Why not?  If not now, then when?  I ask myself these questions as I begin writing this post.  When exactly did I realize that I must begin establishing some roots in a country that I have yet to visit?  Is it simply my DNA? For only $69 and a saliva swap, I could truly answer the depth of that question fairly quickly.  Is it my love for cannolis and overstuffed cream puffs that were initially brought up from Arthur Avenue on holidays, when I was a little girl?  One of the few joyous moments during holiday times growing up, that I can recall.  Or, was it Puccini's dramatic, "Tosca" that I saw in the Metropolitan Opera House as a young adult?  Although, I couldn't understand a stitch of the language,  I could feel the emotion of the music run through me.  Is it the clothes, the love for style and shoes that are worn? No sneakers allowed! Thank goodness!  Or, the accents that make everything sound that much more elegant and fluid?  My American name, Jeannine, but, my Italian grandmother, of whom I am named after, was Geannina.  I never met her.  Nor, my Italian grandfather.  He owned and ran a pizzeria restaurant. In fact, the only true memory I have of a stereotypical Italian woman was my great grandma Bella. In the depths of my early memories, I distinctively remember her giving me candy.  She would sit, dressed in black, with those drooping nylon socks and black shoes in her chair and I would sit comfortably next to her.  Maybe I was 3, but, I remember how safe and sweet she was. Always so sweet.  I truly believe she has been with me all these years.  Or, was it after taking my first art history class in college when I declared that I wanted to paint?  That thought wasn't so well received.  Perhaps, it is and was all of these little seeds and so many more that have been planted within me, that now are just ready to truly root themselves and blossom.  

As an artist, a mother, a 48 year old woman who is aware of the culture in which I reside, aware of the strife, the turmoil, from the White House to each and every other house, I am called to find a place where beauty, joy and love of all aesthetics are found along a path.  A path that has been travelled by many but, lined with historical and spiritual imprints.  A path and a place that still admires craftsmanship and tradition.  A path and a place that stops at a plate of food, a meal that has been harvested from the land and prepared, slowly, then shared with friends and family. Not as a chore, but simply as way to be.

​I am called to Italy.

​As an American, I love my country.  I am in great gratitude for those that protect her.  I would never truly leave her.  But, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are our "inalienable rights" as declared in our Declaration of Independence " and so many things seem to be awry.  I am a servant to my country, yes.  But, I am a servant to God and to my children first.   

​I am called to Italy.

​As a painter, I have had images and thoughts of the fall of Rome and how it relates to our current culture.  I painted buildings I have never touched and remnants of a storyline, I was never a part of. 




Every painter should visit and see, not only the great works of Italian art and architecture from ancient, medieval and renaissance times, but, of contemporary artists of our times.  Art is everywhere and is infused within the culture, like water from the tap or, in the case of Italy, from the bottle.

​I am called to Italy.

​I am aware that Italy has its own issues.  The more I learn, the more I become aware of the country's own internal strife, from political scandals and overturns, to economic debt and immigration issues.  An even greater concern to some Italians, is the decrease in Italian population.  In 2017, a population study concluded 2% fewer births and 5% more Italian deaths.  While Italian population has increased from the year 2000 to now, it is trending downward and forecasting to continue to do so.  A 100,000 less Italian people and declining as the number of children an Italian couple has, if any, is 1 or 2.

​Now truly is the time for Italy.

​In the next few posts and I imagine, future posts, from time to time, I will share with you some insight into, not only, the regions of Italy, but, also insight into my creative processes as what I see and learn becomes infused into my art and being. 

Off to Italy I go.

​Let the journey begin!
​x Jeannine

Art is a relationship. It is a relationship of many things. It is a relationship of self. A relationship of self and the subject matter or study at hand and it's a relationship of the environment, its existence and co-existence of it. And while, some relationships seem to be self sustaining, so rhythmically symbiotic that the existence of 2 is vaguely noticed, in need of little attention or maintenance, most relationships are not. Most relationships require attention. They require time, commitment, effort and a level of discipline . Of course, the amount you are willing to contribute or give to a relationship will vary depending on the type or seriousness of it.

​As I think about the many different types of relationships I have had and currently have in my life, I continue to find myself asking the same questions when it comes to this relationship of art. How does this relationship with art stand apart from all the others? What does it truly need in order for growth and progression to happen? As I rummage through some philosophical quotes about relationships, in general, I have found 2 that speak to me the most.

​1.) from author, Donald Miller, " When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are." and 2.) from the poet and essayist, Edna St. Vincent, "I know I am but summer to your heart, and not the full four seasons of the year."

​While there are so many thoughts and ideas about relationships, the quotes above, reflect an understanding in me, of what I have experienced over the course of my life, from an intimate and not so intimate perspective. From my experience, these quotes when truly understood and lived out in day to day to life, actually build a foundation for a relationship, that is rooted in overall acceptance. Acceptance of each other for who and what you are and what you are able to bring to each other, at that moment. Acceptance. Yes. As I write, the word acceptance is simply so freeing. Yet, its probably one of the harder things to do in a relationship. Accept what is right in front of you. Without anger, lament or remorse. Without judgement, without question, just pure simple acceptance. When you accept something for what it is you actually free yourself. You free yourself up, inwardly, so that you can continue to build a foundation rooted in all things joyous, strong, honest and perhaps, courageous. You free yourself so that you can continue to grow.

Paradoxically, the relationship of art, for me, is not about acceptance. It is anything but acceptance. If I simply accepted my situation for what it is , my lack of ...:whatever" for what I am, or what I have or do not have, from resources to skills, I would never progress nor grow. I would stare at my canvas and accept the fact that the line I am trying to draw was too challenging, the face too obscure, the hands not rendered quite the right way, the layout, composition, color. The possibilities of what challenges can arise when working, from the inception of thought to the final layout, are daunting. How about we start with time? The actual time it takes to render a thought then a sketch , then an image, onto a board or canvas. Simply put, the word, "acceptance", in my relationship with art, is simply "not-accepted." I believe I have answered the first question.

To answer the second question, " What does art truly need in order for growth and progression to happen? ", I believe, I would say, focus. Great focus and while, there is a connection between the artist and their subject or surrounding, there is a high level of self absorption that is needed in order for progression to happen. A travelling, inward self absorption that must happen. Years ago, I wrote, "my greatest journey has been the one I have travelled inward." I believe, no matter where my physical journeys will take me, my spiritual ones will always be the directive ones. That quote will always remain relevant. From a higher place, a more spiritual directive, I am grounded and will always move from. I suppose, from a limited perspective, self absorption and inward travelling may seem selfish and perhaps, at times, it is. But, only with that inward movement, focus, absorption and ability to move yourself out of the day to day responsibilities and duties, can we truly grow.

​As an artist, a mother , a messenger and servant of God, as a person who constantly toggles between both the human and spiritual realm, it is my job to exhaust, to push through, to achieve and overcome, to not accept, but, to fulfill my greatest potential in this relationship with art. Perhaps, in doing so, I will have selfishly contributed to the unselfish positive, loving growth of a humanity, near and far, that is clearly struggling, and move it, even just a little bit closer, in the direction of that growth.
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