Back packs? We know that Midge hates backpacks. Those evil things that hit her in the face on buses, ferries – is she really starting a post with a picture of backpacks? Someone should take her temperature!
Ah, my readers, these are not stuffed with travel guides, extra socks and bottles of water. These are expertly packed with all a plein air artist needs to set up in our Sannio Hills and capture in paints a moment in time. Think of them as an artist’s studio that fits on your back – easel, paints, paper/canvas, brushes, rags, mineral spirts and tons of other stuff. I mean, how else could you climb the steep steps of Morcone to find the perfect subject to immortalize?
One backpack, one back, one view – for Steve Duprey from Duprey Art who organized the artists retreat, it was the perfect combination. Here Steve is perched on a step in Morcone. The artists who came had the opportunity to observe the landscapes, streetscapes and people of the archeological dig Atilia Sepino, Pontelandolfo, Morcone and Casalduni.
Not being able to draw a circle, it was amazing to see some of the artists create wonderful works in what seemed like nanno-seconds. There were pieces that reflected architectural detail and bucolic scenes with magical accuracy. As the artists were working, I peeked over shoulders to watch the process. Luckily, they were all good sports and no one smacked me with a brush.
This is the first time Annarita Mancini and I have facilitated a program for visual artists. Americans interested in a different kind of travel experience have come to the Sannio Hills to cook in private homes, explore their roots, immerse in traditional cultural activities and write. We hope to see more visual artists in the future.
Let me stop yammering and let you see for yourself –
Grab a group of pals and we will create something special for you too. The Sannio Hills are calling you.
Ci vediamo
(Oh, I almost forgot – I have updated this blog’s Sannio Hills Travel Guide. Check it out.)
