#InMyStudio... "Found in Italy"

I started this piece 12 weeks ago and I kind of loved it but also didn't (below left).

I got to this point but didn't really know how to move forward.

The empty background was bugging me and the lack of details and the shape of her body.

I love detail work.  And much was missing on this piece.

To me, there was no areas of interest or story.

So I just started playing by adding beads... and making big hair, lots of doodles.

But I've done that a lot lately.  I have been studying other artists backgrounds.

And something I've been waiting to try for ages, is working buildings in.

I asked my sweet friend Renee Plains, if I could study some of her building work and incorporate it into this piece.  She loved the idea.  I haven't shared this on social media yet because I wanted to show Renee first.  I only wish I could have had sweet Renee sitting along side me instead of doing this virtually.

I love how a piece organically changes as you keep digging deeper.

I lost the one arm and one by one the birds started to disappear.

I started blocking in the buildings (below right).  But eventually we found our way together.

I love how it's completely different to how I imagined, I never imagined Italy in this piece.

And I'm absolutely in love with this fact.

I'm keeping it up right now... reminding me about Italy, our beautiful Orvieto.

Hard to believe a year ago we were prepping to go... again.  I guess in a way it's symbolic.

Symbolic of my journey the past 3 years or so... the teachings, the peer-learning and the journey.

I'm so deeply grateful.

I do love the big hair and the lines and doodles.

Things I've been exploring lately.