claudio7dm

It all started with Olaf, Super Mario, and Santa Claus — my son Nicholas’ top picks for our little painting sessions. But after sharing a few of those first creations online, something unexpected happened: people started paying attention. One message really caught me off guard. It came from an old friend and journalist back in […]

My grandfather was one of those unforgettable souls — endlessly generous, kind, and with a soft spot for his grandchildren (especially me, of course 😄). But he wasn’t just a great man — he was an artist in his own right. He built incredibly detailed wooden ship models, including the majestic Amerigo Vespucci. And here’s

At first glance, this beach scene in Maiori looks like any peaceful holiday painting — blue sea, sun-drenched coast, postcard vibes. But look closer: those three tiny figures are actually me, my brother, and my best Dutch friend. Yes, we’re immortalized in paint now — no sunscreen required. This was a fun personal piece, a

Venice and Vietri — two of Italy’s gems, and two of my sister-in-law’s requests!First, the gondola in Venice: all romance and charm… except for the poor painter (me) trying to survive the tiny details without losing his mind 😄. Then came the Vietri landscape — bright colors, seaside magic, and just enough challenge to keep

As I kept experimenting with painting, something funny happened — the canvases started leaving the house. It began casually: a birthday gift here, a little surprise for a friend there, or just something random I decided to give away because, well… my walls were running out of space. Let’s be clear, some of those early

After that first painting session, Nicholas and I were hooked. Soon, I graduated from scrap paper to small canvases, usually painting whatever Nicholas ordered like a tiny art director. Olaf? Sure. Super Mario? Why not. Santa Claus in May? Of course, boss. What amazed me was how much fun I was having. Painting stopped being

That simple moment sparked something new. I began painting more often with Nicholas, just for fun — experimenting, playing with colors, and trying out new techniques. We started with simple sketches on small pieces of paper, exploring without pressure. As time went on, I found myself reading, learning, and diving deeper into the world of

One of the unexpected joys of living in the Netherlands is how easy it is to get creative without spending a fortune. I still remember the first time I walked into Action — it was like a playground for artists. From brushes and canvases to sketchbooks and vibrant paints, everything was there… and at prices

Hey! I’m Claudio — born and raised in Napoli, Italy, now living in Amsterdam for the past 11 years. I’m a dad, a finance guy by day, and (as I recently rediscovered) a big fan of painting. As a kid, I was one of those “annoying” types — good at school, good at sports, pretty