In 2004, I attended a workshop in Tuscany provided by Fred Wessel and Jeremiah Patterson, two amazing artists and human beings. They have been hosting these workshops for close to 20 years and their knowledge of the subject matter and rapport with their students have given me an absolutely incredible experience of Italian life and insight into Renaissance painting. I now fully appreciate the saying ‘la dolce vita’, the sweet life. I have gone on to attend two more workshops since.

 I have primarily been painting Italian scenes since I returned home in late June 2004. The sheer beauty of the medieval hill towns has had a profound experience on me and provided a lifetime’s worth of subject matter for painting. All of this doesn’t even begin to address Venice, a stunning setting that has offered endless inspiration. My painting of Siena earned me an award of merit at the California State Fair in 2007.  This summer I received two awards of merit for Emmy and Yellow boat.

Last December I completed my MFA at the Academy of Art in San Francisco.  This has been a tremendous journey and I feel my work has improved greatly.  I must have learned more in the first semester than I did in my entire undergraduate studies.  This past summer I spent two months in the village of Corciano near Perugia for the summer session at the Academy.  It was a glorious experience.

Ciao amici,

Barry