Tuesday 31 May 2011

Summer is on it's way

You knew it's nearly summer when the beach huts start going up.  These are on  Mondello beach just on the outskirts of Palermo, a popular place for the younger generation with music blasting from the bars and scooters parked along the side of the road.  But it does retain some of its old fashioned elegance with it's Liberty style summer homes and the famous Charleston Restaurant (now Le Terrazze).






Saturday 28 May 2011

Asleep


When night falls and the moon comes up,  people close their shutters and the little town is asleep.
For Illustration Friday.

Friday 27 May 2011

Eryx


Just one sketch this week from a recent day trip, so I'll show you some photographs and take you on a virtual tour!
Erice (Eryx) is an old town with mythical origins, sitting on top of a mountain overlooking the sea.
There are two castles, one built on the ruins of an ancient temple of Venus.


Visiting this town is like going back in time as you wander through its cobbled streets and past medival churches.





                                          and the view from the castle is spectacular!

Sunday 22 May 2011

Geranio

coloured pencil 29x40 cms

A warm spring day and the windows are wide open to let the sun and warmth inside.
Geraniums or Pelargoniums are a common sight here as they can always be grown in window box even in our hot, dry summers.  From a restaurant in the country near Trapani,  looking out over the Sicilian countryside.
 

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Safari



'Safari' for Illustration Friday in watercolour and coloured pencil.
I imagine that a safari would be hot and dusty with glimpses of animals through the trees and I've been waiting for the chance to draw a zebra!

Sunday 15 May 2011

Leaning Gate


Driving down country roads you come across many of these old gateways, marking the entrance to someones's land.  I love the crumbly stone, the way nature seems to take over and the light dappling through the olive trees.
This one has a particularly nice gate even though it's leaning and is a bit bent, it's obviously had a life!

Tuesday 10 May 2011

Beginner

Illustration Friday - Beginner

First day at school and the long walk up to the door for a little boy just beginning his education.

Friday 6 May 2011

A Sketch in Time!



After turning down a backstreet in the city centre I came out into a large piazza and found this lovely view of a church dome shining in the sun after a rainstorm.  
Here's my original sketch done in five minutes on the day, just enough to get some information and colours down.  It may not look like much but I only have to look at this little sketch to remember how I felt as the scene opened out in front of me.

Tuesday 3 May 2011

Living the High Life

This poor man sits endlessly up on top of a high pillar, and he looks quite miserable too!  I tried to find out some information about him, but no luck.  His pillar marks an old gateway into the botanical gardens, but he is best seen (and sketched) from a quiet corner of the park nextdoor.  He's so high up nobody ever tidies up  the weeds growing out of the top, so he remains up there in his slightly unkempt glory!