Caffarella – Torre Valca (Medieval tower)
In a rather isolated part of the Caffarella park, half buried in the shrubbery, is a tower ‘ Torre Valca’ from the early 1400′s.
A medieval tower in the Caffarella park – hidden a midst shrubs and weeds
Caffarella Valley with Volcano
I am working a lot these days preparing for a 2 person show with my friend Annette Vargas called ‘ Southern Lights‘. This one is of the Caffarella valley with a view of the Colli Albani – hills near Rome of volcanic origin.
Never losing the first impression
I read this in a blog posted by the London Atelier of Representational Art and it is fundamental – helps me explain why sometimes we ‘ lose’ a painting by working too much on it. It comes from the book on Velasquez by RAM Stevenson:
“…. How often it seemed to them impossible to finish a picture. The more closely they applied themselves to study and complete a part, the more it seemed to change to their eyes, and to invalidate their previous observations. After having left his canvas for a rest such a man came back to find this or that edge cut as if with a knife, this shadow which should be blue and broad, hot and speckled, and certainly all the mystery, grandeur, or delicacy of the natural model painted out in commonplace. Again and again he tries, and each time that he brings a fresh eye to bear upon the model, he finds that all its characteristic beauty has evaporated from his work. He may never attempt to enter upon completeness, he is kept in the ante-room of preliminary changes. Now, all his separate observations may have been true, but they were all made under different conditions of attention to the scene ; whereas, until every part of the picture has been observed in subservience to the impression of the whole, completeness can never be even begun… ”
The course at the Florence Academy of Art was excellent and the progress I made in 5 days was really incredible – thank you Jura and Vitaliy. It just goes to show how learning sound techniques from good teachers can save months or even years of time.
Vladimir, a student at the Florence Academy, was our model for 5 days
Capocotta, St Stephen’s day 2012
Capocotta, St Stephen's day 2012
Cupid with Figs 2012
Cupid with figs 2012
November Morning at the Caffarella
The tomb of Cecilia Metella on the old Appian Way is in the distance. The light in November is beautiful, strong and crisp, but so fleeting.
November Morning at the Caffarella, Rome, 2011
