simple, and yet I immediately thought of the symbolism of the pomegranate for abundance, fertility, and good luck. It has been used for centuries as a decoration in many cultures especially Mediterranean countries. All this to say, I wish for you and your family a year ahead of prosperity, happiness, and peacefulness in your heart. If I can be of any service to you this year, please contact me. I cherish the relationship I have with you.

Remember that there would not Christmas without Christ.

Durinda

Ciao, ya'll!

Packing up for the Tuscany Workshop week. My bag may be overweight this time. I am carrying my pochade box, tripod, paints, and panels with a week's worth of clothes. Whew! Looking forward to the rolling hills covered with vineyards. We may have rain one day, so already thinking about interiors at the monastery and views out the windows. Don't know if I will be able to post from there or not, but do know that I will be painting, painting, painting! Hope all ya'll have a great week coming up too.

Ciao, ya'll!

Durinda

Lasting Memories

Field of Poppies

Oil on canvas

16 x 20

So every chance I get to refer back to my photographs and notes of France, I take it. My daughter asked for a painting for the Boyd Buchanan School fundraiser. Of course I have paintings that were finished and framed that I could have chosen, but I wanted to get back to my "zen zone" of painting the wild poppy fields. This is the one I selected for the auction. I hope it will find a good home. The auction is Saturday, April 17, at the school. I am working on a couple more of the fields this same size and smaller works of Italy scenes.

If you would like to see the "La Dolce Vita" show on line here is the link for il chiostro. If that doesn't work, just try www.ilchiostro.com . I would appreciate you voting for my painting The Brass Shop Doorway (watercolor) as one of your 3 favorites. You simply email: info@ilchiostro.com and write VOTE for the subject. Then in the message list your favorites by name and artist. If you love Italy, you will love this show! Workshops are being booked now, so if you are thinking about going with me in October to Tuscany, get your name in! I will furnish you a sketch journal and IF I should win as one of the top favorites from the show, you could be in for a surprise too!

"A landscape is always something other than the reality it portrays. It is essentially a product of the mind." Charles Burchfield

Now go think good thoughts!

Durinda

New Paintings for Autumn Art Show

Tuscany Tables

8 x 10

oil on canvas

Lunch in Florence

20 x 24

oil on linen

Two new pieces that I am planning for the Autumn Art Show, Nov. 19 - 22, at the Lookout Mountain Studio, 116 N. Watauga Lane, Lookout Mountain, TN. My "gals" in the Tuesday weekly classes will be showing oils, pastels, and watercolors. Those exhibiting are: Ann Curry, Evelle Dana, Martha Elder, Sarah Fowler, L.J. Huffaker, Betty Moses, Barbara Murray, Jeanne Rudisill, Anne Platt, and Wendy Williams. Some of them have been painting with me for nearly five years now. Their paintings are topnotch, if I do say so myself. I expect over 50 paintings in the show. This show is a great way to add to your collection and by directly from the artists. This is the Third Annual for us and always a pleasure to see the guests and patrons. Let me know if you need directions or have any questions. I would love to see you there!

My heart is still in Tuscany following my workshop there in late Sept and Oct. There is a painting everywhere you look! I am making plans now to return next October so if you are interested, let me know! We will be creating a sketch journal using a variety of media. This experience will inspire you for a very long time.

On the home front, Bill and I are moving back into our "old" neighborhood at the golf course this week. We lived there 18 years in a house we designed and had built until 3 years ago when we decided it was time to downsize. Now we see we need to upsize a little, not much, but this house is just the right size. I am looking forward to having Thanksgiving there.

Happy Fall, Ya'll!
Durinda

Toughing it out in Tuscany!

Our Paint Group at San Fedele

http://picasaweb.google.com/DurindaCheek/TuscanyWorkshop2009

There is so much to say about our wonderful time in Tuscany for the one-week workshop. Yes, the weather was perfect. Yes, the food was delicious. Yes, the wine was flowing. Yes, the accommodations at San Fedele were excellent. Yes, the directors of Il Chiostro, Linda and Michael along with Michael the Younger, were very attentive and genuinely cared about us. Yes, we had a great time, visiting hilltowns, a winery and wine tasting, grape stomping, and seeing David in Florence. Oh, and yes, we did paint! We also enjoyed the company of the painters with Barrett Edwards who worked in oils.

And for those of you who didn't make it this time, I will be returning next fall. If you are interested, better speak now! I can't imagine a better place to enjoy the scenery, the people, and the food in Tuscany.

Enjoy the first slide show. I shot 698 photos so can't possibly post them all. Now it's back to the studio and paint some of these lovely scenes!

Ciao, Ya'll!

Durinda

Traveling Tuscany Coming Up!

I am starting to pack for the Tuscany workshop at San Fedele. I leave on Wednesday out of Atlanta. My whole group will be traveling together- Ann Currey, Faye Woolfork, Lisa Hutcherson, and Cam Busch. We will change planes in Paris and then arrive in Florence on Thursday around noon. From Florence, we will join the others who will be spending the week, an oil plein air group led by Barrett Edwards from Naples, Florida. A short bus ride and we will be in San Fedele.

To say that I am excited is an understatement. This will be my third trip to Tuscany and my first to stay at the converted and updated monastery of San Fedele. It is in the heart of Chianti country. Yes, this is the season for the grape harvest and wine festivals! See, I told you you should come! We will be using our watercolor paints, watercolor pencils, and Sharpie markers to capture all we can. I made our watercolor sketchbooks by cutting paper and matboard and having Office Depot bind them. I will be demonstrating some different techniques with the materials and encouraging everyone to not only sketch, but journal in the book as well.

And just when things couldn't get any better... we were notified that we are invited to exhibit our own paintings in the village that weekend and take part in a Quick Draw painting event on Sunday. So now I am packing a small framed painting to take with me for the show. Cam and Ann will bring along a painting too. I think I had better get another card for my camera! It will be a week of adventure and art. Who could ask for more? Oh yeah, great food, wine, scenery, and new art friends. I guess I will just have to "make do". ; )

If you missed this trip and are interested in one for next fall, let me know now so you can get on the list!

Ciao for now!

Durinda

New workshop: Tuscany in the Fall

Announcing... a week of drawing and painting in Tuscany this September! Bring your sketchbook, drawing tools, and watercolors! Maybe you have been to the area before on one of those whirlwind tours or maybe you went with family. Now see Tuscany through an artist's eyes! It's time to do something for yourself that you will never forget. I have structured this workshop for all levels of experience in drawing or watercolor painting. We will explore the region without heavy equipment, messy paints, or wet canvases. No worries going through the airports with paints. No stained clothes or tired shoulders from carrying easels. This week is all about observing your surroundings and choosing your own focus. The accommodations are superb, the food is excellent, and the company of others will be enjoyable. I have chosen Il Chiostro as our hosts. Linda and Michael will make sure you are well taken care of. Airfares are down, the dollar is strong, now is the time. You only live once!

Check out the information and go ahead and register for this week in the land of dreams. You will be amazed at how much you will get for the price. I will be happy to talk to you further about the trip and will send a supply list with your registration: Durinda@Durinda.com.

Now, Let's go to Tuscany!

Ciao!

Durinda