Sunday, August 31, 2008

Summer Fruit & Todi Sunset

A basket of plums from a neighbour - watercolour.

Todi, Umbria in the late afternoon - watercolour

What a long, hot and largely unproductive summer I've had. If it weren't for the Flying Pictures Sketchbook Exchange, I would have had precious little art to show.

The watercolours above are my contribution to Vivien's sketchbook which has since touched down with Casey in France and is now off to Nina in Sweden. You will see from my previous post how much I loved the opportunity to contribute to Vivien's beautiful book.

Glen's book has now arrived so I really do have to get up and give myself a good shake and start trying to make some art. I'll post some pictures from Glen's book in the next few days. As you would expect it is stunning and challenging.

28 comments:

Lin said...

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!! The deep rich colors of the fruit and the phenomenally smart way of finishing off the basket, the light and colors of Todi -- STUNNING GLORIOUS MAGNIFICENT!!!!

LOVE IT!!!

(BTW, I will be in Tuscany next May -- 13-28 ... I so hope to meet you!

Felicity Grace said...

Wow, these are absolutely beautiful! (Which makes it even more amazing that you haven't been painting!)I do hope you'll get back into the swing of it soon!

vivien said...

I'll second all that


and add that I'm utterly delighted that these have been added to my book :>D and can't wait to see them in real life!

although it will be so sad when the FPP finishes

janie said...

those plums are absolutely delicious and the fade out is brilliant,in fact you're brilliant:)

Rose Welty said...

Robyn,

I don't know, I think breaks agree with you, because as others have said, these are stunning! Talent and ability just drip off your fingers!

Anonymous said...

Seems we all love the basket fade-out, Robyn.And Todi is, well, so Italian!
Our very cold winter has, I hope, ended, but if we follow the Northern pattern we're in for a rough summer!

Anonymous said...

These two paintings are beautiful! So even if you weren't as productive as you want to be this summer, your work continues to get better and better.

caseytoussaint said...

I've already said how much I love this work - I just want to say here that it's way prettier in person!

Unknown said...

Oh Robyn they are gorgeous. All of the books are going to be true treasures. As summer ends I'm sure we all will get back intot he swing of things

Elizabeth Braun said...

Lovely work, as always! Where and how did you learn to paint? Any recommendations of learning materials etc? I'd love to be a pasasble watercolourist and your style is exactly what I'd like to do, I don't like the modern 'what's THAT meant to be?' junk!!!

Anonymous said...

I adore your village sketches - they make me want to leap on a plane and fly on over!

"JeanneG" said...

Love the basket of plums. Great job on both. I missed you and wondered where you had been.

Sharon said...

The basket of fruit is just gorgeous, Robyn - such rich, beautiful colors!

mARTa said...

ditto, ditto, ditto...........tutti bellisimo!

perugina said...

Hi there,
Your watercolours are so inspiring.
My cousin lives in Todi and I have visited many times. It is a beautiful historical Italian town
I thought I'd leave a comment as your post inspired me, and bought back lovely memories.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Lin - thank you and if you can't find me next year, I'll come and find you!

Felicity - You've made my week!

Vivien - This round of Flying Pictures will end but I'm sure the friendships won't.

Janie - I'd love to be able to believe you! Thank you.

Rose - You too are way too kind but with such encouragement I really am starting to feel like painting again :)

Dinah - Thank you. I do hope you aren't in for a rough summer. You could certainly do with fewer storms.

Ellen - Thank you :)

Casey - Thank you so much for your ongoing and most welcome encouragement.

Toni - Thanks and I'm looking forward to more of your blog too.

Elizabeth - I'm actually still learning to paint. I recommend the Watercolour Forum on Wetcanvas.com its members gave me fantastic instruction and encouragement. So generous.

Shirley - I'm waiting for you to leap on a plane and fly over!

Jeanne - Thank you. I'm sorry I haven't been visiting my favourite blogs lately.

Sharon - Thank you :)

Marta - How's the French? I've missed you.

Perugina - I love Todi too and I'm delighted to share the memories with you. We have Australian friends currently building a house overlooking the town so I'm looking forward to many more visits and opportunities to paint.

perugina said...

Hi Robyn, I started reading your blog from the beginning probably a year ago, have now linked it to my blog so I can follow your journey hence fourth. Thanks for your reply and wish you safe travel.
Perugina
:)

Rosa said...

What a moment to discover your blog !
Just love 'la natura morta'!

Laura Frankstone said...

How glorious, Robyn! What fantastic colors and what confident draughtsmanship! I've been suffering from a similar feeling re productivity, so I sympathize with you.
Xoxo,
L

Joan said...

Robyn - That painting of the plums is sooooooooo good!!!! What a variety of colors in it! The landscape is lovely too...a perfect Tuscan scene. I feel like I haven't been very productive this summer. I've been doing lots of 4 x6 paintings for my exchange, but rarely anthing larger. Your work in thise sketchbooks is so wonderful!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Scintilla - Thank you for visiting and for such a charming comment. I went to visit your blog to say as much and stayed way too long enjoying your writing, your intriguing life life and beautiful photos. Expect more visits. :)

Laura - I've just been looking at your Iceland sketches - gorgeous and that new camera of yours was worth every cent. Now I am dying of envy that you and Casey are together in the US and preparing to sketch. I've discovered, that apart from Katherine T, all my friends are Shoppers and not Sketchers. I'm about to become the Lone Ranger!
And I always love it when you enjoy my work. :)

Neal Winfield said...

I know what you mean about the long unproductive Summer, I have had the same experience in Umbria. I keep meaning to knuckle down and draw more but its just to easy to relax and enjoy the weather, the walks and the festas. Perhaps we need the rain.

Anita Davies said...

Beautiful work, gorgeous light on those buildings.

juj said...

Oh my GOD that fruit basket is over the top. Robyn - I'm speechless. Nothing I have to say will do justice to that work of art. I'll just remind you a new Cohen bros. movie is coming out today (here anyway) (yay!!) and leave it at that. It'll be in Italy too I hope

Anonymous said...

Both of these are beautiful Your work is just getting better and better and better. Yesterday was hot in Sydney - the first time it had been hot for about a year. Rain today. What I'd give for a long hot summer.

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...

Every time I visit here I regret that I don't have more time to visit more often; I just love getting lost in your work, Robyn.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Everyone is so kind :) Thank you.

Lisa Adams Reed said...

You art takes my breath away!!
lnljnws

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