Town on the Hill

 "Hill Town"

By James Swanson/ Traveler Jim M.

8"x10" oil on canvas

Welcome to Day Five, of this 14 day Travel paint Special Edition of the Artist and the Traveler. This special project needs an special guest, meet our guide Traveler Jim M.! 

Travelers Jim and his wife Cathy 

 In 2007 Jim and his wife Cathy took a 14 day trip to Northern Italy following the trail of PBS travel show host Rick Steves' Italian journey to see the real Italy.

After the rain shower in Montone

Truffle hunter Napo

Sergio and Napo

This Trip of Jim and Cathy's just gets better and better. From Venice, to Padua, To Ravenna, to Assisi. and now on to Montone what more can we see? Well, how about some truffle hunters. There are still a lot left in this trip so stay tuned.

Traveler Jim M.'s Journal Story:
Il Capitano invited everyone on the bus to his birthday party at a villa near Montone.  Some folks declined and went back to their rooms, but many of us decided to go to the party.  After all, how often do you get invited to a party at a villa? In Italy?  For Cathy and me, it was a first.

The Italians got out on the dance floor after the can-can girls "warmed it up"

As we headed for the villa, Giorgio decided that the last part of the road to the villa was appropriate for the bus, so we ended up walking the last quarter mile to the villa.  Nicole had a headlamp in her backpack, so she led the way.  Not to be ungrateful, but who carries a headlamp on a tour to Europe?  The answer, of course, is someone who is prepared.

The Captain was overwhelmed by the can-can girls performance.

Click or more of Jim's tale.

View from the bus headed back to Montone.
This is the photo of Jim M.'s that I will be working from.

Travelers Painting "Hill Town": The reason I pick this photo of Jim's to paint was, I didn't think I could do the Can- Can dancers justice in a few hours. With what I'm trying to do on the Special Edition of the Artist and Traveler is to do a simulation of painting as if I were there( plein air style of painting). And as much as I like Can- Cans, - oh well, on to the Hill town on Montone.

The sketch on the canvas to start the painting.

The block-in

fully blocked-in

Done. I got caught up in the painting and didn't  take a lot of pictures. 

Details from the painting.

 

Framed and ready to Go.

 "Hill Town"

By James Swanson/ Traveler Jim M.

8"x10" oil on canvas

 The things you see from a vehicle are so different than the things you see walking. I don't know how many times I which I could capture a view while driving. This is the second shot that I'm painting of Jim's from his bus, keep'em coming. Thanks as always to Jim M. and Cathy for letting me tag along on this trip of theirs. 

This is day Five, of this 14 day painting journey of Northern Italy, here are the links to see the rest Venice, to Padua, To Ravenna, to Assisi.

Or go to The Artist and the Traveler.org to see them, and many more place and stories. New Travelers and stories are always welcome too! Until next time, Ciao!