The Gift that keeps on Giving « Liana Sofia Tumino

The Gift that keeps on Giving

Posted on Monday, December 19th, 2011

I remember meeting an oil painter at an outdoor show who explained the importance of viewing creativity as a gift from our Creator. From that moment on, painting for me seized to be a hobby and I began my art career.

After 20 years of meeting hundreds of fellow artists I must agree with that painter of long ago. But even though the road isn’t a straight one, the creative spark within us all remains a gift that keeps on giving, no matter what. gift

sab•bat•i•cal [suh-bat-i-kuh'l] noun, any extended period of leave from one’s customary work, especially for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.

I heard this word for the first time in highschool. A favorite teacher left “on sabbatical” and images swirled in my mind of an exotic trip to a far away land learning about some native group, their ceremonies and traditions.I fell in love with this word!

This year I have learned to weave, carve in wood and took a course in mould making. I honed my skills at reading and writing in Italian, and took freelance work creating logos, food blogging and producing videos .

Recently I launched a new website featuring my alter ego ita-liana, creating a space for my humorous works which I have been re-visiting. I am especially looking forward to an upcoming course with sculptor Bruno Lucchesi.

This holiday season I took the time to think about Christmas decorations for the first time in 6 years. Usually all consumed by upcoming show preparations, painting, shipping, framing, designing printed materials etc etc etc. my thoughts instead turned to reverse painting on glass. ( oh and yes we have a pink vintage tree!)

our pink tree

But how? what kind of glass? what kind of paints? why, where, when? etc. And as my better half watched me squirm, google, and plough through the next few days with a loving smirk on his face, here is the result.

reverse painted glass

Christmas is a time of giving, sharing and a reminder to be thankful of our every blessing amidst both the joy and sadness of our lives.

May the light of the season, both colored and white, light you up with joy and love this season and throughout the entire year.

Merry Christmas!

7 Comments

allessia says:December 19, 2011 at 11:19 pm
haha li I love this! Kind of reminds me of building our nativity scene from fimo clay! Im glad you have taken the time to develop your skills!

ps. man, your charlie brown tree got a makeover! Charlotte Pink?
Liana Sofia says:December 19, 2011 at 11:40 pm
After years of having the “Charlie Browniest” tree…we now have the anti Charlie Brown tree! Thought we’d shake things up a bit! ha
loredana says:December 20, 2011 at 10:40 pm
unbelievable , sante parole quelle di quel pittore, rimango senza fiato , another way to show your skills , cosa apetti a venire nella patria degli artisti. BUON NATALE , next year Frank a nice blue christmas tree, I guess…….
ciao
cristina says:January 2, 2012 at 4:57 am
Buon Anno Liana
I have enjoyed reading your blog, as i attempted to paint my first little affreschi. Your stained glass window is incredibly beautiful! Now i’ll have to check out Ita-Liana. Ciao, Cristina
Liana Sofia says:January 4, 2012 at 1:32 am
Grazie Loredana, spero che avete passato un Natale bellissimo e l’hanno nuovo portera tante belle cose!! Un abbraccio fortissimo da parte nostra!
Liana Sofia says:January 4, 2012 at 1:35 am
Thank you Cristina, I am glad that you enjoy the blog and had success creating some “little affreschi.” Do you have any pictures you would like to share? Together we will keep this beautiful medium alive!
cristina says:January 8, 2012 at 6:43 pm
I posted a foto of my ‘primo affresco’ on facebook, but don’t seem to be able to post it here. i’ll try sending through the ‘contact’. Ciao, Cristina

Add Your Comment

Liana Sofia Tumino

Celebrating 19 years of continued exploration and specialization in fresco painting, an ancient art that requires painting into wet plaster with pure pigment.

Liana Sofia creates small to medium frescoes on panels of wood, tile, stone or cement board, while larger works are detachments from wall to cloth, the result of a restoration process called “The Strappo Technique.” or Fresco detachments.

Rich with the memory of the moment of capture, each fresco begins with a photograph taken within the villages of Liana Sofia's parents and grandparents. She aims to re-live the experience and beauty of each place as she paints it, to evoke a sense of presence to the viewer.

Fine art collectors across the country have become intrigued by Liana Sofia's work when they understand the historical significance of the medium as well as it’s challenges,complexity and unique beauty.