Venice!

No matter how many times I come to Venice, it still grabs my
attention. The charm doesn't change.

We arrived this afternoon with only enough daylight remaining to walk
to piazza San Marco. It was overcast today and no dramatic sunset.

Tomorrow we'll go out to Murano and visit a friend who owns a glass
factory. We'll also paint in Piazza San Marco all afternoon. There
will be plenty to keep is occupied!

Gelato

Gelato is far too good to call ice cream. I have no idea what the
difference is, and I probably don't want to! My guess is that it means
lots of extra walking! Fortunately we are getting plenty of walking in
between gelato shops. With presentation like this, who could resist?
Yum!

Painting on the Ponte Vecchio

Great morning for painting on the bridge! Chilly though! Still must
have gggggelato! Bbbbrrrrr!

"Luce di Firenze"

This is my painting of the light in Florence. Not a bad view, but a
marathon of painting to complete!

The best view

The best view in Florence is from the top of Giotto's tower. It's 441
torturous steps to the top, but worth the effort if you can navigate
the tiny spiral stairs with people flowing down as you squeeze your
way up. If you are slightly claustrophobic, acrophobic or agorophobic,
maybe this isn't a good idea!

Sunset Firenze

How can you resist this view? Our watercolor sketches captured the
moment and the feeling of this incredible place. I'll probably have to
revisit my sketches when I have some studio time at home. This view
deserves a more in-depth painting as well.

Tomorrow we'll go out early to catch the sunrise along the Arno river
and paint near the Ponte Vecchio.

My sketchbook is filling up. Some of my students are already on a
second book. One is on a third!

Painting the sunset over Firenze

Some of my workshop folks weren't totally worn out yet, so we climbed
to the top of the hill at Piazza San Michelangelo to catch the sunset
over the city. What fun we had! We even attracted a few other
traveling painters who just couldn't resist.

David

Michelangelo's "David" is one of the must-see stops in Florence. It is
impossible to fully appreciate unless you see it in person. Wow!

Lights on the Arno

The Arno River snakes through the center of Florence and is a romantic
place to watch the sunset. For the full experience, grab a gelato at
the Ponte Vecchio and stroll along the river as the sun fades and the
city lights take over.

Blessing the Chianti

As my workshop gathered around the duomo to draw this afternoon we
were treated with an annual spectacle as the local winemakers brought
the Chianti to be blessed. Two giant cows pulled a wagonload of the
potent juice around the cobblestone streets encircling the cathedral.
The party that followed was a colorful sight that lasted way beyond
sundown.

"Ascension"

I've been hooked on Florence since my first visit decades ago. The
ornate detail of the Duomo seems like an overwhelming challenge to
paint, but offers so many possibilities for dramatic composition. It
took nearly three months to complete this watercolor of the face if
the Duomo after my last visit here.

Firenze!

Florence is perhaps the greatest city on the planet for an artist. It
has a charm that has captivated the creative spirit for centuries.

The massive cathedral in the center of the city is a masterpiece of
ornate detail and a great place for painting and people watching.

My workshop artists were quick to immerse themselves in the crowd and
sketched around the Duomo this afternoon.

The Oarsman

Another favorite painting from a different trip. Recognize the dome?

My group was lucky to have a kayaker to pass by. Sorry, I couldn't
arrange for a racing scull this time!

Familiar places

I love revisiting these spectacular views I fell in love with many
years ago! We sketched along the Tiber river this afternoon.

The Wedding Cake

Some things never change. I did this painting after my first trip to
Italy in 1989. Still the same magical place.

The Jackson Sketching Academy in Rome

I gave a very intense sketching lesson this morning at the Victor
Emanuel monument. There are so many sculptures here that the building
looks like a fancy wedding cake. The possible compositions for
sketching are endless, but we had to sketch quickly as the Polizia do
not allow you to sit down anywhere on the monument. Fortunately just
outside the gates the view is still stunning.

Attracting attention

My workshop artists blend pretty well on the streets of Rome until we
stop to sketch. You'd think folks in Italy had seen artists sketching
before, but many people stop and watch as if we are the tourist
attraction. It's fun to study the curious observers.

Today was an awesome day of sketching in Rome!

Group photos

The natural tendency to clump together, face forward and say cheese
does not always result in the most interesting group photo.

Every now and then I get lucky and catch a moment like this one, which
ironically occurred moments after the clump together/say cheese moment.

Piazza di Spagna

The Piazza di Spagna is still a happening place to hang out and watch
sunset. Teenagers collect here at night and keep it interesting long
after the sun fades. It is a great place to people-watch any time of
day. My workshop will make a stop here tomorrow to practice quick-
sketching people as they hang out,

We'll start the day out with a sunrise photo-safari in Villa Borghese.
At 10 we'll meet at the Victor Emanuel monument and spend 2 hours
drawing different views. After lunch we'll sketch at the Pantheon,
along the Tiber and head for the Spanish Steps for sunset.

The Trevi fountain

It was destiny when I tossed my first coin in the Trevi fountain 20
years ago. I've been back to Rome several times since and this piazza
never gets boring. We had the best gelato in the world at the fountain
for lunch today. Two of Rome's best gifts at once!

The simple things

Some of the simplest gestures can make any experience better. I love
the unexpected, even if it is obvious.

We've consumed gallons of cappuccino as a group since we've been in
Rome, but this was the best round.

Top of St Peter's

It took only 2 shots of expresso to climb to the top of the cupola of
St Peter's bassilica. Little did I know, but they sold expresso on the
vatican roof!

Our group of 16 keeps getting splintered as nobody has cell service,
and free wireless is difficult to find. Communication amongst the
group is difficult. We should have brought walkie talkies. Next time!
I lost all but two of the group at the Vatican. We regrouped at the
Colluseum, missing only one. Hopefully we'll find her again!

Tonight we'll go out on a city lights photo safari and catch some of
Rome's attractions lit up.

Rome

Doesn't get much more Italy than Vatican City. I can't believe I was
in China three weeks ago! Not only am I experiencing culture shock,
but my jetlag has taken on a punchy side.

My workshop students are all giddy with Italy fever and are tramping
all over Rome tonight, eating and drinking and probably not sketching
much yet.

Marla and I took the opportunity to take a long walk along the Tiber
River to the Vatican and down to Trastavere. We're hoping to stay
awake until at least 10 pm Italy time, and start tomorrow off with a
sunrise walk thru Villa Borghese. The weather is beautiful and
excitement is high.

"Jazz in Blues" won the Keystone National!

Cloud nine can't be far from here! As we're packing to leave for Italy
I got news that "Jazz in Blues" won Best of Show at the Keystone
National 2008 Juried Works on Paper Exhibition in Pennsylvania.

Turning 40 has been awesome!

Grandad's tomatoes

With all if the traveling I was not able to give much attention to the
tomatoes this summer. It's nearly October and I just picked the second
red one! The recent storms have pretty much finished off this year's
pathetic attempt. Sorry Grandad!

I'll certainly enjoy my one tiny tomato sandwich and save a couple of
seeds for next year.

Off to Italy tomorrow.

The Workshop Demo

This is the still-life painting I demonstrated during the workshop. I
thought it turned out great given it was painted very quickly and in
front of a demanding audience!

Another Great Workshop

It's always a treat to teach at home in Columbia. I have a group of
long-time students that I've watched blossom into very talented
painters.

We were joined this weekend by a group from Quincy IL, and a bunch of
really talented school art teachers! The caliber of work produced this
weekend was stunning.

The glass-still life workshop is my toughest, fastest-paced class.
This group took it to a new level!

Glass Still Life workshop

Today I teach an advanced watercolor workshop at home in Columbia
Missouri. It's nice to wake up in my own bedroom for a change!

I'll be setting up an incredible collection of art glass and
demonstrating how to translate the magic of glass in watercolor. The
class is full with painters of varying skill levels, but several of
them are incredibly talented. l can't wait to see what they will
produce!

Painting glass is very challenging, requiring great concentration,
keen observation and a lot of patience!

I brought more than a hundred pieces of glass and set them up in a
room with 20 people. What's the chance that nothing gets broken?

"Suspense" 22x36" watercolor

The Missouri Watercolor Invitational

We made it home in time for the awards ceremony for the Missouri
Watercolor Invitational. My latest experimental painting, "Suspense"
won First Place! It's nice to occasionally win one in my local crowd.
This one was especially sweet with all of the other deserving
competition.

Presenting the award is my good friend, George Tutt, founder and
president of the Missouri Watercolor Society. He's also a fantastic
painter and one if the coolest friends I know. George gives so much of
his creative time to MoWS that it has become one of the best
watercolor societies in America. George and MoWS make me proud to be
from Missouri!

Home again!

As we rolled through St Louis I could feel the transmission start to
slip. By the time we hit Columbia it had hardly any grip left at all.

I rolled into the driveway and let her die peacefully. She'll need a
new transmission, starter, shocks, brakes and 4 new tires. Maybe I
should just consider trading the old horse in for a new one. She sure
has been a good adventure vehicle. She got us home again.

It will be a busy week getting ready for the still-life workshop,
catching up on bills and correspondence, shipping artwork to shows and
mapping out the final details for my upcoming Italy workshop. No time
for a rest! Stay tuned!

Wonders never cease

Twenty minutes ago I was stalled in Paducah, now I'm moving west
toward home again! On the 99th attempt, the starter breathed one last
gasp and turned over engine!

I had just turned my sights toward spending a couple of nights in
Paducah! We'll have to include that in the plans for a later date!

For now we'll be driving non-stop for home. Risking another starter
miracle would not be a good idea. Home is calling my name! 6 hours and
counting.

This week I have a glass still-life workshop in Columbia. The week
after we pack for a workshop in Italy. I really need to pause this
adventure, get home and get a bunch of work done!

Up and running/down again

This adventure keeps getting more interesting! We found a garage to
fix the vibration first thing this morning! We made it to Paducah Ky
before we broke down again! Argh!

This time the starter decided to quit at the gas pump! Now we get to
explore Paducah for the rest of the weekend!

Oh well, adventures don't always happen as planned!

It's not an adventure til something breaks!

Blew a shock in the mountains and rattled violently into Johnson City
TN on a Friday evening. My horse can go no further without some
attention.

So far it seems like a lucky place to break down. Starbucks and a
mechanic open on Saturday within walking distance of our hotel. Also
this great eatery, Cootie Brown's. We ordered a gourmet pizza with
roasted red peppers, mushrooms and jerk chicken. The place was packed
and well worth the wait. We dined outdoors on handpainted tropical
tables. Nice atmosphere!

Cheap Joe's

Boone NC is home to the world famous Cheap Joe's Art Stuff. Since I
was in the neighborhood I thought I'd stop in and stock up! Like a big
candy store for artists!

The Broad River

Bat Cave's charm flows down the mountain to form the Broad River. We
played in the river this morning. Nice rocks! This is one of earth's
magical places.

Swallows everything!

I doubt the road ices up much around here. The kudzu growth makes me
think it is a lot more tropical. I don't remember Bat Cave NC to be
swallowed by kudzu, but it has been 15 years since my last visit.
Today it seems to be losing the battle with the kudzu, but still a
magical place.

Signs of Fall

I love the fall! The colors are warm and vivid. The air turns cooler
and there is a certain electricty to everything.

Stumbling upon this pumpkin farm got me excited about seeing fall
colors! Bring it on! The leaves in the North Carolina mountains have
yet to give up the green.

Engulfed!

This chicken house has almost disappeared as the valley it occupies
has been blanketed by kudzu. I wonder what it will look like in 20
years if left undeveloped.

March of the Kudzu

These were once pine trees!

Kudzu! Love it or hate it?

I love kudzu! Of course I don't have to battle it creeping over my
house. It looks so cool blanketing entire valleys along the trail. Got
to feel sorry for the trees that get caught up in it's path though. If
you can't run, there is no escaping kudzu. It grows so fast you can
hear it moving!

Amicalola Falls

The Appalachian Trail is showing the first hints of fall in north
Georgia. The trail begins with great views of Amicalola Falls and
stunning vistas with the Blue Ridge mountains in the mist.

Essentials

Dodging the remnants of Gustav, we drove a northeast track to Atlanta,
and spent the night near Dahlonega GA for an early morning hike on the
Appalachian Trail.

Although we have not the time or supplies for a proper AT adventure,
Starbucks had the essentials for a 10 mile hike.

Joe Patti's Seafood

Whenever we come to Pensacola, the last stop on our way out of town is
at Joe Patti's. We either load the van with seafood on ice or ship a
supply home. Either way, somebody better clean out the freezer!

On this rare occasion, I got to bump into the legendary Frank Patti!
It didn't hurt that I painted their sign years ago! Many who visit Joe
Patti's consider this Florida's number one tourist destination!

Kennedy

My evacuation to the east wasn't just to watch the hurricane from a
safe perspective. It was also a "you gotta see the baby" mission.
Kennedy was born to my best good friends, Scott & Kristina Miller
while I was in China. She's adorable!

Still blowing

The winds haven't let up since yesterday, but the water dropped two
feet. The rain is intermitent and very strong.

My friends in Louisiana did not fare as well. I'm hearing reports of
power out and cell towers down. Y'all be safe! Check in when you can!

No Wake Zone

The high tide brought the bay up into the parking lots and over the
road in a few places. We aren't getting much rain at the moment. It's
sunny and hot now, with humidity thick enough to drown small animals.

The wind is still pushing westward, bending the palm trees and
irritating the pelicans. A walk in the beach is a sandblasting for
your legs, if you can find a beach that's not underwater.

Two by two the animals boarded the ark

Feel the power of Mother Nature

Big wind drove big waves onto Pensacola Beach this morning. The eye of
Gustav hit southern Louisiana this morning as a category 2 hurricane.

We are out of the eye, but definitely feel the power of the storm.