Painting of Greece

Mykonos and the dream vacation from the eyes of Becky Duoos Bourgazas.    

A month ago I asked our friend Becky if I could paint some of her spectacular photographs of Greece.  I’m looking to diversify my subject matter after seeing both of my European themed paintings sell within days of being in Lake Oswego. Becky is a fabulous photographer.  She is blessed with the rare ability to capture the relationship between architecture and nature.  Her images depict life and history without the presence of people or accompanying stories.  It’s her sense of composition that tells the story.  I love her work and am grateful she granted me permission.

    

Of course Becky has another advantage when it comes to her photographs of Greece:  Access.   You see, she is married to Nick, who was born and raised in Greece.  In addition to being a gourmet chef and commercial pilot, Nick is also the perfect tour guide for his home country.   When Nick and Becky take their dream vacations to Greece there’s no need for resorts, tour buses, guidebooks or maps.  They stay, eat, drink and live like Greeks.  I live vicariously through them. 

     

I loved this scene Becky captured of white clothed dining tables on a shore patio in Mykonos which is commonly known as “Little Venice.”  I wouldn’t know having never been east of the Jersey Shore.  To me, my bathtub is Little Venice.  Becky said the tables were empty because the spray of the Mediterranean irritated potential diners.  Who complains about that?   I would sit there nude – then they would have something meaningful to complain about. 

    
 My goal is not to just duplicate the scene but to enhance it.  I want to bring color and texture to this already perfect composition.  I also sought to replicate this theme in the custom “distressed” frame I created.  This painting is 19 ½” x 25 ½ ”  (framed)  acrylic on canvas.   Cheers