While it's still hard to put to words our experience, I can easily "curate" my favorite pictures. We went to Spannocchia to paint, and we came home with unmeasurable inspiration, a new understanding of Italian culture, and dear friends.
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| Rob beginning his approach of the Spannocchia Villa (where we stayed, yes, this building is 11th Century) |
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| Devra working at San Galgado. This is an old church missing its roof:) Bizarre and extremely beautiful. |
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| A "medieval" quartet playing outside the Duomo in Siena, on one of our adventure and "sketch" trips. |
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| Marianne as spirited as always. Painting an approach from inside the vineyard. |
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| "Deep Thoughts" by Pig. |
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| In the public offices of the Siennese City Government. |
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| Our home (the Villa). |
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| At 7 PM each evening, Spannocchia wine is shared on this terrace here (up the stairs). A nice "down" time to look out towards the garden, meet with others, and "breathe" in the day. |
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| 1 of 2 views from a Villa sitting room. |
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| 2 of 2 views from a Villa sitting room. |
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| Painting Studies by Stepanie. Let the poetry begin. And so it did. |
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| It's easier than you think to like pigs. |
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| Snork! |
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| On one afternoon, I set ought for the pigs up at the "plains". Another beautiful area of the farm, striking a balance between dark woods and brilliant fields. The pigs are rotated here for sustainability reasons and many of the little ones roam freely. This was a special head-on collision. |
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| Olive Tree, Monterrigioni |
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| Village Entrance, Monterrigioni |
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| Vista |
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| Waiting for the Wedding. Clearly, both Italian men and women embrace color. |
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| The sunflowers had passed leaving a soulful gesture. Following shots from a the roadway in-between Rosia and Siena. |
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| Looking Down, Siena |
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| In the famous Piazza of Siena. Unexpected family "wedding" ceremony celebrating Siennese family. |
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| Antipasto! Perfecto! |
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| Our curator "talking shop" to Spannocchia visitors. |
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| Spannocchia. |
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| Sketching at San Galgado. |
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| The "Plains"here and two following. |
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| Rooftop Views from Spannocchia Castle top. |
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| No more delay! Finishing breakfast.... |
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| Get Out There! |
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| Painting the Cypress, and Devra starts the "battle" - as we often kindly referred to the process of plein air painting. |
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| Lunch. Really. |
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| Marianne, painting the Villa, Day 1. |
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| The secret garden. |
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| The vegetable garden. |
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| Marianne's Palette. |
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| Siena evening skyline. |
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| Helene painting at San Galgado. |
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| When you paint, one must refill in one way or another:) |
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| Must break for Capuccino! |
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| Helene's painting in process. |
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| Rob painting in the Secret Garden. |
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| Getting "poetic". |
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| Rob's work in the secret garden. Frogs included. |
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| There were some great laughs. Especially when one encounters a very large pig. |
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| Siena. Breathtaking. |
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| Chillin' outside the Duomo in Siena. |
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| Spannocchia Vineyard. |
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| That blue fence. |
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| Which road to take.... |
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| Foliage. |
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| Final Approval. SNORK! |
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| Devra sharing work in the studio.... |
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| Lovelies. |
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| The library. Late night sessions here. |
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| The keyhole bath in the secret garden. |
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| A Happy, Grateful Artist. A BIG thanks to everyone to help make this possible:) This is me getting ready in the am. |
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| A room with a view. |
