Along the River in Estella

 

After a day of walking almost 22 kilometers, a clean river in which to soak one's feet is a welcome sight. There were only a few other people and two dogs doing the same thing when I arrived in Estella, so I felt the river was mine. The river in Estella seemed to have standing room only, as there weren't many rocks to sit and relax on. Zubiri is the best foot-soaking river along the Camino de Santiago. The weather in late August was perfect for perching on one of the copious rocks for a foot bath, and even for swimming for those who packed a swimsuit into their minimalist Camino backpacks. Oil on 12" x 16" stretched linen.

The Way to Fromista

 

The landscape varies a lot between Castrojeriz and Fromista along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. You start by walking up a huge hill that looks across a valley to the castle that seems to be at the same height. Then, you descend the hill toward a stark, yellow valley. I felt extra fortunate to see dramatic clouds that added dimension to the minimalist landscape. Later, some trees and villages appear, as depicted in this painting. Fromista has a quaint square and churches that keep one from resting even after walking 19 kilometers. Oil on 16" x 20" stretched linen. 

San Sebastian Marina II

 

A painting of some of the colorful boats and colorful water of San Sebastian, Spain. Oil on 18" x 24" stretched canvas. 

Available at UGallery.com

Somewhere on the Camino Frances

 

I'm not sure where this is but it is somewhere on the Camino Frances. I loved the varied terrain and mix of complementary colors. The cool blue of the houses' shadow sides and the blue sky provided extra layers of contrast. The tomato towers broke up the horizontal lines in the composition. 

Many crops were growing in Spain when I walked last September. In addition to intentionally planted farms and vineyards, many sources of treats grew voluntarily beside the path. I didn't pick anything if it appeared to be part of anyone's property, but in the middle of nowhere, other pilgrims and I cobbled together snacks of blackberries, apples, figs, walnuts, and almonds. We didn't often have tools with which to crack nuts, but I'll always laugh when I remember one of my fellow pilgrims cracking almonds with the edge of a cutting board one night. We all probably should have been wearing protective eyewear. 

Available at UGallery.com

Chateau in Provence

 This painting provides a bit of a break from Spain, though it shares a similar aesthetic. Though the shadows in this painting look cool, I can assure you that it was hot everywhere, and a St-Germain Spritz always seemed like a good idea. SOLD.

Sunny Side of the Street

 

 

This sidewalk cafe is located on the sunny side of the street in Aix en Provence. In the heat of summer, visitors sit under the awning for a bit of shade. Oil on 12" x 12" stretched linen.SOLD.

Book Stands in Paris

 

A lady peruses the books and magazines in the stands that line the promenade along the Seine River. The contents of the green stands are sometimes as eye catching as the architecture, probably because it is a tiny piece of the landscape that you can actually take home with you. Oil on 16"h x 12"w stretched linen. SOLD.

Honfleur Marina

A view of the Honfleur Marina in the morning on the way to get coffee from an outside cafe. Unfortunately, I was not able to get a great photo of the painting. It has much more depth and complexity in person. My studio doesn't have much space and I have very basic lighting to work with, so sadly, this photo doesn't show the painting as it really is. Fortunately, it has been displayed in galleries where people were able to see it in person. Oil on 36"h x 48" stretched canvas. SOLD.

Afternoon Stroll in Provence

 

A couple wanders through the streets of Aix en Provence during the heat of the day when there aren't many people around. Oil on 18"h x 24"w stretched linen.

A Walk in Aix

A family walks down an alley in Aix en Provence on a hot summer day. SOLD.

Cassis Boats

Boats docked in the beach town of Cassis, France. Next time I visit, I need to spend more than a day there. There are many beaches, some of which require a lengthy hike to reach. SOLD.

View of Budapest

Painted from a photo taken near the castle on a very cold day. Oil on 11"h x 14"w x 1 1/2"d stretched canvas. SOLD.

Cafe in Budapest

Lunch has ended and only a couple people linger in this cafe in Budapest. Oil on 16"h x 12"w stretched linen. SOLD.

View of Budapest

A view of Budapest from the hills surrounding the castle. It was a cold, snowy day, but the sun visually warmed the building facades. Oil on 30"h x 48"w stretched canvas. SOLD.

Morning Walk in Budapest

A couple walks their bundled baby in its stroller in Buda to get some sunshine on a cold winter morning. Oil on 18"h x 24"w stretched linen.

Morning in Honfleur

It was a sunny spring morning in Honfleur with a bit of haze in the hills. I was always inspired by the paintings of Eugene Boudin, so my mom, a friend, and I stayed in Deauville, and took day trips to Honfleur and Trouville from there. I was able to see the beaches and marinas that inspired both Boudin's and Monet's paintings. Honfleur is peaceful in the mornings while shopkeepers and artists set up their shops for the day. After circling the marina a couple of times to see the buildings and boats from all angles, my mom and I stopped for an espresso at a dock-side cafe, then got lost in the town's alleyways. Oil on 30"h x 40"w stretched canvas. SOLD.

Morning in Honfleur

A peaceful morning in Honfleur, France. Oil on 24"h x 36"w x 1 1/2" stretched canvas. This is one of several new paintings recently completed for my show called "From Boxers to Budapest" at Conte Design Lifestyle gallery in Ligonier, PA, which runs through June 26th. The show contains images from the kickboxing class I take as well as scenes from my travels. SOLD

Morning Walk on Deauville Beach

Only one person walked on Deauville Beach in Normandy, France this particular morning (besides me.) The 1 1/2" deep edges of the gallery wrapped linen are painted raw umber, and the painting comes ready to hang. Oil on linen, 14"h x 18"w. SOLD.

Late Night in Florence

A group of friends stand outside a bar in a Florentine alley late at night, discussing life. Oil on 12" x 12" stretched linen. SOLD.

Florentine Rooftops

After I returned home from Florence, this was what I missed most... sitting on my hotel's rooftop terrace at breakfast with a cappuccino and this view. The reference photo for this was taken on a misty November morning. Oil on 20"h x 24"w stretched linen. SOLD.