Road trip!

I just returned from a wonderful 5 days of travel. I left Friday and drove up to visit artist mosaic queen Mo Ringey in Easthampton, MA. It was great to see what the art scene is about in Holyoke MA- attended a fun opening - lots of talented people out there.  Tons of artists everywhere.
The next day I stopped into Syracuse to visit my daughter Markie-

saw her apartment and took her and her friends out to dinner- ( this is her in front of a cool mosaic we passed on our way to the restaurant)
It was wonderful to see her! I can't believe she is already a senior.
That night I continued on  to Rochester to visit one of my oldest friends Carol Acquilano.

She painted this yesterday- I shared my black gessoed acrylic technique with her.

                                                And I did this one...

Below is a large piece on her easel right now...

her awesome studio...

                                         her BEAUTIFUL exhibit!

She and I met at Museum school-we were in each other's weddings-we lost touch for 4 or 5 years and then bumped into each other in Florence in 1985-outside of the  Statue of David in a HUGE crowd-and I spent two weeks with her after that painting in Cortona, and we reconnected later in London. We have not lost touch since and ironically she and I both now work in art museums. When we get together we pretty much eat and breathe art the whole time. Her paintings of Italy are so gorgeous and I love her abstract pieces.She inspires me a lot- she also makes books and is a printmaker -actually she can do anything!

Today I stopped and visited the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, MA on my way home and met with with the director of family programs there ( a work visit)- it was a beautiful place to visit on this perfect fall day. I wished I could paint there! ( of course)
I'm home again and it feels great! It was a jam packed weekend.
Al and Winnie were up in Maine- they are glad to home too!