"I fall in love with places" - Cy Twombly

While still reflecting on the life of Cy Twombly, I muse over a few artists that have been influenced by Italy (and my artistic process). There is just something about the visual beauty and the history of Italy that seems to impact many artists, writers and creatives.

I go further into thoughts on the art of Cy Twombly and Robert Rauschenberg throwing his art into the Arno River in Florence after a disparaging critic’s comment, and how artists move forward regardless of popularity or understanding. Generally the people catch up later. For some like Julian Schnabel they hit their stride early.

Schnabel said, Italy had a “massive impression” on him. He lived in Milan earlier in his career creating work influenced by place and the landscape. A visit to the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua had such an impact on his psyche he changed the way he painted. You can see this shift in his documentary in Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait. He later purchased land in New York City and turned it into a Venetian Palazzo. Palazzo Chupi is bright pink building and an ambitious manifestation of his own artistic temperament. The visual beauty of Venice influences many of us in varying ways.

I go on a personal journey on this episode contemplating the life of the artists and my own. Later in the share I muse over the life and inspirations of Cy Twombly, Julian Schnabel, Basquiat and Picasso.

"blurring, blotching, writing and inscribing were purposely obscured by superimposing" - Thierry Greub on Twombly's painting process

Pentimento .... "Pentimento: a visible trace of earlier painting beneath a layer or layers of paint on a canvas".

"The word pentimento is derived from the Italian 'pentirsi', which means to repent or change your mind. Pentimento is a change made by the artist during the process of painting. These changes are usually hidden beneath a subsequent paint layer".

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

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"I am a Mediterranean painter" - Cy Twombly

Welcome to Episode #125:

In 1952 Robert Rauschenberg photographed his friend and fellow artist Cy Twombly standing with a thin notebook next to Constantine’s colossal hand while on holiday in Rome. They were together on a traveling arts scholarship. They traveled extensively for months in Italy and North Africa.

Five years later Cy Twombly moved from America to live in Rome, Italy.

Cy Twombly (1928-2011) made a life in Rome as an artist. He kept the art world at bay, painting vast canvases full of white space with a trademark quality to his work, secluding himself in places like Gaeta, Bassano and in Rome.

Twombly would take many journeys over his lifetime. Moving between places and homes and making art. Twombly’s fascination with ancient civilisations, the Mediterranean cultures, the Greco and the Roman would converge on his canvases. A love of literature and poetry underlines his art.

This is a story about place, art and history, and how they intersect on the canvas of life.

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

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“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world. You are surrounded by adventure. You have no idea of what is in store for you, but you will, if you are wise and know the art of travel, let yourself go on the stream of the unknown and accept whatever comes in the spirit in which the gods may offer it....." Baghdad Sketches, Freya Stark

Welcome to Episode #124:

Today I take you on a journey through a few travel experiences that have a left a wonderful impression on my life as a writer and lover of Italy.

These are a handful of moments that captured the essence of travel and what I truly appreciate and love about the Italian culture and visiting Italy.

The places that called me on the travel journeys in Italy, that are mentioned today.... The Venetian Lagoon, Venice, Padova, Torino, Sperlonga, Campania, Rome, Lake Garda, Milano….. and Paris

Enjoy x

If you are interested in another kind of rabbit hole, I mention these podcasts along the way....

Art & Love: Peggy Guggenheim Part 1

Art & Love: Peggy Guggenheim Part 2

Moments in Italy: Caffes & Coffee Bars, Turin Italy

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© 2025 A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
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Today's end music - 'Chances'

'Seascapes" for mood music.....

Richard's Music is available on Spotify and Apple Music - Album 4240

Links to Episodes that I mention in this podcast:

Art & Love: Peggy Guggenheim Part 1

Art & Love: Peggy Guggenheim Part 2

Moments in Italy: Caffes & Coffee Bars, Turin Italy

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"There's just something about sitting at a cafe, and the food, and the culture that just, it's not like anything else in the world" - Erica D'Arcangelo

Welcome to Episode #123,

Today I share an enriching and beautiful conversation with Erica D’Arcangelo, host of Pizza Story Podcast. So this is a tale about pizza, family, heritage and Italy.

Erica’s first book was written in honour of her Grandfathers journey as an Italian immigrant from Abruzzo Italy to America - A Story about Pizza. She is also an author of a series of children’s books about her favourite subject Pizza.

We talk about many things, family, traditions, values, creativity, Italy, Italian culture in America, Pizza and Erica’s favourite places to visit in Italy, and her favourite Pizzeria in Liguria.

Listen to our recent conversation Episode #34 on Pizza Story Podcast!

Website: A Story About Pizza

tiktok.com/darcspizza

https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/

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Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2025

Today's end music - 'Chances'

Richard's Music is available on Spotify and Apple Music - Album 4240

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"One summer morning, my husband, son, and I arrived by car from Sirmione and spent the day wandering through the city’s walkable center. Verona revealed itself slowly, with Roman ruins beside medieval churches, Renaissance palaces glowing in the sun, and piazzas alive with the laughter of locals. The soft pink of its buildings shimmered in the warmth, giving the city a dreamy, romantic air" - Katerina Ferrara, Venice and the Veneto Ultimate Festival & Travel Guide

Today is a fun conversation with Katerina Ferrara about her connection to Italy and how she immersed herself in traveling and exploring the many places you can go in Italy on a unique travel adventure.

We talk about Katerina’s journey falling in love with Italy, learning the language and discovering the magic of the festival days while on holiday in Italy. There is much to enjoy and celebrate. Soon after Katerina researched the many traditions, the food and wine festivals, the holy days and the saints days for her Travel Guides on Italy.

Katerina loves to immerse herself in a place and discover the heart of the location. Katerina has captured the magic of the festival days and the time to celebrate with the locals while in Sicily, Puglia or Venice. Katerina is great traveler and seeker of Italy and shares her experiences and discoveries on the Immersion Travel Podcast and on there is so much more on her information packed website.

Enjoy this Conversation and do check the Shownotes below for all of the special details and places that were mentioned in today’s show.

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Visit - Katerina Ferrara

Instagram - Katerina Ferrara

Get your hand on Katerina’s Travel Guides for Immersive Travel and Festivals in Italy

Immersion Travel Podcast on You Tube

Immersion Travel Podcast on Apple Podcasts

Immersion Travel Podcast on Spotify

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Substack - At My Table

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© 2025 A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2025

Today's end music - 'Chances'

Richard's Music is available on Spotify and Apple Music - Album 4240

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"Perhaps my vision has been somewhat romantic but who out there has not been lured by an Arcadia unlike our own? It seems it has been a thing for centuries..." - Michelle Johnston, Substack

Welcome to Episode #121:

Today I share a podcast I made last month while contemplating the after glow of being in Italy and sharing new adventures writing on Substack - At My Table.

I read an excerpt from Two Castles in Italy, that weaves together Italian moments and books I have enjoyed and the life moments that have happened along the way. Italy continues to be a creative catalyst, opening new doors and perspectives. There is much inspiration from the journey of podcasting, and the travel and writing adventures in Italy.

"Life is good when you travel and experience the beauty you seek" Substack - At My Table

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Michelle’s Books

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© 2025 A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2025

Today's end music - 'Chances'

Richard's Music is available on Spotify and Apple Music - Album 4240

Support the show

"The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind" - Anthony Bourdain, No Reservations

"Be a Traveler, Not a Tourist!" - Today I explore this wonderful statement by the late Anthony Bourdain.

I have been going around in circles for years musing over this whole thought about the traveling journeys and contemplating moving beyond being a complete tourist and embracing more of the unknown as a traveler.

Sometimes it is sheer spontaneity and sometimes I go in headstrong with my grand expectations. There are moments of awe and beauty and sometimes it is a real spectacle and a few lessons are notched on the belt.

How to lean more into creating space for surprise and possibility and throwing the itinerary out the window for the afternoon. I thought I would muse over this whole topic and what it means to be a traveler and some things I have discovered along the way, no doubt the hard way but that was part of the fun!

Enjoy,

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© 2025 A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2025

Today's end music - 'Ghan'

Richard's Music is available on Spotify and Apple Music - Album 4240

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"The money was always for a dream of sorts, an Italian dream, and now it's one we get to keep living" - Jac Beagley

Welcome to Episode #119:

Many of us dreaming about a home in Italy, a place to enjoy la dolce vita. The big question is, can you do it on a conservative budget and find something special?

The answer is - Yes you can!

Australian couple Jac and Josh Beagley spent $32,000 Euros (approx. $50,000 Australian dollars) on an apartment in a medieval hilltop village in Umbria. Their holiday home is located in the Centro Storico of Amelia only one hour from Rome. This is their story of buying and renovating a small apartment in a romantic medieval village in Italy. Jac shares that she had no idea what she was doing but they made it happen anyway. Later in the conversation Josh shares his journey and the new adventures in Italy.

We began the conversation reflecting on Jac’s walking tour on the path of San Francesco in Umbria, the Way of Saint Francis. It turns out, the journey she made as a solo traveler would plant a seed that Umbria had property that was not inflated and potentially affordable. And so close to Tuscany!!

I enjoyed listening to Jac’s story of traveling solo very much and this was a wonderful segway into way happened next- suggesting to her husband that they should possibly buy a place in Italy!! The rest is in this wonderful podcast conversation….

Enjoy x

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Michelle’s Books

© 2025 A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2025

Support the show