A day of contrasts in many ways. This lunchtime we were in Pisa Airport, probably 35 degrees, sunny and bright. At just past 4pm we were in Northern England, 17 degrees, dull and very little colour. Driving over Saddleworth Moor between Oldham and Holmfirth, I stopped the car and quickly captured the drama of these moors. You cannot get any more contrast between this moorland landscape and the landscape of Tuscany, but equally just as beautiful.
Too knackered with this heatwave to talk about this building in Barga except it is called Villa Buenos Aires as it looks like a building that should be in Buenos Aires, not Tuscany! Again, simple line drawing works well. Off to the England tomorrow for several days so expect half the temperature and grey sky. Goodnight, now off to pack and bed!
The vines are now in full leaf with the little grapes just starting to grow. This low vantage point, looking up to the house adds dynamism to the sketch and the angular shape of the building contrasts with the organic soft shapes of the vines. No colour required on this sketch, pure line works well.
A little milestone today - my 100th Daily Sketch! Silhouetted against the late afternoon sky is this fortress just a short walk from the village of Verrucole, a few kilometres from San Romano. Very picturesque but no shop, not even a bar now. The last time I was here, the bar only switched the coffee machine on at weekends and only a few bags of nuts and crisps available. Today, a for sale sign on the door. Sad that these local village bars are closing but not enough trade to keep open.
We are in the middle of a heatwave, around 38 degrees midday. Have been gardening for a friend up in San Romano (half hour drive from Barga) past few days but managed to do my sketch today during a break. This is the view from his house - not a bad view to wake up to!
As you go north of Barga, up the valley and eventually towards Aulla and into the county of Lunigiana you notice the churches are architecturally different. For example the village of Sillignana is only a 25 minute drive from Barga but the church has an unusual shaped dome.
Where gardens are very rare in medieval hilltop towns and villages in Italy, the only way you can dry your washing is by hanging them from your window by various pulley methods. In summer, they dry quickly especially if your window gets some sun but many houses do not get the sun, the buildings being so close to each other but the washing eventually gets dry. But come the cold winter, washing must takes days to dry. In Liguria they put plastic sheets over the washing to stop the rain but never seen this method in Barga. On the French Riviera very little washing is hung out - maybe they think it doesn’t look good but I like the washing out. At least you know someone is alive and living behind those closed shutters!
