San Gimignano has guided my plein air painting practice for 48 years, captivating me with its enigmatic architecture, designed agricultural landscaping, and exceptional light. The town's safety and accessibility allow me to set up my easel anywhere, immersing myself in its scenery. My journey to San Gimignano began with my first painting teacher, Sienese master fresco painter Otello Chiti, and my family's ties to Florence, creating a perfect blend of inspiration and opportunity. Each visit reveals breathtaking views that continually inspire my work.

I’m very excited to be traveling to San Gimignano to paint en plein air. I’ve been to Italy several times, visiting family, seeing museums, and exploring its amazing historic locations, but I’ve never painted there before. I love the light, color, and beauty of the Italian landscape, so I’m looking forward to experiencing it as a painter.
For me, painting outdoors is about really looking and responding to what is in front of me. The landscape can be complicated, and one of the challenges I enjoy is trying to simplify all of the information into the essential shapes, colors, and values that make a painting work. There is also something exciting about working directly from nature in a beautiful location and having to respond to changing light and conditions.
Painting en plein air also brings a wonderful balance to my studio practice. The immediacy of working outside and visiting new locations is inspiring and invigorates my studio painting. Each place offers something different to discover, and I love the challenge of figuring out what makes a particular landscape unique.
I’m especially excited to experience the beauty of San Gimignano through painting and to take part in the long tradition of artists who have come to Italy to paint, drawn there by its beautiful light and landscape. I’m excited to see what I will find and how the experience will influence the paintings that follow.

The beautiful Tuscan countryside and the company of these wonderful artists provide so much inspiration for this trip. I will be using oil and gouache to study the sun-dappled landscapes of San Gimignano. In a sense, coming to Italy for plein air is like coming back to the very origins of painting. Colors in my palette such as Raw Umber and Burnt Sienna refer to the Italian regions of Umbria and Sienna, the very earth we will be standing upon! I will also be taking inspiration from many great masters who walked this landscape before us. I hope their spirits will provide some guidance.

As I strive to grow my artistic voice and work to hone my skills as a realist painter, I enjoy working in oils as well as other media. I am drawn to the spirit, and to mystery, and sometimes to whimsy. I hope that those who view my work can get a sense of emotion as well.