Still wet, here is my first painting completed in Europe: San Marco Cathedral, in Milan. Located in Brera, this house of worship with a futbol field in the courtyard was built in 1254. It was since renovated in 1879 with a new brick facade (fact courtesy of Time Out Milan), yet retains a certain charm.

My day began with a brief meeting of a local collector (he owns The Guggenheim and Miracle on the Hudson.) Unfortunately, when I arrived he was out – fortunately, his secretary arranged for his chauffeur drove me to San Marco. And now, a stroke-for-stroke recount – and as I say, non parlo molto bene l’italiano.

Starting out with red from the tube, setting the composition, trying to balance myself on the ornate rock surface below me.

A complete layout, I decided to make some artistic Photoshop decisions, and thus, the tree, light and poles on the ground didn’t make the cut.

Taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather, a blue sky was in order.

And Hooker’s Green makes his cameo, ready to cut into the red and further define the picture.

Ground in, grounded composition, it’s time to orange this thing up.

It’s moments like this, I wish I was Matisse so I could just sign it and call it a day.

In with the white and off white, to fully cover the surface with paint.

As you can imagine, on a 30cmX40cm canvas, the small brushes got plenty of work today.

Balancing with a deep purple brown, to introduce the darks.

The great thing about bricks, is that if you take one color, lay it down, and slap another color in sort jilted strokes, darker or lighter, you have now created the look of bricks.

The whites were TOO white, just too white.

There you have it. A red BORBAY to top it off. It was a terrific day painting in the streets of Milan. As for tomorrow, I will probably just head out with my easel and see what hits me (hopefully not a Vespa.) I’m thinking a cafe-based scene, for easy vino access, and, a chair. Love to my lady, friends and family back home.

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