October 21, 2022

Loving The Etruscans Who Loved Life

Many moons ago, I made some sketchbook studies of Etruscan tombs and art in preparation for painting the greenhouse murals.

Actually dozens and dozens of moons ago, I visited Etruscan tombs while studying in Italy and was so taken by their zest for life depicted vividly in their tomb paintings and art.

This Etruscan love of life and living, which was so celebrated in their deaths, has stayed with me for decades and was, indeed, with me as I painted the cement walls of our inground pool turned greenhouse.

Ironically, the defunct pool became a place of death for the many raccoons that drowned there after feasting on frogs. Their deaths became the impetus for transforming this drowning place into a temple of light, living, and the growth of plants.

Anyway (this story is dragging), I made some sketchbook studies of Etruscan art which I compiled into one digital collage – which I liked so much that I had it printed as the cover of a Denik notebook.

My illustrations don’t often manifest beyond the digital realm. So, I’m very much appreciating being able to hold this one in my hands.

The inside pages are gridded dots.