“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul and paints his own nature into his pictures.”
— Henry Ward Beecher
After exploring a bit of French Impressionism, we felt inspired to try our own hand at capturing nature. In particular, the area we live in Italy is quite beautiful. A quick search on Google led us to a local artisan who lives fifteen minutes up the mountain from our small town. Originally from the UK, she has been living in Italy for over thirty years. Her home is surrounded by flowers, shrubs, and various trees that she has meticulously cultivated.
To be honest, I was quite apprehensive about this project because I don’t consider myself particularly talented in this area. However, we kept reminding ourselves that the experience was what truly mattered. A day spent in a beautiful place, surrounded by nature, was an opportunity for us to relax and unwind. When we arrived, Sarah took us on a brief tour of her home and shared her thoughts on the creative process. She emphasized that art should be a reflection of our observations and reactions to the world around us. Each person would have their own unique style and approach. Sarah had prepared easels in shaded areas and encouraged us to choose a tree, some pastels, and begin drawing. Throughout the session, Sarah would occasionally lean in and offer suggestions, pointing out what was working and what could be improved. The focus was on capturing the essence of the scene rather than striving for perfection or realistic representation.
With those simple instructions and a glass of crisp Umbrian Grechetto, I found myself having fun and adding some color to the scene by the third try. While I may not be gifted in this area or truly skilled, I enjoyed observing the negative space, inspecting the texture, and noticing how the sunlight glinted off the leaves. It dawned on me that beyond the tree, there were many other natural elements contributing to this almost spiritual experience.
