Saturday in the park, with Romula

Bright sunshine and pleasant weather welcomed South End based artist Romula Savino on Saturday afternoon, September 22, when she was the featured artist in Childe Hassam Park, 324 Columbus Avenue. Savino, a North End native who grew up helping out in her parents' North End framing shop, is a self-taught artist uses unique painting technique, gently dabbing oils and acrylics from her left glove, which she uses as a palette, onto the canvas with her fingertips.

The results range from serene to pulsing with life, as Savino depicts landscapes, street scenes, individuals and group scenes pulsing with movement and color. Saturday afternoon found her working a large, landscape-style South End scene and a portrait-style North End streetscape, surrounded by prints of her previous works laid out on park benches and canvases around the park; the fragrance and color of the park's lavender bush and flowers, and a quiet but steady flow of inquiring minds.

Accompanied by her friend and business partner, fellow South Ender Dan Mouhot, Savino fielded several inquiries and made one sale, which, according to Mouhot, was accompanied by the added value of a potential exhibit opportunity.

Mouhot draws on his education in management and his corporate and entrepreneurial experience to help Savino navigate the art business. The two recently moved into a co-working building downtown, which offers both office space and artist residency, which includes exhibiting Savino's work in other locations owned by the company.

After a day of rest, Savino and Mouhot were off to their next al fresco painting adventure in New York City, where Savino painted in front of the New York Public Library on Monday and in Greenwich Village on Tuesday.

Mouhot explained, "We're trying to create a disruptive model for the traditional gallery existence, working with pop ups and things like that. We are business partners creating an artistic experience that is different from what you normally see."