Sketching in Val di Chio

Lamy pen and wash with W&N Sepia ink

This week Sarah and I walked and sketched along the Old Mills Trail in the Val di Chio. Sarah has a post graduate interest in the ancient Etruscan waterways of the valley and her art is influenced by all things Etruscan.

Sarah sketching

Sadly we didn't find any old mills still standing but we did find grape vines growing in the traditional manner wrapped around the trunks of maples.

Lamy pen & watercolour - Canson 17.5 x 24 cm sketchbook

I'm still having trouble getting anything but very diluted colour with my waterbrush. Next time I think I 'll try the coloured pencil approach inspired by Katherine Tyrrell's lovely drawing in a vineyard not far from here.

Old stone structure in Val de Chio

I had to balance on a rock in the stream to take the photo above, so I didn't risk a sketch.

All sketches look a little drab here because I've had to scan the sketches because the light isn't great for photographs at the moment. Does anyone else have disappointing results with scans?

A sketch & An Exhibition

Water Hyacinth - watercolour sketch

I saw my first Water Hyacinth in Jean's garden the other day. At some point I will attempt to do it justice.

We finally got to Cortona today to see the exhibition of three artist friends which is part of Le Notte dell'Archelogia at the beautiful Palazzo Casali.

The artists - Sarah Miatt, Peter Barrett and ceramista, Edi Magi all draw on the ancient Etruscan influence in this beautiful area. I didn't like to take any photos because I couldn't have shown the work in its best light but I've linked to Sarah and Edi's websites.

The exhibition closes on July 18 - probably too late for most of you to fly in but anyone lucky enough to be around Cortona in the next couple of days will find it well worth a look.