Some new paintings

Here are a couple new paintings that I recently finished.

My friend and I have been going to the Bardini Museum and painting in there. It's sooper fun to be allowed to actually paint in a museum! They're all really friendly there, and they pretty much all know us now too, so I don't even feel that weird doing it (anymore;)

"Armour at the Bardini," oil on panel, 12"x 8"





















Me working on my next painting in the Bardini
















Also, here's a commission I recently finished for a friend.
"Giovanni," oil on panel, 8"x 8"

New Years in Madrid

Okay, so I know New Years was awhile ago now, but I thought you guys might like to see some of the amazing art that I got to see during my holidays in Madrid!

Velasquez at the Prado





















Fortuny at the Prado





















Crazy beautiful Sorolla at the Prado





















Rubens at the Prado





















Sorolla paintings at the Sorolla House


























































There were a bunch of amazing little studies there...











































Me and my Mom on New Years in Plaza Sol





















(I'll post some of my new paintings real soon;)

Lovin' Life

I am thoroughly LOVING my time in Italy! A little while ago now I actually moved into a new and improved apt, so I thought you my like to see some pics of my new digs!





















Chandelier in the bedroom! (and crazy nice wood beam ceiling!)






















Big ol' mirror - good for painting self-portaits!

















"the studio" (in my bedroom;)






















Sweetest kitchen ever






















View from my bedroom window - I can see the Duomo from my window!!!

Oh, and on a side note, Italian hip hop is da bomb!!!

THE BEST DAY EVER!! (ELIZABETH GREENSHIELDS FOUNDATION GRANT!!)

I just found out that I have RECEIVED AN ELIZABETH GREENSHIELDS FOUNDATION GRANT!!!! I am so incredibly excited and grateful to have received this prestigious grant! I've actually been applying for it for the last ten years, so it totally blows my mind to have actually received one! Ya, they're totally the best foundation ever for their ongoing international support of realist artists and having them support me in my studies in Italy is so incredibly heart warming! (three cheers for persistence;) :D

New Self-Portraits

Here are a couple new self-portraits that I've done since I've been here in Florence. I guess this is kinda a self-discovery year for me, and maybe it's not been the easiest time so far, so I think that's coming through in these new self-portraits:P






















"Disconnect," oil on panel, 12"x 9," 2009























"By Myself," oil on panel, 8"x 6," 2009

Hanging out in Firenze

I've been really enjoying Florence, going around to little towns outside of Florence and lotsa churches and things. Luckily my good friend, the amazing photographer Shane Fester, has been taking lotsa pics of me on our travels... and here are some of them ;)

Shane made this fancy triptych of me and put the words on it for my blog header. So no more boring blog headers for me:D THANKS SHANE!

I know how to live (me in Ravenna)

In a church (under construction) in Ravenna

Looking very studious in class

Star Portraits Aired Last Night

Star Portraits, the TV show that was produced by PTV Productions Inc. for Bravo! aired last night. I had the honour of painting Enrico Colantoni on it, with the other amazing artists, Sara Sniderhan and John Viljoen. The show can be viewed on the Bravo! website HERE. It was such a wonderful experience and it was nice to see the episode today since it reminded me of my incredible time with them.