Strange Fruit

Watercolour on gessoed A5 watercolour paper

Ever since Casey rue Manuel bis blogged about painting watercolour on gesso I've been keen to try it. This was just a little experiment so I didn't take too much care with the sketch. As a result it's quite loose and I quite like it! I love the rich glossy look of the colours on the acrylic gesso and it is wonderful being able to lift out highlights so easily. I will be trying some more of these. It's a great way to use up paper one doesn't like or to paint over failed watercolours. Thanks Casey! :)

The strange fruit was a gift from Jean and I have no idea what it is called. They are like little apples and have a sweet nutty taste. They start out green and are ready to eat when they are completely brown. Anyone know what they are?

Coloured pencils in Moleskine sketchbook

This clever little gift box was folded for me by Marta. I'm afraid if I take it apart I'll never get it back together again. It has joined the collection of lovely little objects I'm gathering on my desk.

Watercolour 18 x 26cm

The landscape is my effort from last week's watercolour class. These Vincaia trees used to grow all over this part of Tuscany apparently, often supporting grape vines. You don't see so many now.

Sargent and Venice

Pen & Watercolour Pencil large Moleskine sketchbook

I've just had a couple of magical days in Venice wining and dining with Margaret and David and enjoying a feast of art. I couldn't believe my luck when I discovered the Sargent and Venice exhibition had been extended into September. A couple of hours with John Singer Sargent's inspiring watercolours was such an education. The next day, looking for a quiet spot to sketch I stumbled upon an Albrecht Durer print exhibition which was a rare treat too. I desperately wanted to sketch the cloister at the Museo Diocesano which was the venue for Durer but I had a train to catch and they don't allow photographs. Finally an exhibition Artempo: Where Time Becomes Art at the Palazzo Fortuny was an the opportunity to see the amazing Veiled Lady 'Purity' by Antonio Corradini.

And sketching in Venice? Not very productive I'm afraid. I should have heeded Katherine's advice on sketching en plein air and realised that the friendly early morning sunlight was going to turn into a blazing torch before I'd finished my drawing. I had to complete it at home.

I 'd carted watercolours and paper along with my pencils and pens in my sketching stool/bag on my back, but such were the crowds and other temptations I didn't get to use them. I did manage some photographic references that I hope to make into paintings in the next couple of weeks.

Venice is even more special now I see her through the eyes of Sargent, Turner and Whistler and the thousands upon thousands of dreamers like myself who stand clutching a sketchbook, awestruck by her beauty.

Georgia O'Keeffe Month

I've grown my first Ranunculus this year. Among the reds there was a single orange flower so I photographed it and have used it as my subject for a Georgia O'Keeffe inspired macro in dry watercolour pencil. I intend to try more of these studies as part of Georgia O'Keeffe Month which you can read about on Katherine Tyrrell's endlessly fascinating blog.

6" x 6.5" Watercolour Pencil on Bristol Board

Georgia O'Keeffe worked both in pastel and oil. This was meant to be a quick coloured pencil sketch for a painting. Of course, I got carried away. I'm thinking I may try the next in oil. I'll have to sleep on it.

Isn't He Romantic

For those of you, Dear Readers, who think HWEM is only a purloiner of studios, a savage wit and a pedant, here is proof positive that he has a romantic streak. Yesterday he presented me with with this rosebud from the garden. This was an unexpected and most welcome gesture from the man who proposed with a cob of corn, but that's another story.

We inherited this rose bush with our garden, so if anyone can identify it from the photo below I'd be delighted. It begins life as a deep pink bud but by the time the flower reaches maturity it is almost cream. I think it is an old variety and very sweet because the bugs love it.


Today is Wednesday - Oil Painting Group! I haven't posted any progress photos of my dreaded first oil painting. It is progressing slowly because I still haven't a clue what I'm doing. I do love my afternoons at Miranda's studio though. You will find some photos here on Le Santucce website.

Finally ... Light!

I've been waiting since November for a proper light in my studio. Since I don't have a window in my 'cupboard', much of the time I haven't been quite sure what I'm painting. It's finally arrived and after a naked 60 watt bulb I'm dazzled. I'm also grateful to our wonderful electrician/friend Carlo who found it and eventually installed it. And, of course, to HWEM, who encouraged me to spend the money to get it.


Before I was driven home by spots of rain smudging the ink in my Moleskine this morning, I managed this quick sketch of the gate we pass through twice a day taking the dogs for walks up to the tower.

First Strawberries

That's first EVER strawberries that we have grown in our own garden. Less than a month after planting they are ripe. I don't want to pick them, they look so pretty. I should have painted them in watercolour. I'm regretting using this Fabriano Artist's Journal as my Garden Journal because it doesn't take watercolour very well and coloured pencils, which is what this is, always takes me ages.

I'll probably have to try them in watercolour before I eat them - sweet little things.

Working in the Garden

As HWEM stomps back and forth in his filthy gumboots, trekking compost and honest sweat through the house, he is occasionally heard to mutter - 'bout time you did some work in the garden'.

So here I am 'working' in the garden!


Every now and then I have to stop to consult my Muse.


I'm still trying to keep up with the plants as they bloom.


I wasn't quick enough for the Iris, so I had to rely on the photo I took. There's more on the way, so I will try for a looser watercolour version of those.

Draw a Bowl

I finally joined in the Every Day Matters Weekly Drawing Challenge with #111 - Draw a Bowl.

I'm hoping the discipline of drawing a simple object from life once a week will loosen me up a little. We'll see. I'm my own worst enemy in that the bowl I chose to sketch was a tangle of wire and shadows - we do have normal bowls, I'm just too stupid to use them. Next challenge I'll try the KISS approach.

The Every Day Matters Group is a very friendly and supportive bunch and if you haven't already done so, I recommend a visit. The founder of EDM is Danny Greggory who is an inspiration to all who love to draw and particularly to those who would like to but think they can't. The group also has a blog of blogs.

Van Gogh inspired colour

I printed the scan of my original sketch for the Cloisters on a piece of very old 90lbs Canson Montval watercolour paper. I did a light wash of Cad Yellow and Cobalt Turquoise WN watercolours and then went to work with the watercolour pencils (Lyra Rembrandt and Caran D'Ache Prismalo). My inspiration for the colour was Vincent Van Gogh's Hospital Hall.

I masked the drawing with masking tape which proved to be a disaster on this paper. It ripped shreds off when I removed it! What did I learn from this exercise, apart from the nasty masking tape lesson? This is far from the actual colour of my reference (below), so it really has encouraged me to be much bolder with colour choices in future.
The Entrance Hall of Saint-Paul Hospital - 1889
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Sketching with Coloured Pencils

Since I am in the middle of a struggle with a watercolour portrait - and the watercolour is winning - I thought I would cheer myself up with a coloured pencil sketch. I love the stylish little bottles that Sanbitter comes in. Can't bring myself to throw them away. Fortunately I don't drink too much Sanbitter! This one holds the remains of last Spring's poppies on a little shelf in our extremely rustic WC. The WC is reminiscent of the head on an old tramp steamer. This is watercolour pencil in my Moleskine sketchbook.

Anna's Car

My year of art is off to a very slow start, but visitors from home are a lovely distraction.

When we first arrived in CF, Snowy and I were nearly bowled over by a little Fiat 500 held together, it seemed, by packing tape. As it passed us in the narrow street and careered around a bend, the driver's door flew open and an elegant arm reached out and casually caught it. Without, it seemed, even coming to a stop it was thrown into reverse and screeched back into a tiny parking spot. I was fascinated by its driver, an intensely elegant dark haired woman waving a cigarette around as she slammed the door and swept off up the street. Eighteen months later we now know that this is Anna's car and that she is the charming proprietor of a very classy boutique a few doors down the street from our apartment. Today Snowy and I don't even flinch when a car bowls past with barely an inch to spare.