Friday 23 October 2009

View of Petralia Sottana & Street scene Petralia Soprana


Oil sketch of Petralia Sottana
oil on canvas
18 x 24 cm
painted on location - 5 Oct 2009


We were en route to this quaint village, from a good afternoons work at a village even higher in elevation (painting below), when Dimitrios suddenly decided to pull over the van and suggest that we paint the village with the affect of the sitting sun. Am glad he made that decesion, all our efforts were worthwhile, at least I was happy with mine. This was the only place we stayed at that didn't have a view of that shimmering blue of the Mediterranean Sea. However the vistas were no less spectacular, with amazing skies and valleys covered in rich soil, hosting all sorts of crops and trees.



Street leading to Cathedral, Petralia Soprana
oil on canvas - 24 x 18 cm
painted on location - 5 Oct 2009
SOLD

Again, the play of light is what inspired me to tackle this rather commonplace view. However the ceramic detail of that church tower, also spoke to me. It had just been restored, and the other tower, to the left, which is not in view, was in restoration. Covered with more than a 1000 multicolored handmade pointy ceramic tiles, I felt it deserved il pittore's attention. These twin villages are located in the interior of Sicily, just off the main highway that leads from Palermo to Catania.

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