ITALIAN POETRY/IL PRIMO SETTEMBRE/SEPTEMBER FIRST by Luciano Somma

ITALIAN POETRY / IL PRIMO SETTEMBRE / 
SEPTEMBER FIRST by Luciano Somma

On this last day of August and the eve of autumn, I felt it appropriate
 to share the poem: SEPTEMBER FIRST written by
 Luciano Somma.  As in all of Luciano’s poetry, we feel
 the sentimental spirit of one of Italy’s foremost poets. You can find
Luciano Somma at:

http://www.partecipiamo.it/Poesie/Luciano_Somma/1.htm

http://www.scolastica2000.it/MUSICALMENTE/somma/somma.htm  

Quality giclee prints of the above painting: Fall in New England  
can be purchased at: 
 http://pamela-allegretto.fineartamerica.com

In quest’ultimo giorno d’agosto e la vigilia d’autunno,
ho sentito che era adatto offrire la poema
IL PRIMO SETTEMBRE 
 scritto di Luciano Somma.  Come tutte delle sue poesie,
 sentiamo lo spirito sentimentale d’un poeta molto noto
in Italia. Si può trovare Luciano Somma a:

http://www.partecipiamo.it/Poesie/Luciano_Somma/1.htm

http://www.scolastica2000.it/MUSICALMENTE/somma/somma.htm  

Si puo` comprare dell stampe di giclee del quadro in alto: 

 Fall in New England a: 
 http://pamela-allegretto.fineartamerica.com

 

IL PRIMO SETTEMBRE

L’ultimo sogno d’Agosto                     

Si sveglia col primo Settembre,                  

questa sera è un incanto!                       

Il cielo è amaranto, uno spiffero di vento           

dolce come la carezza d’un bene                                                        

amaro come il fiele del pianto                          

mi porta una ciurma di pensieri                       

Che affollano la mente 

e mettono in croce questo cuore.              

Vorrei che piovesse e non piove…                                                    

Vorrei tante nuvole intorno                                                                                                                                    

ma la luna è d’argento                                    .

Vorrei che un sogno tornasse                      

ma il sogno non torna.  

Questo sogno è partito

sulle onde                    

dell’ultima sera d’Agosto                     

lasciandomi                 

un grappolo di stelle     

lassù nel cielo amaranto

in questa sera incantata

del primo Settembre.      

Luciano Somma

SEPTEMBER FIRST

The last dream of August

awakens with the first of September,

this evening is enchantment!

The sky bleeds red and purple, a light breeze

soft like a lover’s caress                         

bitter like malicious words

brings me a crew of thoughts

that crowd my mind

and crucify this heart.

I wish it were raining and not rain…             

I’d like a cloud-filled sky                                                                                                      

yet view a silver moon.

I wish the dream was ending

But the dream doesn’t end.

This dream has departed

on the waves

of the final August evening

leaving me

a cluster of stars

far-off in the bleeding sky

in this enchanted evening

of September first.

Pamela Allegretto Franz (translation)

Plein Air Painting in New England/Fishing at Gay Park

St. Clement's Castle

PAINTING IN NEW ENGLAND / ST. CLEMENT'S CASTLE

In May, under the expert tutelage of Artist Elizabeth Sennett, our plein air class was granted special permission to spend two painting sessions at St. Clement’s Castle in Portland, CT.
The name “Saint Clement” was chosen for the date of the manor home’s completion, November 23, the Feast of St. Clement. An early bishop of Rome, Clement became the patron saint of mariners and ironworkers, especially blacksmiths, because he was martyred by being tied to an iron anchor and drowned at sea. In his honor, elaborate ironworks decorate the castle gardens.
In a wisteria-bordered courtyard, I was enticed by a stone gazebo that frames a charming well. Since I love painting stonework, this gazebo was too fun to pass up.
The castle can be found off RT66 in Portland, CT
The painting above, St. Clement’s Castle, is an 11”x14” original acrylic on canvas board and can be purchased on my art website:
http://www.PamelaAllegretto-Franz.com
Si può comprare il quadro in sopra, Il Castello di San Clemente, (l’originale acrilico su tela di 28x36cm, senza cornice) al mio website d’arte:
http://www.PamelaAllegretto-Franz.com

Plein Air Painting With Acrylics

For plein air artists who are new to acrylics I’d like to offer a few suggestions gleaned from many a frustrating outing. Someone recently asked if I recommend painting en plein air with acrylics. My response was, “yes and no.”
I know that sounds like a lame answer, but let me explain.
A few of the pros to painting en plein air with acrylics are: They dry fast, the brushes clean up easily with water, there are no toxic mediums to discard, and quick color washes can be applied to capture tone on days beset with fast moving clouds.
Some cons to painting en plein air with acrylics are: They dry fast not only on the canvas but also on the pallet. Drying retarders can help, but I find them to be gooey and leave an unnatural sheen on the canvas. And if you use the retarder on some areas but not on others, your canvas ends up spotted with glossy patches. Flo-aid is a must for a wetting solution and works better than retarders to keep the paint on the pallet moist. But be careful not to get too heavy handed with the flo-aid or your paint won’t grab properly to the surface of the canvas and a subsequent wash will pull that underlying color off the canvas.
Whether painting with acrylic, oils, or watercolor, painting en plein air can be fun. I don’t claim to call myself a plein air artist; I refer to myself as a "fair-weather" plein air artist. As long as the day is warm, dry, sunny, and wind-free, I’m all for it. If it’s cold, windy, or damp, I’m content to sip hot chocolate and schnapps while painting in my heated studio.
My favorite acrylic paint: Brerra by Maimare (Italian made of course.)
The bicycle painting above is an unframed 11”x14” acrylic on canvas board that can be purchased on my art website:
http://www.pamelaAllegretto-Franz.com
It was such fun painting my first bicycle scene, and just as much fun selling it, that I decided to paint it again. This time the background hues are a bit warmer and the stones are slightly rearranged, so as not to be identical to the first painting.
La bicicletta in sopra è un’originale acrilico su tela 28x36cm senza cornice. Si può comprarlo sul mio website d’arte:
http://www.pamelaAllegretto-Franz.com
Mi ha piaciuti cosi tanto dipingere il primo quadro con la bicicletta, ed ho piaciuto anche vendere il primo quadro, che ho deciso dipingere un altro. I colori sono un pò diverso siccome non volevo averli uguali.

PRESIDENT / EAST HAMPTON ART ASSOCIATION

Long before Hilary, I’ve always pushed for a woman President (yes, I was a Hilary supporter), but I never thought I would be that President. No, I’m not talking US President or Italian President or the Presidency of any other country or potentate. Nor am I referring to the Presidency of any company, conglomerate, or corporation.
This is an ART & WRITING blog, so I’m referring to what’s important to me as an artist.
Three years ago, when we first moved to Connecticut from Hawaii, I barely had my meager bags unpacked before I was chomping at the bit to seek out fellow artists. What a lucky and happy surprise to have discovered the East Hampton Art Association: a lively, friendly, and educational organization practically in my back yard.
Now it’s an honor and a privilege to have been elected President of the East Hampton Art Association.
What do I hope to achieve as President? I can’t lower taxes, fix healthcare, or ban the bomb; but I can paint oceans and rivers and streams that are tax-free to contemplate. I can paint healthy children romping through a meadow. I can paint quaint villages still untouched by the ravages of war. And if I have trouble painting any of the above tax-free, healthy, and peaceful subjects, I know I can turn to members of the East Hampton Art Association to guide me, and I intend to not only offer the same courtesy, but to maintain the respect the East Hampton Art Association holds within the immediate region and throughout the state.
In past blog postings I’ve written about the benefits of a good art or writing organization. I’m lucky to have found one of the best. Now, all I have to do is check my infamous 4-letter-words at the meetinghouse door, or else I’ll become the first East Hampton Art Association President to be impeached for profanity.
Wish me luck!

SECRET GARDEN

PAINTING EN PLEIN AIR / NEW ENGLAND

Connecticut is a plein air artist’s paradise. In addition to the vibrant hues that dominate the fall landscape, an explosion of pink, yellow, violet, and rose proclaim spring.
Last May, I attended a plein air class taught by Elizabeth Sennett. The painting above is my attempt at painting Elizabeth’s spring garden.
Although the ability to identify most flowers by their proper name eludes me, and my lack of floristic knowledge is often times manifested when for example, I paint rose leaves on a daisy, still, I love to paint flowers and will continue to do so, be they authentic reproductions or flowers that reside only in my mind’s eye.
You can find this acrylic on canvas painting on my art website:
http://www.PamelaAllegretto-Franz.com

Lo stato di Connecticut è un paradiso per gli artisti di plein air. Oltre ai colori vivace dell’autunno, un esplosione di rosso, giallo, violetto, e rosa dichiarono la primavera.
Il maggio scorso, ho dipinto il quadro sopra durante una classe di plein air con la maestra Elizabeth Sennett.
Benchè mi elude l’abilità identificare i fiori coi nomi giusti, e si vede la mia mancanza della conoscenza floreale quando dipingo una margherita con le foglie d’una rosa, tuttavia, mi piace dipingere i fiori e li dipingerò ancora, se sono veri oppure fiori che vivono solamente nella mente.
Il quadro sopra, dipinto con l’acrilico su tela, si può trovare sul mio website:
http://www.PamelaAllegretto-Franz.com