Sunday 12 June 2016

The Back of the Houses



40x40cms oil on wood
The older houses in Sicilian towns are often very beautiful with balconies, terracotta roof tiles and old doors, just to name a few of their interesting qualities. But sometimes the view from the back, although unadorned can be picturesque too.
In the mountain-top village of Erice in Sicily the winding cobbled streets are a magnet for tourists to admire the old and historic houses but round the back there are some great views too.  This row of  houses and the light falling on them caught my eye.




Friday 3 June 2016

Fresh Lemon


20x20cms, oil on wood click here to buy


At the end of the winter the lemon trees around my house are full of juicy fragrant lemons.
When I first came to live here the whole length of the dusty lane was so yellow with lemons you couldn't see the leaves on the trees.  Over recent years the lemon groves have diminished as the price of lemons has dropped and many prefer to sell their land for building purposes.
I still can't resist a lemon straight off the tree, with all its lumps and bumps, not at all like the too perfect ones from the supermarket.
I love to paint them and eat them.