[Sam Cree]

I have heard nice things about Italy.

I recently have been taking some time to study some of the old masters' techniques, particularly the Venetian school I am pretty interested in how much one can accomplish using a palette limited to only 4 or 5 colors, which was about all that was used by most of those guys.

[u-89]

how much one can accomplish using a palette limited to only 4 or 5 colors

It is totally amazing what a few colors can create. A friend of mine is a house painter and over the years I have given him a hand when he needs an extra pair and I can spare the time. I look at his paint chart samples that are literally hundreds of variations of hues and in the paint store they mix all that from a dozen or so base colors. It never ceases to amaze me. As far as the old masters are concerned they also were famous for thin washes (translucent layers) that held some pigment yet let the layer below it show through.

[u-89]

One more thing about Italy which is true elsewhere in the region, I call it the Meditaranean mindset. I was raised in the New York/New Jersey area with the hustling appraoch to life. You've heard of a New York minute I'm sure. Well in Italy they take 3 hours off in the middle of the day. Even the churches, where I would go to see the paintings and archetecture, even they shut down, they kick you out and close their doors. They have their big meal and escape the heat of the day and enjoy life. Not exactly the Dutch/Protestant mindset I was raised with but it is an interesting approach. I also like the after diner/evening stroll around town and sitting at outdoor cafes having a drink and watching the people go by. Combined with the landscape and archetecture it can't be beat.