Author: mimitorchia

  • Rain – a commission

    I just finished the portrait of a blue persian cat named Rain. He was a beloved companion for 17 years before he crossed the rainbow bridge. Lucky for me, the grey or blue coat color in cats is one of my favorites, I love the way the colors in the coat change all over the…

  • In Nesebar, Bulgaria, on the Black Sea

    Truly, this is one of the most exotic places I’ve ever been to. It used to be an island, but has since been connected to the mainland by an isthmus, which makes it very convenient to go to this little town. It is full of ancient buildings, from the Greek and Roman settlements beginning 600…

  • Velico Turnavo, new construction

    While most of the time, I focused on the ancient buildings in this town, I found myself almost startled by the modern architecture found here. The buildings did not conform to my ideas of how a house should be shaped, and they towered over me, sitting on a curb across the street. Who says houses…

  • Velico Turnavo – Stella Canfield workshop

    The challenge to Plein Aire is that you have to contend with all sorts of things not encountered in the studio. The most perfect view might be in the middle of the street, or in full sun. As you paint, everything changes. The shadows move, the trash bins move, people walk by; in fact, in…

  • Velico Tarnovo – Stella Canfield

    Velico Tarnovo was the capital of Bulgaria in the dark ages. It is carved into the side of a hill. I loved the architecture there. I did a few paintings, all of houses. These are pretty old. I was fascinated by the structure and texture of the roofs here. They are a lot like Italian…