Italy, France & Beyond

“Viterbo” by Ed Fenendael.

Ed Fenendael and Frank Villigan, owners of Morning Mist Studio, Lupine Antiques and the Inn at Windmill Farm in Door County, usually spend the winter on Isla Mujeres in Mexico. Fenendael, who has been named one of the top 100 artists in the U.S. and Door County’s Master Artist in 2008, often paints in Italy, France, the U.S. and Mexico (usually with groups of students).

Fenendael and Villigan traveled this year to Orvieto in the historic Umbrian region of central Italy. They had made short visits to the medieval village in the past, but this time they stayed for three months – November through January – time enough to give in to the rhythm of the place.

For Villigan, whose primary interests are fine food and antiques, immersion in the slower lifestyle and the splendor of 14th century architecture in Orvieto, inspired him to return to the art he hadn’t pursued since high school. With colored pencils and ink, he sketched the Duomo di Orvieto, the finest example of Gothic architecture in Italy, landscapes and flowers. Fenendael’s watercolors with ink also featured the architecture, Tuscan and Umbrian landscapes, street scenes and window boxes full of flowers.

Twenty-four of the paintings they produced during their stay in Italy and Portugal, as well as some of Fenendael’s earlier work from France will be displayed at a small works show at Morning Mist Studio, with an opening reception from 4 to 7 pm on July 11. The show will continue through the end of July. Morning Mist Studio at Windmill Farm is located 3½ miles north of Jacksonport on County A, then 1½ miles west of Fairview Road at 3829 Fairview Road. For more information call 920.868.9282.