Views and street scenery, Panarea, Aeolian Islands, Sicily

 

              

 Two views of  Datillo, oil on canvas board - 15 x 10 cm painted on location - May 2023 € 275 each

Datillo a huge rock vector island not far off the eastern coast of Panarea, with its many hues of yellow and green as a result of its sulfuric content, again no doubt due to volcanic origin. It's amazing how the protruding rocks are formed, due to wind and water erosion. I view these as natural sculptures created by the hand of God. Lovely to paint, especially when the afternoon sunlight is reflecting off the jagged rock edges.

 

                     

Vetta Panarea,  oil on canvas - 30 x 40 cm, painted on location - May 2023 - € 595

This ascending path, no more than 5 or 6 meters wide is one of the main roads on the island. That's what makes this place special, no automobile traffic whatsoever! Off course there are scooters, 3 wheel motorized carts, and also electric golf carts used mainly as taxi services,  whizzing by, however most transportation is done on foot. I was inspired by the geometric shapes of the buildings and  the play of light was an addition bonus.   

 

View of Basiluzzo 1, oil on canvas board, 10 x15 cm, € 215

View of Basiluzzo 2, oil on canvas board, 10 x 15 cm, € 215

View of Stromboli with stormy clouds,  oil on canvas board, 10 x 15 cm, € 215

Here you have a spectacular view of the island Stromboli, (an active volcano which, believe it or not, is even populated with a few thousand inhabitants),  and two views of the rock island Basiluzzo. Lovely early spring cloudy skies, makes for interesting subject matter to paint, of which I took full advantage of.

Panarea and its Islands; Dattilo, Lisca Bianca and Basiluzzo

 

View of Lisca Bianca from the church San Pietro

oil on canvas - 15 x 30 cm

painted on location - 15 May 2023

€ 650

View of Lisca Bianca and Dattilo from terras at Hotel Cincotta

oil on canvas - 15 x 30 cm

painted on location - 14 May 2023

€ 650

View of Lisca Bianca and Dattilo from a cliff above Calcara

oil on canvas - 15 x 30 cm

painted on location -  19 May 2023

€ 650

On a recent working holiday I found myself visiting dear friends on a quaint and beautiful Island off the N/E coast of Sicily.  Panarea (ME) is one of  seven islands which forms The Aeolian Islands Archipelago. This tiny island has spectacular views of the many groups of surrounding islands and rocks that protrude out of the Sea, all of which have volcanic origins.   

View of Lisca Bianca,  Dattilo, Basiluzzo and Stromboli 

oil on canvas - 15 x 30 cm

painted on location -  14 May 2023

€ 650

Here you have a Sea level view, as this is from near the port of  Panarea. Featured is a typical fisherman's boat with its vibrant colors  Also noteworthy is the view of Stromboli on the far left, with its ever present cloud(s) hanging over the peak. This because it is an active volcano, spouting its fiery ashes and rocks and trembling the whole island, about every 24 minutes of the day, non stop all the time. As the winds had been strong due to local stormy weather, the wave action is wonderful to paint.

View of Lisca Bianca and  Dattilo during high winds 

oil on canvas - 15 x 30 cm

painted on location -  14 May 2023

€ 650

I had to take cover as during the making of this painting water was pouring from the sky off and on the whole time. The coloration of the Sea is wild with Earthy tones during these storms and that makes for interesting subject matter. 

Streets of San Vincenzo Vecchio, and more

Vicoli di San Vincenzo Vecchio #1, Abruzzo, IT.

oil on canvasboard - 20 x 29 cm

painted on location - 12 Nov 2019

Vicoli di San Vencinzo Vecchio #2, Abruzzo, IT.

(with two sparrows)

oil on canvasboard - 20 x 29 cm

painted on location - 14 Nov. 2019

Olive garden with houses, San Vincenzo Vecchio, Abuuzzo

oil on canvasboard - 24 x 30 cm

painted on location - 13 Nov. 2019

  

Vicoli di San Vincenzo Vecchio #3, Abruzzo, It

(Casa Valentina)

oil on canvasboard - 24 x 30 cm

painted on location - 16 Nov. 2019

Recently I went to visit with relatives in this quaint mountain village, in the Valle Roveto, Abruzzo, just a short 1hr drive from Rome. I make this trip annually to go help out with the olive picking season. Usually I take some equipment in order to keep busy with my art work. It was constantly raining in the period while visiting, as is evident in the paintings. However in between the rain showers I did get some chances to work in the field, as shown by the olive garden.  

Postcards from Venezia series # 5 & 6

View from Accademia Bridge with Golden Light 

oil on canvas board - 20 x 29 cm

painted on location - 7 May 2015

SOLD

View from Accademia Bridge with Warm Light

oil on canvas board - 20 x 29 cm

painted on location - 6 May 2015

SOLD

These are the last two paintings made on my recent trip to Venezia. Twice the size of the original four paintings, posted not so long ago. I choose to render this scene in a way that it might have looked a few centuries ago, at 5 o' clock in the morning.  Thus no vaporetto halts, and no cruise ships! 

Postcards from Venezia Series, 1,2,3,& 4

Golden light on Cannaregio Canal

oil on wood - 10 x 15 cm

painted on location - Wed 6 May 2015

SOLD

View of La Salute, morning glory

oil on wood - 10 x 15 cm

painted on location - Thurs 7 May 2015

SOLD

View of La Salute, soft light

oil on wood - 10 x 15 cm

pained on location - Thurs 7 May 2015

SOLD

Fondamenta Vener dai Leoni

oil on wood - 10 x 15 cm

painted on location - Wed 6 May 2015

SOLD

Dear frtiends, I was on a short trip to Venezia recently. To work and enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.  Made a total of six paintings. For those of you who have been there, you know about the charm and uniqueness this floating city has to offer. I believe I will make a habit of going there more often, as a painter is never short of inspiration and subject to paint.

ps...with the purchase of 2 or more reductions in price.

Olive tree grove with picker, Abruzzo, Italy

Olijfbomen met plukker, Abruzzo, Italie
oil on canvas
40 x 30 cm
painted on location -
San Vincenzo Vecchio, Valle Roveto, Aq. Abruzzo, 17 11 2011

Not for sale

Here you have yet another painting from my recent sojourn in Italy. The person shown happens to be the woman with whom I'm having a wonderful relationship these days! She accopmanied me on this trip, had a great time admist the spectacular natural setting, housing these highly productive olive trees. Of course we also had the privilege of sampling the fine foods that were prepared with the freshly pressed olives.

As you can see from this photo, I paint what lies before me, however the model is not visible as she was the one who took this picture! It was indeed a pleasure to have a lot of Sunlight, it really lit up the autumn colors, in the valley.

Olive tree wih pickers, Abruzzi, Italy

Olijfboom met plukkers, Abruzzi, Italie
oil on canvas
20 x 20 cm - (8 x 8 inches)
painted on location - Fri 18 Nov 2011
Near San Vincenzo Vecchio, Valle Roveto, Abruzzo)
SOLD

One of four paintings made on my recent sojourn to visit family, paint in this lush natural environment and help out with the olive harvest. Here you have featured three workers, two on the tree, and the third on the ground with only his legs visible. A traditional method of raking(yellow objects held in hand) the olives off the branches is employed, this results in no damage to the olive, thus a better quality olive oil! The olives fall onto the emarld green net which is spread generously under the tree. They are then gathered, by hand, and placed into heavy linen sacks, which are then taken for further sortation. The rest of the trees in the valley are in full autumn colors, thus the hints of warm hues in the background.

View from the island Panarea, Sicily

Gezicht vanaf de eiland Panarea, Sicilia
oil on 3 wood panels
10 x 45 cm
painted on location - 13 July 2011

Private collection-Panarea

Will dear reader, as is clearly evident, this is absolutely not a view off the coast of The North Sea! Finding myself on a short vacation, on this exotic tiny island, off the coast of N/E Sicily, part of the archipelago, Eolian Islands, I managed to get a couple of small paintings done. In the distance, that triangular shaped island is actually an active vulcano, called Stromboli. Every evening one gets an astonishing display of lava bursting high (200 meters) into the sky, causing one to witness, a spectacle of Nature rarely seen. From the distance shown on the painting, one sees an intense light of orange/red, coming from the top left side of the peak, as if a gigantic light bulb is being switched on and off. Closer in view, is the uninhabited island of Basiluzzo. A favorite location for yachts and pleasure boats to anchor and enjoy the crystal clear waters and take in the natural beauty of the rocky cliffs, eroded over the centuries by both wind and water.

Here below I include 2 pictures of a work I made in 1988. It is an areal view of the islands between Panarea and Stromboli. It measures 110 x 160 cm, and is on display in the lobby of the luxurious, Hotel Cincotta.

San Vincenzo Vecchio(AQ) with first snow.

San Vincenzo Vecchio(AQ) met 1ste sneeuw
oil on canvas
40 x 100 cm - (16 x 40 inches)
painted on location - Wed 17 Nov 2010

The 3rd and last of this series. There would have been at least 2 more had the weather been more co-operative! Actually this painting went through a major face lift, as when it was started, the climatic conditions were similar to the first two paintings. However, due to cool temperatures and overcast skies a fresh layer of snow was lift behind in the high altitudes, when the clouds lifted. Thus seen in this work is a combination of snow and very thin layered drifting clouds. The setting is late afternoon, thus the color scheme of the valley is richer and deeper in tone.

San Vincenzo Vecchio(AQ) with olive picker

San Vincenzo Vecchio(AQ) met oliijf plukker
oil on canvas
40 x 100 cm
painted on location - Sun 14 Nov 2010

Here you have the 2nd painting made during my little trip to Abruzzo. This time I opted for a more panoramic view of the valley, which by the way is called 'Valle Roveto'. The light on this painting is a little softer as it was made later on in the day, middle of the afternoon, to be precise. Autumn foilage on the distant mountain ranges, mixed with the still intense greens and silverblue hues of the nearby foilage on the trees, create a harmonizing effect on the human eye. Note the shapes of the mountain peaks on the far left of the canvas. One could make out the shapes of a womans hair and face and a little further to the right, a breast, both in upright position. The locals here refer to her as, "La Bella Dormintata", (The Sleeping Beauty)! Hey what do you expect, from those hot blooded Italians!

San Vincenzo Vecchio (AQ), Italy

San Vincenzo Vecchio (AQ), Italie
oil on canvas
60 x 70 cm
painted on location - Mon 15 Nov 2010

Private collection - Sora(FR), Italy

As some of you may have known I made a short excursion to my home town in Italy. With the idea of witnessing and lending a hand, in the olive picking festivities. I must say, as luck would have it, I ended up at an ideal location. I was hosted by a cousin who has a 2nd home in the village shown on this painting. Nestled in a picturesque gentle mountainous valley, with autumn colors still in full splendour, and temperatures reaching will over 20% celsius, il pittore didn't need much convincing to set his easel up in a field above this olive grove! This is the 1st of 3 paintings produced in this region of Abruzzo. Unfortunately we had some rain, thus limiting my production.

Sperlonga, Italy and view from

Straatje met ophangende was, Sperlonga, Italiaoil on gessoed wooden panel
13 x 18 cm ( postcard size)
painted on location - Thurs 15 July 2010

Private collection, Sora, Italy

During my stay in Italy, I was taken twice to this seaside resort village. Well known by your average Italian, but I bit there are not more than a 3 people from my mailing list that know of this medieval hilltop town, engulfed by pretty beachs! It's almost 40 degrees in the sun, too hot to even think, let alone consider doing any sort of physical labour. I make my way through the ancient narrow streets which seem to be carved right out of the mountain side in which the village is wrapped around. Find a spot still fresh as the Sun never shines directly on this stairway. I am inspired by the colors of the wash hanging between the houses, and the contrasr of light and dark, caused by the shadows. After completing the above painting I proceeded up the steps which can be seen to the left of the image, and was taken by surprise with this delightfull view, looking North along the seaside. Yes the charm of Sperlonga, is a must, to be experienced. Located on the beach are the remains of one of the many Summer Villa's of Roman Emperor Tiberius (AD 14-37).




Gezicht vanaf Sperlonga
oil on gessoed wooden panel
13 x 18 cm (postcard size)
painted on location - Thurs 15 July 2010

private collection

Father and Child in olive grove, Sora, Italy

Olijfbomen, Sora, Italia
oil on gessoed board
13 x 18 cm
painted on location - Thurs 8 July 2010
SOLD

Finding myself visiting with relatives in my home town of Sora, Frosinone, which is located just under Rome, off the main highway heading towards Naples. This scene is actually located at the back of the house were I was lodging. The figures, Father and child were painted in intentionally. The third figure, presumably the mother, springing out of the tree behind the father, , happened purely by coincidence, and actually was pointed out to me by a female cousin somedays later.

Piazza Navona, Roma

Piazza Navona, Rome
oil on canvas
24 x 30 cm
painted on location - Saturday 20 March 2010

SOLD

It's early in the morning, I'm approaching what is probably the most extravagant and controversial Baroque fountain in the world. With all my gear at hand, ready to paint it,...... what do I find before my eyes? It's under renovation, Oh my God! So what to do next? I take a walk to the north end of the square, and looking back at the fountain behind the barricade, I think to myself, "The hell with it, I'm just gonna paint, the situation at hand". The statues of the fountain are so enormous, the top half are visible anyway. As luck would have it, half way into the painting, the Sun burst through the thick layer of clouds, the whole scene gets transformed into a fascinating display of lights and shadows. Good thing I got there early, by the time I finished the painting, hundreds of passers by were between me and the subject.

Piazza del Popolo, Roma, by day and by night

Piazza del Popolo (v/d volk), ochtend vroeg
oil on canvas
50 x 40 cm
painted on location - Tuesday 23 March 2010

SOLD

Symmetrically elegant, spacious and vast, the whole area was built as, and still remains-a showpiece. This is the Northern entrance to the Eternal City. For centuries piazza del Popolo was the first glimpse most travellers got of Rome. The obelisk was brought from Egypt by the Emperor Augustus. In 1589 it was moved from Circo Massimo to this location. The piazza was first laid out in the early 16th century, then went through a major facelift in the 19th century by Rome's leading neo-classical architect, Giuseppe Valadier.


Here you have a picture of the same view of the piazza, only taken from a higher point than were I was set up.




Gezicht vanaf Piazza del Popolo, 's avonds
oil on canvas board
30 x 24 cm
painted on location - Sat 20 March 2010

SOLD

Here you have a evening glimpse from the piazza. The painting begins with one of the four lioness fountains featured at the base of the enormous obelisk. The eye is then ushered to the starting point of one of Rome's most elegant shopping streets, Via del Babuino. The terrace of the fancy Cafe Canova, is shown on the left.



A picture of Peter Altena sketching and myself working on the evening painting in Piazza del Popolo.

Fontana delle Tartarughe, Roma

Fontein van de Schildpaden, Roma
oil on canvas board
18 x 24 cm
painted on location - Monday 22 March 2010

SOLD

Four ephebes (adolescent boys) in bronze, cavort around the base of what is unquestionably one of Rome's loveliest fountains. They are gently hoisting four bronze tortoises up to the sparkeling waters above them. This fountain is located in Piazza Mattei, in the Jewish Ghetto quarters of Rome. Built in the 1580s as a wedding present by the Duke of Mattei to his fiancée. Legend has it that it was erected overnight to impress the brides father! The turtles were added many years later by baroque master, Bernini, during a restoration.




A picture of the situation, taken by my colleague, Dimitris. I am set up on the other side behind that lady with a camera.

Fontana del Moro e Campo de' Fiori, Roma

Moor fontein, Piazza Navona
oil on wood
10 x 15 cm (small/klein)
painted on location - Sat 20 March 2010



Campo de'Fiori (blomen)
oil on wood
10 x 15 cm (small/klein)
SOLD


This fountain is located on the southern end of Piazza Navona, a lively place, a place where both locals and tourists like to hang out. Artists gather in the sqaure to paint and there are many entertainers and vendors selling souvenirs. The central figure depicted, is a muscular Triton, riding a dolphin, it was sculpted by Bernini in 1654. I had just finished an oil painting of the overview of the whole plaza. Sit up at the same spot, only looking in the other direction. That painting was bought off the easel by an elegantly dressed elderly couple visiting from Madrid,Spain.
The flower market scene actually has a fountain behind the stalls, but I was much more inspired by this view. We were not having the greatest of weather conditions, thus the overcast sky.
Working on location, with the light changing by the minute, these two pieces maintain there character of an oil sketch. The main advantage of this kind of painting is that it is not overworked, things and objects are suggested rather than shown in elaborate detail.

Piazza di Spagna, Roma

Piazza di Spagna, Rome
oil on canvas board
24 x 30 cm
painted on location - Sunday 21 March 2010

€ 325



One of the most delightful Piazza's in Rome, featuring the famed Spanish Steps which are located just to the right of this scene. The fountain 'la barcaccia' (old boat), featured in the forground was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1627. It is ingeniously sunk below ground level to compensate for the low pressure of the delicious Acqua Vergine that feeds it. In 1870, over 400 painters lived and worked in the area around the Spanish Steps. It also atrracted poets and musicians, in fact just 15 meters from were I set up, can be found the house were John Keats lived and died in 1821, at the tender age of 25. Also just behind the sunlet building, is Via Margutta, which was the focus point of the 1960's art scene, and Federico Fellini lived here until his death in 1993.

Trevi Fountain, Rome (by night)

Fontana di Trevi, 's nachts.
oil on canvas board - 24 x 30 cm
painted on location - Sunday 21 March 2010
SOLD

As some of you may already have known, I went on a working vacation to the Eternal City of Rome, with 5 colleagues. We stayed in a comfortable apartment just a stones throw away from, Piazza del Popolo. Centrally located, a great find at an affordable price, when you take into consideration that just around the corner, on Via del Babuino is located Hotel de Russie, renting suites from 1,500-2,700 euro per night! This painting was made amongst a crowd of no less than 550 persons(probably more). All awe struck by the beauty and magnitude of this imposing marble structure, measuring 25.9 meters in hight, and 19.8 meters wide. Inspired by a design from Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the final version, was built by Nicola Salvi, in the 18th century, taking some 30 odd years to complete (1732 - 1762). The central figure, set in the niche, is Oceanus, God of all water, (figure on the extreme right of painting). He is flanked on his right, by the Goddess, Abundance, who is spilling water from an urn. There are a multitude of figures and creatures from both land and sea featured in this extravagant fountain. But what's even more empressive is the thundering sound of water one sees and hears. In fact nothing else, in the stifling heat of a Roman summer, gives such a feeling of sensual delight as the abundant, splashing, cool water. If you don't believe me, ask Anita Ekberg, she made this fountain famous when she plunged in wearing a strapless black evening dress in Federico Fellini's classic La Dolce Vita.

Il Duomo di Catania, Sicilia

St. Agatha's, The Cathedral of Catania, Sicily
oil on canvas board - 24 x 30 cm
painted on location - Thurs 8 Oct 2009 

On Sicily’s east coast, Catania has been the prize of a stream of empires over the centuries, from Greeks to Romans to Arabs to Normans to Spaniards, to name just a few. But more devastating than invaders has been the city’s geography: It lies at the foot of Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and most active volcano, which completely destroyed the city with earthquakes and lava flows in 1693. Afterward, it was rebuilt in the baroque style (with creative use of lava) for which it’s today famous. It is also known as, "the black city". This is due to the fact that the streets/sidewalks and many of the monumental buildings were made of the readily available lava stone, which of course is black. The Piazza Del Duomo is a World Hertiage Monument, thus it is protected. But of course Mount Etna has its own rules, and when she decides, nobody can stop her! Thus because of this city, Horace, the Greek Philosoper was inspired to write the saying, Carpe Diem . Which translates to, seize the day , (trusting as little as possible in the future.)


A picture of the subject, taken shorly after I finished my painting, which I started late in the afternoon.