Frequently asked questions
Everything visitors and collectors ask before stopping by my ateliers in Siena and Montepulciano — from how I paint to how to take a piece of Tuscany home with you.
Can I visit without an appointment?
Yes — both my shops are open to walk-ins, Monday to Saturday, 10:30 AM to 6 PM. In Siena you'll find me on Via San Pietro, a few steps from Piazza del Campo. In Montepulciano, on Via di Gracciano near Porta al Prato. Hours can shift in the off-season, so check my Instagram stories or send me a WhatsApp before you come.
Can I buy a painting and take it home in my suitcase?
Absolutely. I always have finished paintings in various sizes, including small works designed to travel. Paintings on handmade paper are lightweight — no glass, no heavy frame — so even larger pieces can fly home with you. If you'd prefer, I can also ship worldwide. Many visitors to Tuscany take one home as a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
How do commissions work?
Tell me what you have in mind — the flowers, colours, size, and any meaning behind them. I'll sketch a few ideas and we refine together until it feels right. Once you approve, I paint. Depending on size and detail, a commission takes from a few weeks to a few months. I ship the finished piece to you anywhere in the world, or you can collect it at either atelier.
What do the flowers in your paintings symbolise?
Each flower carries meaning. Peonies represent family and femininity. Sunflowers stand for pure joy. Poppies symbolise inner strength and personal growth. Forget-me-nots speak of memory and the people who shaped us. Tulips express energy and love. Irises are about rebirth. If you commission a piece, you choose the flowers — and the story they tell.
Why natural pigments and rainwater?
Using materials from the land is central to my work. Pigments made from wine, saffron, coffee, and tea connect each painting to Tuscany in a way that manufactured colours never could. I collect rainwater to carry something of the Tuscan sky onto the paper. It's also a commitment to sustainability — organic, locally sourced, and respectful of the environment.
Where exactly are your shops?
My Siena shop is at Via San Pietro 7, in the historic centre between Piazza del Campo and the Pinacoteca Nazionale. My Montepulciano atelier is at Via di Gracciano 109 — right at the start of Il Corso, the main street that climbs past Renaissance palazzi and Vino Nobile cellars to Piazza Grande. Both are inside the old town walls.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. I carefully package every painting myself and ship to any country. If you fall in love with a piece during your trip to Siena or Montepulciano but can't carry it, or if you commission something after your visit, I'll send it directly to your door once it's finished.
What are your paintings made of?
I paint on handmade and antique paper using natural pigments drawn from Tuscany — saffron yellow, Montepulciano wine red, coffee and tea browns — diluted with rainwater I collect in Siena. Gold leaf is always the final layer. Because natural pigments are never exactly the same twice, every painting is truly one of a kind.
How long does a painting take?
It depends on size and detail. Smaller works may take a few weeks; larger, more intricate compositions can take three to four months. The process begins with sketching the idea, then preparing and gilding the paper, painting in layers, and finally letting the colours settle before the last application of gold leaf.
Is a painting a good gift or souvenir from Tuscany?
Many visitors choose one of my paintings as a meaningful keepsake of their time in Siena or Montepulciano — something handmade, rooted in this landscape, and impossible to find anywhere else. I also create custom pieces for weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. If you'd like a gift tied to a specific memory or flower, we can design it together.
Still have questions?
Send me a message — I'm happy to help in Italian, English, or German.