Balbianello Gardens (W.I.P complete)

Well, it just hasn't been my couple of weeks. Between family sickness, election day, and bracing for hurricane Sandy (which thankfully turned out to be the hurricane that wasn't for us in Richmond) my daughter missed some preschool, which meant no painting or blogging for me. Finally I am back to it, though, and happily share the completion of the Lake Como painting I blogged about in my last post:

"View From Balbianello Gardens" Oil on linen, 16x20"

This painting places the viewer at the edge of the gardens of the famous Villa Balbianello. A procession of Baroque statuary lines the garden's perimeter and looks out across blue waters to the distant harbor of a neighboring village. When I returned to the easel today,  I decided something was needed in the middle distance to anchor the right side of the painting and create some balance. And so a sailboat was born.

I like this addition very much. It creates some interest for the water and pushes the distant village and mountains back through the use of overlapping form. I also felt like the line of statues led the eye to that spot, and the fact that there was nothing there troubled me. It's funny how one little thing like that can bring a painting to a satisfying resolution.

Villa Balbianello

It's been about a week since I've been back from Key West and I've not had time to unpack and photograph my third painting from that trip, which I shipped back home before I left. Right now, I'm getting ready for a show at the gallery this Friday called "Italian Waterways". This show focuses on recent paintings of Lake Como and Venice. Here is a new painting I did for this series of the Villa Balbianello:

Dave and I took a private boat ride and tour out to the villa in Lenno while we were staying in Bellagio. The villa has had an interesting history. It was built for a cardinal in the 1700's on the grounds of an old monestery. It passed through the hands of several owners since that time; the last of whom was Guido Monzino. Monzino was an explorer and led the first Italian exedition to Mount Everest. Upon his death he bequeathed the villa (and apparently a lot of booty from his explorations) to the National Trust of Italy, which is why people can visit it today.

While the story of the villa is interesting, what fascinates me most are the beautiful grounds and gardens, and it's excellent position on the tip of a peninsula. Apparently it has captivated the imagination of many artists and filmmakers as well. It was the setting for several films, including Star Wars Episode II.

Any way, back to the painting! It measures 24x36" and is oil on canvas. For more information about this painting, please click on the painting or contact me.

A Boat Ride in Como

Continuing on with my Lake Como series, here is a newly finished 16x20" oil painting inspired by our recent trip to Lake Como, Italy.

 

One day during our visit we decided to splurge with a private boat ride around the lake and a tour of the beautiful Villa Balbianello. On our way to the villa, the driver indulged us by stopping often so that we could drink in the sites and take plenty of photos.

For more information about this painting, please contact me.

A View From the Villa

Today's painting is a view looking out over Lake Como from the grounds of Villa Balbianello. Villa Balbianello is located in Lenno at the far end of the Lavedo peninsula. This position gives it the most lovely views from several sides of the property.

This painting measures 6x6 inches. It is done on a gallery wrapped canvas, and the edges are finished off in deep blue/gray color that compliments the painting.

 For more information about this painting, please click on the image or contact me.