OUT OF THE WOODS - Italian Lanscape by Sue Scoggins, North Carolina Painter

Most all of my paintings have a story behind them.  While working in Italy last summer, I took an afternoon to hike from Palazetto to the San Galgano Abby. The beginning of the hike was across this beautiful field of gold and yellow tall grass that had a narrow path going across it.  The path led into the woods that was tucked in the valleys of the Tuscan hills. The woods were pretty thick with an occasional plowed field appearing from time to time.  With my backpack filled with water, a light jacket, a sketchbook and charcoal pencil, I was ready to take in the delights of nature and a bit of adventure.  Oh yes and my cell phone that didn't work in such an isolated area.

After about an hour hike, I saw the Abby on the hill and wound my way around to it.  This Abby was a special place where the legend of the sword and the stone took hold.  Fascinating history.  After  a quick lunch and relaxing little sketch of the Abby, I packed up to head home.

Circling around the Abby, I found my path to return.  One little problem...I walked completely passed my little fork in the path.  Kept looking straight ahead and into the woods. The deeper I got into the woods, the more "forks" there were and soon I began to think, "Hmm. I haven't seen this place before."  Figured I'd find my evident long road through the woods that I had come in  on.  After about 45 minutes, I realized I was getting no where.  Kept going back and taking new paths.  After about 2 hours, my "non-panic" mode took over in my mind.  I realized I was completely lost.  I sat and thought through my survival strategy.  Figured as long as I had that plan in place I wouldn't panic.  So, I evaluated, my supplies.  One backpack to use as a pillow, two bottles of water to use sparingly, a  charcoal pencil to fight off the wolves that I had been warned about.  My jacket as my blankey......and headlines, "Stupido American Tourist Devoured by Tuscan Black Wolves."

Needless to say, my panic did NOT set in and I didn't not get eaten by wolves.  I kept a level head (which is very rare) and hiked back to the beginning of my return and found the right path. Trust me, an hour later, when I saw this clearing, "Out of the Woods" was born.  Whew!