AN ARTIST'S RESPONSE ( part 6)

Like most of us, I have been trying to come to terms with this plague 

that we are all suffering through. I try to do it with paint.

Painting In Progress

KINDA NOT BLUE

Siena Daylilies (in progress)

James Aponovich

oil on canvas, 30" x 28"

When I taught, I used to tell my students, "listen to your paintings,

they will tell you what they need." My students would squirm

uncomfortably and avoid any eye contact with me. They must have

thought that I was crazy. After I reflect on my lectures of the

glories of Bounty paper towels ( full sheet) they may have been right.

Siena Daylilies (in progress)

with sky ( blue)

Siena Daylilies ( in progress)

with sky ( white)

What I had 'wanted' was a sky that transitioned from an almost

white on the horizon to a deep blue. What I got was an 

uncomfortable feeling every time I looked at the 'pink / blue thing'.

So the blue had to go. Right now it is almost a monochromatic color

structure, a first for me. But, hey! What do I have to lose? If it works

let's just say that, 'I am a very good listener.'

( cloth detail)

Onto the cloth.....not so easy.

AN ARTIST'S RESPONSE part 2

Like most of us. I've been trying to come to terms with this

plague we are all suffering through.

I try to do it with paint.

PAINTING IN PROGRESS

Basket of Fruit and Vegetables ( in progress)

James Aponovich

Oil on canvas, 26" x 26"

It is very important to establish a solid foundation.

For this painting it means building a strong structure that will carry the

brilliance of the fruit and vegetables. That means paying a lot of

attention to how the basket and cloth are painted against a

dark background. It's been a struggle, but I have the time.

LIGHT REFLECTING ON ITSELF

Still Life with Oranges ( study)

James Aponovich

pencil on paper, 4 3/4" x 4"

I've always heard people talking about the 'quality of the light,'

of one place or another. I never quite understood just what they

were talking about. We used to live on the coast of Maine where

I constantly heard about the wonderful light....where?

Now we live smack dab in the middle of Italy, with the

Adriatic Sea on one side and the Tyrrenian Sea on the other.

So, I should get it , right?

Still Life with Bowl of Fruit, Panicale

James Aponovich

oil on panel, 10" x 8"

O.K., one way to paint 'light' is to paint objects in their environment

( i.e. the landscape and sky). Looking up, I must say that the deep 

blue of the Italian sky is amazing. By incorporating Renaissance 'Sfumato'

and aerial perspective ( Hello, Leonardo) and you wind up with the

classic depth of field and light stuff.

That's one way.

UP AGAINST THE WALL

or

'LIGHT BOUNCING BACK AT YOU'

Still Life with Oranges (in progress)

James Aponovich

oil on canvas, 12" x 10"

A number of years ago, Elizabeth and I were in Rome to see an

exhibit of 19th Century Italian painting at the Cloister of Bramante

just off the Piazza Navona. In the exhibit there was a still life of

oranges against a wall, but man, was it bright! I had to put on

sunglasses to look at it! When I got back to the studio I did a sketch,

in my style (first image) and this is the in progress painting.

Not so much as seeing through light, but having light

bounce back at you.

Copyright 2019 James Aponovich

all rights reserved

PANICALESE STILL LIFE

Panicalese Still Life

James Aponovich

oil on panel, 10" x 8"

It's not unusual for me to complete a small painting in less than

a month ( don't tell my galleries that). I guess that I have

never been very adept at group efforts, but when I'm left alone,

things seem to take on a life of their own. Until...

"James, why don't you, while we are in Italy, paint on 

one of these wood panels. I love them," my wife Elizabeth asked 

prior to our latest trip.

"Hmmm, why not?", I thought, they travel well and those 

Renaissance guys used them 

( when they weren't painting on walls)

"Finalamente'....Two months later and a whole lot of hours

chained to the easel, this is the result.







Copyright 2019 James Aponovich
All rights reserved

LUCCA and PORTOVENERE

It was 25 years ago when we first visited Lucca. The bus from

Barga would make its way down along the Secchio River to Lucca. It was
challenging back then just to figure out the bus schedules never mind the Lira
to pay for the tickets. Then of course, where to buy bus tickets.
Never easy.

Lucca is a beautiful small Tuscan city north west of Florence and
not terribly far from the coast. James and I were with our friends
Paul and Betty on this road trip first to Lucca and then to
Portovenere.

After checking in to our hotel, we all agreed that a light lunch was needed. A
small osteria with some shade found under an umbrella, a lively piazza, water, wine, and
a few plates of local cured meats, cheeses and salads...we
were good to go.

Church of San Frediano
with the early Christian Roman style mosaic

Church of San Michele is the center piece of Piazza San Michele.
Inside there is a painting, The Four Saints, by Filippino Lippi.

Guinigi Tower topped with Oak trees, and no we did
not climb to the top!

Cathedral of San Martino

One of the nicer things about Lucca is that much of the art
is on the exteriors of the buildings.

The interior of San Martino is impressive. There are two works of art
that must be seen, the beautiful tomb of Ilaria del Carretto, by Jacopo della Quercia,
with her dog resting at her feet. There is also a painting by Ghirlandaio with a
small lunette  painted by Filippino Lippi,



WINDOW SHOPPING

There are Pinocchios everywhere in Lucca, in shops, on signs, on
bookcovers and in window displays. I was attracted to this one..
simple and right to the point.

Pistacchio cakes, Panforte, cookies..........it's not difficult to find sweets
in this town including Gelato!

Window shopping lead to some purchases. Betty spotted this
shop and left with a shopping bag that contained a beautiful
throw. I couldn't resist and I bought one as well. Thanks Betty,
you have a good eye!

Waiting...waiting....and more waiting, while we shop.

After eating, going into churches, looking at art and shopping
the time came for an apertivo. It was only short walk  from the hotel to the
 Piazza dell' Anfiteatro, built on the site of
an ancient Roman amphitheatre.

Trattoria Gigi

The first night dinner was at Trattoria Gigi. Paul found a wine he had
heard about and there it was, sitting right on our table in this old style il
Fiaschetto bottle!

For dinner the second night we took a recommendation from
a friend. We were fortunate to get a reservation at
Osteria da Pasquelino where the service was great and the food
and wine superb! No better way to end our visit to Lucca then on that note.




PORTOVENERE

Paul and Betty had visited this town on the Mediterranean years
ago, for James and I it was all new.
Although it was mid September the temperatures were still
Summer like, which meant the small beach areas were dotted with people tanning, swimming
and parading in their bikinis and Speedo's

I did not get any sand on these feet, nor did any
of us, but we strolled the length of the town enjoying
the sea breezes.

The water was as beautiful a blue as one images of the Mediterranean Sea.
 These tall  craggy cliffs  allure divers who gracefully step into the air and
descend headlong into the blue waters below.

The day ends with Aperivi, then a short walk to
a very good seafood restaurant, Trattoria La Chiglia.
Tomorrow, back to Umbria and a small town called Panicale.





Where to Stay:

Palazzo Busdraghi, Residenza d'Epoca
Via Fillungo,170
Lucca, Italy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Where to Eat:

Osteria da Pasqualino
Via de Moro, 8
Lucca
( closed Tues./dinner only)

Gigi Trattoria
Piazza del Carmine, 7
Lucca

 Trattoria La Chiglia
Via dell'Olivo
Portovenere
( closed Wed.)

Lunch in Venice

James and I like to have a light lunch if we know we will be going to

dinner in the evening. We have found inVenice that cicchetti is a great way

to enjoy a local tradition as well as keeping to our light lunch pledge.

The green awning.... the signal that we have arrived at our destination, Enoteca 

Cantine del Vino 'Gia Schiavi, a well known bacari bar in the Dorsoduro neighborhood.

Cicchetti can be thought of as a Venetian version of tapas. Small bites
on bread or toothpicks which can be anything from  whipped baccala  ( salt cod)
or anchovy and a small
sweet onion, variations of tuna, to gorgonzola with pear and honey.
Here at 'Gia Schiavi', one might find sausage, cheeses or pesto &ricotta, all
that can be partnered with some crazy ingredient to make it an
extraordinary small bite!

There are many bacari bars throughout the neighborhoods.
All have different moods and atmospheres. At times we find we walk in to a bacari and are
the oldest people in there.....then, we slowly back out and find another
more to our liking. Most, however, cater to all and the cicchetti is
distinctly their own.

Once you have selected  the cicchetti, order a glass of wine.
Here at 'Gia Schiavi', being that it is an enoteca, there
are many wines to choose from. Since we were in the Veneto we  each had a
chilled Soave. Perfect for our selections of cicchetti.

Our plate included gambieri and soar ( shrimp and a special Venetian sauce), salmon with mascarpone, tuna
with cacao, anchovy and onion.....

After a morning at the Accademia then a walk around Dorsoduro, and lunch, it
was time for a short rest....but, there is always more to see in this
amazing city of stone and brick that seemingly floats on water.

ARE WE THERE YET? ( week10)

STILL LIFE WITH THREE GROUPS OF FLOWERS

James Aponovich

R.I.P.

( week 10 )

ARE WE THERE YET?

"It ain't over 'til it's over."

-Y. Berra

Still Life with Three Groups of Flowers

James Aponovich

oil on canvas, 40"x 52"

......It's over.

But wait........something new next week!

SWEATIN' THE DETAILS (week 9)

R.I.P
(almost)

STILL LIFE with THREE GROUPS of FLOWERS
James Aponovich

week 9

SWEATIN' THE DETAILS

"As ever hidden, look at its inner essence
as always manifest, look at its outer aspects."
- Lao Tzu

I have been asked (often) who is my favorite painter or what is my favorite painting style.
A complicated question, more often than not I would say something about
Chinese Classical painting...they liked looking under the hood.

Egg
James Aponovich
Pencil on paper, 4cm x 6 cm.

But, seeing as I represent the Western Classical tradition, the one
unmistakable, numero uno thing is.....


FORM

Portrait of Massimo ( in-progress)
James Aponovich
Pencil on paper ( detail)

The Italians called it Chiaroscuro ( light / dark), we know
it as difficult to do. It is the representation of the Three Dimensional
'thing' on a Two Dimensional surface such as canvas or paper.
It used to make 'em or break 'em,
now, nobody cares......
whatever.

I won't lecture on the rules ( a lot), but either you know it...
..or you don't



TEXTURE
or
PUTTIN' ON THE GLITZ

Although form is rock solid, pattern can accentuate it to please the eye.
People like to look at it.

"The hidden and the manifest give birth to each other."
- Lao Tzu






Next week - Are We There Yet?

PAINTING IN PERSPECTIVE ( week 8)

P. I. P.

PAINTING IN PERSPECTIVE

STILL LIFE WITH THREE GROUPS OF FLOWERS

James Aponovich

LOST IN SPACE, AGAIN

week 8

So far I have been dealing with the arrangement of things ( composition) on

a flat 2 Dimensional basis. 3 horizontals and 4 verticals. There is another, 

perhaps more important element I must confront....Space, or what

is called Aerial Perspective.

Self Portrait ( in -progress)

James Aponovich

oil on canvas

"Isn't he already dead?"

You see, I paint in a very traditional manner, based on the principles

of the Italian 15th Century...So there's not a large support group

for me... Lone Wolf Club.

Montalcino (Tuscany)

Usually a painter ( particularly a landscape painter), must deal

with Depth of Field in three distinct sections:

Foreground 

Middle Ground

Distant Ground

Panicale ( Umbria)

"Listen Buddy, Between you and me, there ain't much Middle

Ground here."

Typically, Middle Ground is the most challenging because 

it's all about transitions. It bridges what is closest to you ( Foreground),

and what's most distant ( Distant Ground). It's the in between

that is such a headache.

Detail with Lake Trasimeno ( Middle Ground)

The still life is up front and in your face, and what there is of Middle Ground

is minimal.....some peek-a-boo glimpses of the lake and Val di Chiana.

So to create a whole new zone...

I have introduced the Imaginary Space of the Viewer...

sound confusing?

The vase is black glass.....Welcome to my world.

There I am with palette looking at the painting. 

Elizabeth is also in the room, arranging flowers....

Kinda wierd

Still Life with Three Groups of Flowers {in- progress}

James Aponovich

oil on canvas

Next week.....Sweatin' the Details