Gary J. Kirkpatrick Art and Travel Blog
Expressionistic art
Gary Kirkpatrick This addition to the Amor series explores again affection expressed in dance. The first version of the dancing couple relied upon contours and left the background starkly white. Here I’ve eliminated the outlining and given the background a stark treatment.
I continue the exploration of couples expressing affection. Here the image is the same as the first, but the treatment varies, and it is on paper versus wood, so the interaction between paint, medium a base offers additional variations.
“My favorite is Enamorado con Amor II Couple in Love with Love. You can feel the intensity. Just beautiful.” Arlene
Love takes many forms and we can always use more and can never have too much. We should not oppress it but encourage its flowering and deepen the bonds that hold us together.
Couple Dances is the second in this series. This one explores the affection expressed in the dance of couples.
This is the first in the series exploring the expressions of affection. I was sitting in Parque Turia in Valencia as a couple across the lawn embraced before the 15th century bridge crossing what was then the main channel of the Turia River, since diverted and made into walking and bike paths as well as playing fields, and of course a meeting place for lovers and snugglers.
Love takes many forms. We can always use more, can never have too much, and should not oppress but encourage its flowering thus deepening the bonds that hold us together.
We are back in our favorite winter quarters, where the sky is always blue and the winter temperatures moderate, the street life vibrant, the food fresh and varied, and the people warm and friendly. Â It’s a place that brings smiles to our face the moment we look out the window or go out the door.
The flight from Rome is normally quite beautiful. Â You might get a view of the Coliseo. Â You fly over Sardinia and then get a lovely view of Valencia. Â Not this flight. Â Weather has hit the entire Iberian Peninsula, and even Valencia is effected. Â Light rain greets us but still we shed the jackets and sweaters we were wearing to get to the airport in Rome.
We are staying in a new ‘piso.’ Â This one is near Plaza de Toros, much larger than our previous place, more expensive too, but better for the painter in the household. Â We will miss our view:
We go to the Palau de la Musica here most Sundays to listen to the symphonic bands, of which there are many in the province. Â The first Sunday we heard the Banda Municipal. Â I often do small pen and ink drawings as I listen. Â Here’s the flautist playing a piece by one of local composers:
October 31, 2015
It’s our last day in Rome and I spent the morning drawing the statue of Marcus Aurelius in il Museo Capitoline. Â This has to be one of the most impressive pieces of art around, for its magnificence, proportions, gilded in bronze and dating from around 180 CE. Â It’s astounding and a privilege to sit before it. Â It is in its new setting in a special room at the museum.
Just around the corner there is this Etruscan piece from 700-600 BCE
This one is terrific but pales in comparison to the Sarcophagus of the Spouses in the Etruscan Museum here- called Villa Giulia.  Circa 520 BCE.  Terracotta.
I met her in Panama while we were in the Peace Corps and we kept in touch. Â She is photogenic!
