Dee Morton Rossi was born in 1957 to American parents in London, England. 
She had a love for art from an early age, and took art classes throughout her school years. As an art major, she obtained a B.F.A. from the University of Georgia, specializing in drawing, painting, and printmaking. After a pause of several years, spent in the mountains of North Carolina, she returned to UGA to get her M.F.A. in printmaking, book arts and paper making. As a graduate student, she travelled to Italy in 1985 with the UGA Studies Abroad program, based in Cortona. 
After participating in several programs as both a student and professor, Dee moved to Cortona permanently in 1990.

Gabriella Rossi is Giancarlo's older sister. She was born in Umbertide the 11th of October in 1993.
Following classical studies in high school, she attended the Università degli studi di Siena, from which she graduated with highest grades in Russian grammar and literature. For two semesters she was italian language fellow at Vassar college in NY. Following graduation she attended the Higher school of Economics winter school in Moscow and Derzhavin Institute in St. Petersburg. Currently she is pursuing a law degree in Florence.
Between one degree and the other she paints in watercolor architectural scenery of Cortona or scenes from the many books she reads.