Artistic Enlightenment: Lessons from Italy

A couple years ago, my wife Joy and I had the opportunity to visit Italy. And honestly, visiting Italy was like stepping into an artist's dream. The country is a living, breathing gallery, and the experiences I had there have truly transformed my creative process.

Wandering through the Uffizi Gallery in Florence was like meeting the greats—Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli. Seeing their masterpieces up close taught me that there’s so much value in mastering traditional techniques and understanding art’s historical context. These guys showed me that sometimes, to innovate, you need to have a deep appreciation for the past.

The beauty of Venice, with its crumbling buildings and weathered charm, was a revelation. The city’s worn steps and peeling paint told stories of their own, proving that imperfection adds depth and character to art. This experience encouraged me to embrace flaws in my work and see them as unique features rather than mistakes.

“Honestly, art is everywhere in Italy, and people genuinely cherish it.”

Italy’s landscapes, like the rolling hills of Tuscany and the sunlit Amalfi Coast, were a lesson in color and light. Watching how the colors of the countryside changed with the light of the day helped me grasp the dynamic relationship between color and light in my paintings. The vibrant Mediterranean light has definitely influenced my palette, adding a new warmth and brightness.

Honestly, art is everywhere in Italy, and people genuinely cherish it. From Rome’s art districts to Florence’s artisan workshops, the dedication and passion I encountered were infectious. This immersion reminded me that true artistry isn't just about talent; it’s about persistent dedication to the craft.

One of the biggest takeaways from my Italian adventure was realizing that inspiration can be found anywhere I go. Whether in the grand frescoes of a cathedral in Rome, the elegance of a handmade ceramic in Sulmona, or the lively gestures of street performers in a Bari piazza, Italy taught me to always keep my eyes open. Every moment, no matter how small, can translate into a burst of creativity.

In a nutshell, my journey through “the boot” was a rich tapestry of lessons that will stay with me forever. The history, beauty, passion, and everyday moments I experienced have deeply enriched my creative vision and appreciation for art. I can’t wait to go back!

An Artist in Italy (Part 3)

Alberobello, Italy

I’ve mentioned that one of the things I learned from my time in Italy last September was to look for the most popular places (most likely to be overrun with tourists) and NOT go there. For the most part, that was the rule. But…with every rule, you can make exceptions. We just really tried to make those exceptions with some wisdom. Sometimes, that worked. Like…Alberobello.

“…with every rule, you can make exceptions…”

Alberobello is an amazingly weird little town in Puglia (the heel of the boot of Italy). It’s filled with all these little beehive houses called “Trulli”. And let’s please get it right…when speaking of one of these, it’s “a TRULLO” and when you’re speaking of many, THEY are “TRULLI.” So the town is filled with trulli. They’re everywhere. Many of them have been converted to shops. We stayed in an Airbnb about five kilometers outside of town and IT was a trullo. THEY ARE COOL. The artist in me was so excited seeing these odd, old little stone structures.

“Gosh,” you say, “If I were visiting Puglia, I’d want to see Alberobello!”. Yes, you would and you should. You and thousands of other tourists. Thousands. But like I said previously, this was an exception worth making. I knew this awesome little town was super popular with tourists. So we stayed five kilometers away just outside of another little town called “Locorotondo”. IT was amazing…winding, narrow little streets and all the homes inside the ancient city walls were whitewashed. It was beautiful. AND see, here’s the thing…being so close to Alberobello was awesome for Locorotondo because all the international tourists filled Alberobello and left Locorotondo to Italian tourists (and Joy and I). See how this strategy works???

Locorotondo, Italy

So one thing that I learned in Puglia turned out to be really important to file away in the “never forget this” folder in my brain. Here’s the rule: Never, ever eat a melon without first washing it. I had no idea you were supposed to wash a freaking melon before cutting into it but that’s what happened. It was absolutely wonderful — one of the sweetest melons I’ve ever eaten. And…apparently was covered with salmonella. This kind of wrecked the next day, and the next, and the next. I’d read that usually, symptoms resolve themselves for most people after five days. Well, seven days later I was on the verge of going septic. I don’t ever remember feeling this horrible. Thankfully, I got onto a regimen of Cipro and within about twelve hours, I was feeling mostly normal. We went on to visit Pompeii and then had the last two wonderful days in Rome. I loved Rome. What a charming and beautiful city. But, that two day visit to Rome changed the next couple months of my life. See, after two years of being careful to wear masks in crowded public places (you know where this is going now, right?), and since everyone around us in the trains and buses weren’t wearing masks, all signs were that COVID was a thing of the past. YAY! I was lured into blissful complacency. Two days after arriving back home, both Joy and I tested positive for COVID and folks, it was NOT like a bad cold. Now (two months later), I am finally feeling normal.

“Never, ever eat a melon without first washing it.”

So I can’t wait to go back to Italy. I’ll be avoiding the overly touristy areas, washing melons (washing EVERYTHING I EAT), bringing a mask and eating the most amazing pasta anywhere on earth. Io amo l'Italia!

In my next post, I’ll share three of the paintings I’ve completed now, based on photos I took on this trip. I’m sure there are a lot more painting possibilities amongst my photos but they’re a good start.