Liana Sofia Tumino

New Series of Sicily Frescoes

2009-10-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

A journey to my father's hometown of Ragusa, will culminate into a series of frescoes of Sicily .

From my mother's village in Calabria, Ragusa is "close but yet so far." You can take a bus or train to Villa San Giovanni in the city of Reggio, where a 45 minute ferry takes you across the strait of Messina.

Above is the view towards Calabria from the ferry, below is the view towards Sicily.

From Messina the bus or train continues on to Catania where you need to board a bus to Ragusa....a 12 hour venture. By car it could take as little as 4 but there is some lovely things to see on the way.

Places like Isola Bella above, Toarmina and Castelmonte below.

Upon arrival to Ragusa and the ancient town of Ibla, a Unesco world heritage site, you are faced with the beautiful facade of San Giorgio in a most beautiful piazza.

Navigating through the cobblestoned streets and many stairs throughout the town I came across this lovely scene.

I became inspired to take over 1000 photographs during this 4 day visit. These were both taken from the stairs of Santa Maria delle Scale of which there are over 300!

This fresco on a rustic limestone tile has a 1941 5 centessimo coin inserted into the plaster.

View this and more at the upcoming Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale Arizona. www.celebrateart.com

What's on my easel in real time #4

2009-09-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

This is the final installment of "What's on my easel in real time" edition 1. It has been fun so look for another edition soon. Since my last post I have added 2 sections of plaster to this peice. Giornata 2 (the 2nd section of plaster and my 2nd painting day) was all of the stone work in the background.

Giornata 3 (the 3rd section of plaster and my 3rd painting day) was the scenery in the window.

Now along with Penelope she waits to be transferred. I will let the rest speak for itself, except to say that she needs a name...any suggestions?

"Untitled" or "Penelope's sister"

2009-09-09T13:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome once again! This is the 3rd installment of What's on my easel in real time. You can see here that the first "giornata" or painting day on this fresco is complete. The second section of plaster has been partially laid.

The humidity index here is 50-80% which means I have been forced to leave my plaster "open" almost 24 hours before I can begin painting. I need the plaster to remain damp, but not so much that my brush will dent it. It is somewhat of a waiting game. If you have ever watched paint dry (or plaster) you know how frustrating this can be!!

I have recently found that by laying the plaster the day before, I can begin painting early the next day. Very important since once I am able to start, I must finish within 12 hours ( before the plaster starts it's curing stage.) But when I go to Arizona the humidity index will be 0-7% and that's a whole new ball game! (sigh)

I am often asked "why bother doing all this? The answer is because...

There is nothing like a true fresco!

Enjoy!

"Penelope"

2009-09-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

So in keeping with posting what's on my easel in real time. The 2nd section of plaster on "Penelope" is now finished and will be curing on my easel while I prepare panels for new works.

At 30"x30" she will now continue "waiting" to be transferred onto cloth as she is too heavy to stay on plaster and cement board. This will happen throughout the next few weeks. The window by which she sits was referenced from a fascinating place called Bruzzano,Calabria.

Below you can see that everything and everyone from the village is long gone. You can also see my mother's village of Ferruzzano on the hilltop in the background.

Interestingly, there is visible evidence of inhabitation of from byzantine, pre-hellenic and even neolithic civilizations here ..look closely at the rock and how it is carved in places!

Does that look like a buffalo? and a cave dwelling?? Well I guess we are talking thousands of years BC... Calabria has such a rich history!

If you like what you see here, be sure to view my You Tube video called "My Italy" for more beautiful imagery from Calabria as well as more frescoes. The complete and final version is now done! See you there!

What's on the easel... in real time!

2009-08-28T14:04:00.001-07:00

Since Italy I find myself in a creative frenzy, sorting through a sea of images and inspiration, both mental and photographic. I thought it might be fun to post about what is on my easel... and do it in real time. So, this fresco is unfinished and untitled but sitting & waiting...much like Penelope in Homer's Odyssey...ah, ok perhaps it is titled! I will call her "Penelope!"

Penelope, wife of Odyseuss (Ulysses in Roman mythology), is known for her patience and faithfulness in keeping her many suitors at bay as she waited for her husbands return from a long absence. Now she will show the same virtues as she awaits completion. The brown paper area to the right indicates where I will lay the 2nd section of plaster. If all goes as planned she will be sitting by a window with a beautiful view of lets see, hmmm...Italy?!?

"MY ITALY" film updated with new frescoes

2009-08-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

As promised here is a "sneak peek" of 2 of the new frescoes I created in Italy this summer. You will notice I have been having some fun experimenting with the idea of inserting interesting elements into the plaster! The first includes an antique key and old Italian Lire.

The other is a collaboration with a local Italian mosaic artist. I love the way the small mosaic cluster in the foreground mirrors the cluster of houses of the village. I expect mosaic will be slowly creeping in to my new work, another fascinating, beautiful, and ancient medium!

This summer's abundant rainfall has given me time to work on familiarizing myself with the wonderful world of editing and film via i-movie. Although most everyone is on holidays, those of you who are gracious enough to be visiting me here, instead of the beach or the lake, will be the first to view my finalized "MY ITALY film. You will see many beautiful images in the film and I will write more about that soon but for now, just enjoy the scenery, the rest of the summer, and I will "see you in September!"

MY ITALY post No. 3 "Italian Gelato" no cone, no cup!

2009-07-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

This funny looking bun on the counter is called "Brioche" and in Southern Italy it is the very best way to eat Gelato (in my opinion of course!) Leave it to the Italians to take a good thing and make it better!!

Let's see, I will have cioccolato, nocciola and "Rocher" the name of this flavor says it all!!!

After making your selection your brioche (an egg bread that is soft and not too sweet, similar to easter bread) will be filled with gelato and served with a wink!

Thankfully you are furnished with a spoon... even still this is a messy endeavor but worth the effort for sure!

So you've caught me taking a break in beautiful Italy! I promise I have been working as well and may offer a "sneak peek" soon...until then Buon Appetito once again!! And remember to visit www.celebrateart.com for updates on the upcoming show.

p.s. Why are all these posts about food???

MY ITALY post No. 2 " Breakfast Italian Style"

2009-07-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

This is a post about ricotta cheese, somewhat of a staple here in the south of Italy. Our quest for the freshest ricotta possible begins at 8 am with a drive throught the Calabrian countryside.

Cheesecake as we know it in North America has no similarity to what would be called cheesecake here...Crostata di Ricotta (cheesecake Italian style) is a wonderful desert light and simple and only one of the many things that ricotta is used for. We also know ricotta when it is added to lasagna, manicotti, or less well known is frittata di ricotta, similar to an omelet. My personal favorite "Cannoli Siciliani" Sicily's famous cannoli that are of course filled with ricotta!

I know we have arrived when I notice the sheep grazing on the hillsides, the cows on the other hand were happily munching on fresh hay in the stall.

In a small room, attached to the stall is a large copper pot on the boil over a gas fire. A larger basin holds the curds and whey. The curds are being made into forms of cheese that will cure over the next year. The whey is slowly added to the copper pot where the ricotta will form.

Tapping the copper pot with a wooden pole assists the ricotta to rise to the top- once the ideal temperature is reached the ricotta is skimmed off the top and put into cheese containers.

The most obscure and traditional way to eat ricotta, I assume would be foreign to most because it entails close proximity to the farm. "Ricotta con siero" is what we came for this morning. A peasant food fondly remembered by those who grew up here. It doesn't get any fresher than this!!

Hard bread is broken into a bowl and moistened with a generous amount of ricotta and a good amount of "siero" the liquid that remains with the production of the ricotta. I apologize for the gruel like appearance, I can assure you it tastes much better than it looks!

Another herd of sheep arrive as we eat our breakfast on the farm. Golden hillsides dotted with blooming oleander, olive trees and yellow wildflowers abound. A sight to behold, a day to remember! I took many pictures which are sure to become frescoes soon! All will be unveiled at the 20th anniversary exhibit at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale Arizona.

Visit again soon as my next post will be about my trip to Sicily! A presto e Buon Apetito!!

"My Italy" 2009

2009-06-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

My arrival to Italy was on June 15. Around 4pm in the backyard of the house that will be my home for the next 30 days, I am immediately greeted by a glorious apricot tree. A sign of things to come in this country where the food culture is prominent and wonderful! The branches are heavy with fruit, so of course it was a feast at the tree...picking and eating fresh apricots, the view of the Ionian sea always in view!

Soon the ladies of the house prepare dinner of “Fagiolini” ( a flat green bean prepared with fresh tomato, garlic and olive oil) and sardines, rolled up and breaded with their little tails sticking up like a frill. By 9pm “the boys” are a little late for dinner but they don't come empty handed. Fishing for the last few hours they come home proudly with their catch... a bucket of these little silver fish that are sure to be part of tomorrows menu.

The next day warrants an early trip to the village, the one many of you know through my frescoes of Ferruzzano. There are three sisters, part of a handful of families that still live in this quaint mountain town, that still make bread in their wood oven up there.

We arrive and are quickly invited in and we enter a small kitchen. An older gentleman sits in the corner by a sunny window with a sweater over his shoulders. He wears a woolen cap even though it is June, and rests his hands on a wooden cane. His eyes sparkle as he greets us and we sit with him.

On the table were three brown paper packages, the bread we were to take with us. In one package there were three round loaves of a very rustic type, split lengthwise and filled with fresh anchovies and extra virgin olive oil of their own production of course!. This is a specialty called "schiacciata" (meaning "pressed" so it is kind of a flat-ish bread.) When the bread comes out of the oven and while hot, it gets split and drizzled with olive oil. It is then that it is either sprinkled with oregano, or filled with anchovies. I have also had it with an aged goat cheese, a personal favorite! Another package contained plain loaves, and on the window sill there is a third package for us, a container of fresh eggs from the chickens of course!

"Do you drink wine?" was the next question...

The small man in the corner utters, "our wine is no good this year!"

His sister disagrees with him and insists that it is because he doesn't taste like he used to.

she quickly leaves the kitchen.

"Where did she go?" I ask,

My compare replies, "go follow her and you will see"

Out the front door there is a set of stairs with no bannister, just a very old grape vine that follows the incline of the stairs so perfectly it acts as a bannister! Around the house to the back is the wood oven and beside it the cellar door...our host is crouched down filling a bottle of wine from the cask, it is cool and dark but the sunlight spills in from one tiny window and the open door...her sister quickly approaches with 2 glasses so we can taste, it is only 9 am but it is good!

We leave the cellar and enter an adjoining room where the bread that was made that morning rests on a bed. There were at least two dozen loaves. Big, small, round some with a hole in the middle and covered with sheets.

Hanging from the ceiling were a dozen salami's of different types tied up with string to cure. This room was also cool and dark and filled with the remnants of another life. A life disappeared except for these few people that are keeping parts of it alive. But for how much longer?? I feel sad but look around in amazment! It has been a beautiful morning and I feel lucky to be here.

On the way home we must stop to check if there are any ripe figs on the trees. It is only mid June so still early for fig season, but if you are persistant and patient you can get lucky! We stop at the side of the road, enter through a gate and traverse the uneven tilled earth beneath our feet. My father, on a mission a forges ahead, my compare however stops at the sight of a plum tree, picking and eating them like large grapes, I take a picture before I join him.

No figs from these trees today, "But with this heat they will need only another week" my father shouts.

Ok, back to the plum tree for another feast but I soon hear the sound of bells..."clunk clunkity clunk", Alas a small herd of goats, white and tan and a small black one with the big bell around his neck. They become aware of me and start to run, most on the hillside a couple on the road in front.

The sound of the bells waining in the distance brings this morning to a close and down the mountain we go. Now with a trunk filled with fresh bread, fresh eggs, a bottle of homemade wine and a bag full of freshly picked plums! no money required!! I am not sure, but this could be heaven!

O yes, by the way, I think admist all the excitement I think I found a subject for my next fresco. What do you think?

Until next time,

Arrivaderci and Buon Apetito!! and remember you can view my new body of work inspired by "My Italy 2009" at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale Arizona. Visit www.celebrateart.com for details on next years 20th anniversary exhibit. 3m9ar78jux

I call her "Bella Pacifica"

2009-05-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

I call her "Bella Pacifica" because I hope you will agree, she is both "beautiful" and "at peace." This fresco transferred onto linen has some unique, interesting and even rare aspects to it. I am happy to share this with you but first take some time to just enjoy!

You probably noticed the many layers of the presentation. This idea developed after a realization I had with fellow artist Whitney Peckman.

Whitney, is an extremely talented artist who specializes in gourd painting and is also a former weaver. She validated the beauty and exquisiteness of a piece of hand loomed linen I had acquired from some special friends I have in Calabria. She noted how well made it was and how rare it was to find something of that calibre in our modern day!

I had been waiting for a special project that would accomodate this beautiful and rare piece of history, and Whitney and I were in agreement, this was it!

How I ended up getting this linen is another interesting story, but I will save that for the special people that end up with the piece! Well ok, if someone asks through a comment I will be obliged to answer!

The burnt edges of the fresco (very burnt in areas) echoes the distressed texture of the surface and is complimented by the loose weave and tea stained cheesecloth I used as backing. She floats on the rustic linen, but then the whole thing is mounted on a fine linen. The presentation will be complete once framed in a beautifully carved Italian moulding that will pick up the burnt tones in the background.

Can't wait to exhibit her at the 20th anniversary Celebration of Fine Art in 2010! This will be a wonderful year for pushing the envelope, breaking new ground, and foraging into new territory!

Keep your eyes and ears open... it will be an exciting year and I will be sure to keep you posted! For now I will continue on my new body of work inspired by the beauty of summer and hope for the future ahead!

The 2009 "Celebration" closes with a bang!

2009-04-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to thank everyone who attended this years Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale Arizona.

It was a crazy yet wonderful year! All of my newest work except for the largest fresco titled "Via Roma under a pale blue sky" have found new and beautiful homes!

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my many collectors scattered across the country, and my fellow artists who continue to support and inspire me every single year!

I look forward to creating new works for next year, our 2oth anniversary year! It will be an exciting one! I will look forward to seeing you there!! Until then, have a wonderful summer and I will keep you "posted" soon.

Kindest Regards always.

Celebration of Fine Art 2009

2009-02-15T21:09:00.001-08:00

Welcome the 19th Annual Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, Arizona....Be sure to look for me in my new larger space No. 254 on the sunny side of the tent! The weather has been just beautiful (except for a few cool days.) and there is a lot of new and beautiful work to see (from all 100 artists!) We hope to see you soon because we are now entering our 5th week!! TIME FLIES WHEN YOU ARE HAVING FUN!!!

Part of series "Tegole Antiche" title: " w i t h C h i c k e n s" 1650.00 (now sold)

Here are some of the peices I talked about in earlier blog posts....the tiles from Italy are now mounted and framed and have been gathering quite a lot of attention...2 have already found a new home! Will one of the remaining 3 be yours??? part of series "Mattoni Antiche" title " o n t h e r o c k s " 1250.00 (now sold)

part of series "Tegole Antiche" title: " w i t h o c e a n" 1495.00 (now sold)

Well as you can imagine it's been pretty busy lately so I haven't been able to post in a while. If possible please come in and see me instead. Hours are 10 am to 6pm daily until March 29th.
You can find us in the "little white tents" at the Loop 101 and Scottsdale Rd- exit 34.

http://www.celebrateart.com/

WHERE ART LOVERS AND ARTISTS CONNECT.
Hope to see you there!

Via Roma under a pale blue sky

2008-11-10T15:03:00.000-08:00

After months of preparation and planning, I am happy to unveil my latest work titled "Via Roma under a pale blue sky" a fresco painted in 5 sections measuring approx. 58"X35." Although the painting stage is complete, this peice will cure in my studio for the next several weeks before I begin the transfer process onto linen.

As you can imagine, a fresco this size would be extremly heavy and difficult to move, therefore I will utilize the process called "Calicot" or "a strappo" to strip it from the wall. This process is often used in restoration, as well as in museums, to repair or transport frescoes from the Renaissance and even earlier. I will be able to post on this at a later time, for now I will explain the painting process in detail using the amazing technology of time lapse photography. Before launching the video however, allow me to provide a breif explanation of what you will be viewing.

Fresco is painting onto fresh plaster. A large fresco is painted in sections called "Giornate" or whatever the artist can complete in 1 day. You will see me plastering a section and then painting it. You will notice that it is important to work quickly and to work all over the section so that no part of it is allowed to dry.

Each section of plaster represents a days work which consists of approx. 12 hours of working time. Take notice that as I work on the final section, the sky, you will be able to view the painting drying lighter as the time passes and the plaster dries.

Enjoy the time lapse video here or follow the link at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAnZJm_OgqQ . You will be able to choose a normal or high quality version, either way I hope it will offer a better understanding of one of the oldest forms of painting, and such an important part of art history... Fresco Painting, an ancient art revisted!

The Fresco Challenge: Edition No. 1

2008-09-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

As I glance around my studio I realize that the more space I make for myself, the more space I take...it never seems to be enough. 20 kg buckets of lime imported from Italy, sacks of sand, powder pigments in a multitude of glass jars ready to be mixed with distilled water. Trowels, cheesecloth, rags, plastic, wet towels and spray bottles to keep the work moist as long as possible. "Why go through all of the trouble?" is a question I am often asked. My reply is always the same. As an artist I don't think you pick the medium, I think the medium picks you, and I am ecstatic to be part of a renaissance for the fresco technique...such an important part of art history and one of the oldest forms of painting!

As I prepare to begin my next large fresco I will take you through some of these challenges as they don't stop with just the materials required. Above, below and in the sidebar you will see 3 fresco studies I have completed in preparation for a much larger fresco of the same subject that I will be commencing soon. The reason I do these small studies is the time factor I mentioned in an earlier blog post. In large works I benefit greatly if I have had a chance to paint a smaller version first, always remembering that I must acheive my desired result before the plaster I am working on has a chance to dry, I guess this would be challenge #1.

( sold)

Above you can see an example of challenge #2. Upon completion of any fresco I have to consider that the painting will dry anywhere from 10-25% lighter depending on the amount of lime paste (bianco san giovanni) I have added to my palette. Take a look and notice how the whites have popped, and the shadows have lightened somewhat in this newest fresco titled "Via Giacomo Under a Pale Blue Sky."

A typical 12 hour day in the fresco studio

2008-09-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

It is September, and now that everyone is back to school and back to work and I am back in my studio full time, without friends, family and the summer sun tugging at me to "come out and play," I thought I would walk you through a typical fresco painting day at my easel.

I am often asked "how long did it take you to paint that?" A difficult question for any artist to answer, not because the time cannot be measured, but because the creation of a piece of art often includes much more than brush and pigment.

In my case, the fresco shown here is part of an intense study of my mothers village in Italy through time spent, sketches, and photographic references. My goal is to try and capture the essence of this place in a large panoramic fresco which will include some of the village and its inhabitants (my feathered friends, the chickens,) and the awesome view of the Ionian sea.

In order to acheive this in fresco, a fairly unforgiving medium, I will do a series of smaller frescoes (approx 18"x18") These will be segments or close ups of the larger fresco which will ultimately be approx. 40"x60"

For those of you who prefer a more concrete answer to the time question, I have documented the "clock"time for you. As you can see a time sensitve fresco must be completed before the plaster that I am painting on has a chance to dry (buon fresco.) This can vary, but this particular peice, at this size, at this time of year, where I am in Canada took 12 hours (whew!)

(sold)

Posting No. 5 My trip to Italy '08

2008-08-12T16:45:00.000-07:00

These are the hills of Calabria in Italys beautiful south where my mother is from. My grandmother told and retold stories of her life here, so much so that I call it home even though I have only visited a handful of times.

Perhaps one day I will return to stay. Although my mothers village is mostly abandoned now, there are rumours of rehabilitation...I am hopeful and remain optimistic that the house below, once belonging to my great grandmother, will be rebuilt. A vacation home and art school perhaps? hmmm... I will continue to ponder the possibilities!!!

As I wandered through the quiet streets of this tiny village taking photographs, the chickens followed! I thought it was odd but as the morning passed I depended on them to keep me amused.

Becoming very interesting to me, they've now appeared in my work, the most recent below. Keep a watchful eye to see if they pop up again...I am quite certain they will!!

This 200 year old roof tile was retrieved from a newly fallen home. I found the patina of age so interesting I decided to fresco a small portion. This small fresco captures the spirit of my day with the chickens. I was excited to collect and experiment more during my stay, completing 6 pieces in total. They are still "works in progress"so I will keep you posted on how they evolve. For now I hope you enjoy this "sneak peek!

Posting No. 4 fresco titled "Bella Vista"

2008-08-08T07:47:00.001-07:00

This true fresco painted in 4 sections was unveiled towards the end of the 2008 Celebration of Fine Art show in Scottsdale. http://www.celebrateart.com/ . I call it "Bella Vista" because this home truly has a beautiful view of the Ionian Sea and hills of Calabria where it is situated in my mothers home town of Ferruzzano, a very special place to me!

Framed in a beautiful Italian moulding shown below with a distressed gold leaf fillet this peice measures 43 1/2"x 38"

Posting No. 3 fresco titled "La Carriola" una veduta di Ragusa Ibla, Sicilia

2008-08-06T18:57:00.000-07:00

Thankfully I will now be able to start uploading new images and current work for those of you that have noticed that my website hasn't been updated in a while. This is the place to be from now on to see "whats new" I hope that you will feel free to post comments along the way!!

Inspired by the "Carrettini Siciliani" (sicilian carts) of my fathers home on the Island of Sicily, this is a unique work as it has evolved into a playful array of color and light. Starting out as a true fresco in 4 sections, it then underwent the transfer process onto linen called Calicot or "a strappo". Restoration work was done as well as a metamorphosis of the cart, adding color via the secco technique (pigment and a binder.)

The result is truly unique and very textural. A rare combination of fine Italian moulding in pewter, greens and golds, complement the work beautifully. 36"x45" unframed, approx. 48"x57" framed as shown above.

Posting No. 2 fresco titiled "Umbrian Alcove"

2008-08-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

Before I post my newest works I will backtrack a bit since my website has been out of commission and I haven't been able to upload images in quite a while.

"Umbrian Alcove" as you see it here was a milestone peice for me... a true fresco in 7 sections transferred onto linen. The transfer process called "calicot" or "a strappo" would make a good future post if anyone is interested. In the meantime, take a look at this fresco in its new environment...a beautiful home in Paradise Valley, AZ.

The lovely new owners created quite an impact by adding 2 smaller frescoes on travertine on either side. (close ups below)

Posting No.1 My first blog!

2008-08-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

Ok...so i will attempt to enter the 21st century although i spend most of my time between the 12th and 14th! Michelangelo eat your heart out!! Now lets see how this all works, I will do my best to learn and post what i have been up to "between shows" Encouragement would be greatly appreciated!