More from me, a kind of overview…
"Street View, Eastern France" by Dillard Richardson, watercolor, 2019
I want to say a bit about some recent traveling, and painting, that I've done. My wife Laurie (she is also an amazing artist!) and I went in 2019, and in 2023, to France and Italy, respectively. It means so much to me to see parts of another country, being in cafes and bistros, hiking, tasting wine, and occasionally shopping.
In France, we went to some magnificent small wineries, both in Alsace and Jura (eastern France). And as I am a student of wine, I saw it as a form of continuing education, yes! We stopped and walked a lot, and went from one beautiful village in Alsace, to another. The wine culture in Alsace, and in Jura, is a dominant part of life. How nice to enjoy the work of these winemakers, and to experience some part of the local traditions regarding food and wine. So inspiring.
Italy is much the same — a culture of winemaking and local specialties in the many restaurants. For a few days, we were on a very unique island, Ischia, a 45-minute ferry ride from Naples, in southwest Italy. I've rarely felt more at home in a place that wasn't home. I don't know how that is, but I felt it.
Our daughter was completing a semester of study abroad in Florence, and we traveled there next. Oh My God. Renaissance everywhere, the 15th century meets the 21st. The Duomo is astounding, and there are so many great avenues of exploration in Florence. I found myself wanting to call out the names of masters from the Renaissance, while walking one night, so I did (much to Susannah's amusement). So much that we saw will be in my memory forever.
Back home and to my painting, I hope I can continue this traveling and relate here a small part of it.
We are so lucky to have a place at the NC coast to go to. It’s been in Laurie's family for 40-some years. It’s where I love to do coastal 'scapes. I find I don't tire of seeing ocean sunrises. You'll see more here of that type of subject matter, and of musical adventures..that will probably result in paintings.
It’s what I do.
