Harvesting olives on sundrenched days under a milky sky; the wake up crow of the rooster in the early morning and again at 12 o’clock sharp to announce the time for an aperitivo and a lunch break on the warm grass, crostini, vino, aqua frizzante, enjoying the company of friends, laughter, love, life is beautiful in Guinzano.

Cooking delicious Italian cuisine: Zuppa di Cavolo, Salsicce con Fagioli, Crespelle, Polpettone, Pappardelle al  Cinghiale, Fiori di Zucca… and every day a basket full of vegetables freshly picked by Rolando on the kitchen table for me to use… a dream … a love song to everything Italian.

Evenings under the old fig tree … fireflies …lights of another mountain village in the far distance … Roccastrada. Silence except for Iljo’s dogs barking, when a fox comes too close, dogs in kennels, waiting impatiently for their hunting season, at night a marten on the roof looking for mice.

Working on a Dream is a beautiful Bruce Springsteen song I played in my studio while painting this exhibition.