3 Members/3 Friends/1 Vision to capture on canvas our history. Helen Tilston, Mary Rose Holmes and Violetta Chandler have been painting together for the past 20 years. All three represented the USA at the juried invitational Florence Biennale in Firenze, Italy. Florida Trust for Historic Preservaton award. a Victoria Magazine, 2019 Two documentary Save Our Cottages Artists with a cause and a second Canvas with a Cause aired on PBS 2020.
Italy - A soft spot in our hearts
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
Painting outside our little Inn
Planning our next venture
Beside where we stay in Venice
Italy is like a second home for the three of us. We have a path worn to Tuscany and Venice and we are always looking forward to our next trip.
When we travel as three painters and friends, we are very serious about painting and it takes priority. Our needs are simple, we love to travel, love to dress beautifully and love to paint.
Recently a 16 days trip found us flying into Venice and painting for 6 days which was in a way a little too short. We stayed at our favourite little Inn in the Dorsoduro region, which is perfect, climb down the stairs, stumble on to the sidewalk and set up the easels and so many motifs to choose. A typical day finds us up at dawn, out walking, sketching and taking pictures and looking at the sunrise. Early breakfast and by 9.30 we are set up and painting. We usually paint two to three small studies each day. We all love to walk and explore and naturally some shopping. Museums, churches, galleries are high on the list.
This vista is one of our favourites and is literally outside our door
Mary Rose is set and has found some shade
Violetta has chosen to sit by the canal and paint. The little girl is mesmerized
A stunning garden where we paint
No trip is complete without a gondola ride and being serenaded
Dinner at our favourite restaurant
Dinner with friends Esther, Mark and international film crew who joined us
The picture I obtained from their web site does not adequately portray it.
Lunch is usually simple, a salad and share sandwiches. Dinner is always special and we have many wonderful places to choose from in our area. One favourite is Antica Locanta Montin, the garden is spectacular. It is a great spot for both lunch and dinner.
Back on board the vaporette, destination: Venice Airport. This time we pick up our car rental and decide who shall be the designated driver for our journey to Greve in Chianti and our castle for he next ten days, Castellovicchio Maggio.
Next week I we shall tell you all about our adventures and there are many!
Have you been to Italy? What are your favourite areas?
Hello Helen How wonderful to be doing something you are passionate about, in beautiful surroundings, and in the company of dear friends. Your post makes me want to reach for my passport and head off to the airport..... of course I would have to learn to paint too! Abby x
hello there- I've seen your name in the comments box of many blogs I follow and have smiled at your remarks so thought I'd come over and see who you are.
How lovely your blogs are, how skillful your art work; I've spent pleasant time looking at everything and am now ready to resume my housework ;(
Hope that you're having a good weekend- apart from the aforementioned housework, everything is grand here on a perfectly sunny English morning xx
Such idyllic lives, Helen! Somehow I imagine you and your artist friends in sepia, taking it all at a slower, more graceful pace than the rest of us, interspersed with flashes of painterly colour. The Verona Opera Festival is my own favourite memory of Italy - absolutely wonderful to sit on the warm stone steps by candlelight as the arias soar about us.
oh, helen, what memories. we were in rome and surrounding areas a couple of years ago and fell in love. I want to go back!
you asked about the artist whose studio I featured today - there should be a link in my text but if you are unable to access it, please visit www.acollageaday.blogspot.com. I really like his work!
Hello My Spotty Pony It is indeed a joy to travel with Mary Rose and Violetta and our days are always very special and somehow we always manage to have an adventure and fun stories You are so close to Italy, it must be tempting to slip away. Thanks for visiting Helenxx
Hello Ted and Bunny So lovely to hear from you and I, too, have seen your name kindly comment on blogs It is such a special joy to connect with like minded friends from all over the world I am enjoying your blog and wishing you a lovely weekend. Thanks again for taking the time to read our blog and your comments we treasure. Helen
Hello Mise, You are right indeed some of our days are in sepia tones but it does not last long as we burst into colour. Verona sounds very special Mise, I have not been but will make a note. We did attend the opera at Le Fenice which was magical and a dream come true. Italy is so accessible to Ireland with Ryanair, it must be awfully tempting.
Bon Giorno Donna and thanks you for your pleasant visit. Italy is so special and yes, you must return. Thanks for letting me know about the artist you featured. I am just going to pop over to your blog in a second. Wishing you a weekend full of joy Helen
The luxury magazine, which finds its way into the homes and hands of discriminating buyers has released their September/October 2011 issue. This is the type of magazine that is retained, hoarded and collected. We are delighted to be featured in this prestigious magazine's Back Page . Violetta, Mary Rose and Helen Tilston, aka The Plein Aire Cottage Artists have been painting together for the past ten years. Double click on Image to enlarge. We have been very busy painting and travelling this past Summer and Autumn and look forward to exhibiting "Save Our Cottages" Series X in February 2012. Are you familiar with the duPont Registry? Have you been to Tampa, Florida ? duPont REGISTRY (Click here for to read article) We are giving away 2 copies of the duPont Registry and 2 copies of Plein Aire Cottage Artists Limited Edition 2012 calendar. Please leave a comment and we shall random draw names on Thursday October 20th.
Helen Tilston, St. Remy-de-Provence, France. Photo Michael Tilston I have just returned from Provence, France where my work took me to research painting and filming venues for Save Our Cottages: Artists with a cause, a documentary to be aired on PBS in 2018. Violetta Chandler and Mary Rose Holmes Painting and at Indian Rocks Beach, Photo Tricia Priest Emmy Award winning documentary film-making team Lynn Marvin Dingfelder and Larry Wiezycki have been filming The Plein Aire Cottage Artists, Violetta Chandler, Mary Rose Holmes and Helen Tilston for the past several months at Indian Rocks Beach, Florida Violetta Chandler & mary Rose Holmes Photo: Helen Tilston The second part of the documentary is scheduled for filming in Provence at the beginning of June. We are going to be painting and walking in the footsteps of the fathers of Impressionism in Provence. We are thrilled that this documentary is going to film and will b...
Mary Rose Ward Gullet with mother Sheri Ward Mary Rose and Matt Gullet married in the Spring time The Wedding We have exciting news, a baby is expected around Christmas time. The child will be a 7th generation Floridian on the maternal side. Matt and Mary Rose wanted a Florida theme for the baby's room and animals will feature prominently in the bed linen and accessories. Artist Mary Rose Holmes paints palms on nursery walls Artist Mary Rose Holmes was commissioned to paint palm trees. The parents want the child to enjoy the room for many years and decor can be changed as the baby grows. The bed linen is a gift from GrandMother Gullet Artist Holmes painting and pondering Mrs. Mary Rose & Mr. Matt Gullet Do you think Mary Rose and Matt are going to have a girl or a boy?
Hello Helen
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to be doing something you are passionate about, in beautiful surroundings, and in the company of dear friends.
Your post makes me want to reach for my passport and head off to the airport..... of course I would have to learn to paint too!
Abby x
hello there-
ReplyDeleteI've seen your name in the comments box of many blogs I follow and have smiled at your remarks so thought I'd come over and see who you are.
How lovely your blogs are, how skillful your art work; I've spent pleasant time looking at everything and am now ready to resume my housework ;(
Hope that you're having a good weekend- apart from the aforementioned housework, everything is grand here on a perfectly sunny English morning
xx
Such idyllic lives, Helen! Somehow I imagine you and your artist friends in sepia, taking it all at a slower, more graceful pace than the rest of us, interspersed with flashes of painterly colour. The Verona Opera Festival is my own favourite memory of Italy - absolutely wonderful to sit on the warm stone steps by candlelight as the arias soar about us.
ReplyDeleteoh, helen, what memories. we were in rome and surrounding areas a couple of years ago and fell in love. I want to go back!
ReplyDeleteyou asked about the artist whose studio I featured today - there should be a link in my text but if you are unable to access it, please visit www.acollageaday.blogspot.com. I really like his work!
all my best, helen...donna
Hello My Spotty Pony
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a joy to travel with Mary Rose and Violetta and our days are always very special and somehow we always manage to have an adventure and fun stories
You are so close to Italy, it must be tempting to slip away.
Thanks for visiting
Helenxx
Hello Ted and Bunny
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to hear from you and I, too, have seen your name kindly comment on blogs It is such a special joy to connect with like minded friends from all over the world
I am enjoying your blog and wishing you a lovely weekend.
Thanks again for taking the time to read our blog and your comments we treasure.
Helen
Hello Mise,
ReplyDeleteYou are right indeed some of our days are in sepia tones but it does not last long as we burst into colour. Verona sounds very special Mise, I have not been but will make a note. We did attend the opera at Le Fenice which was magical and a dream come true.
Italy is so accessible to Ireland with Ryanair, it must be awfully tempting.
Is mise
Helen
Bon Giorno Donna and thanks you for your pleasant visit.
ReplyDeleteItaly is so special and yes, you must return.
Thanks for letting me know about the artist you featured. I am just going to pop over to your blog in a second.
Wishing you a weekend full of joy
Helen