Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Bridled Terns, Cousin Island, Seychelles


Una coppia di Sterna dalle Redini (Onychoprion anaethetus) sull'isola di Cousin, Seychelles. Acquerello su carta Arches 36x54 cm. SOLD

Monday, October 21, 2013

Eurasian Siskin


Lucherino (Carduelis spinus), Oriolo Romano, Lazio. Acquerello su carta Arches 28x52 cm. Uno dei quadri esposti alla Mall Galleries in occasione della mostra annuale della Society of Wildlife Artists "The Natural Eye". Dal 31 Ottobre al 10 Novembre 2013.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Basilicata - A digital diary


Basilicata 15 - 21 settembre 2013: una palestra di grigi, ocra, tonalità neutre, e intensi punti di luce. Con velature di Giallo di Napoli. Colori caldi, naturali e tenui con contrasti che cambiano totalmente nelle diverse ore del giorno e che riflettono la variabilità del cielo autunnale. Matera si presenta così. Ti attrae subito in modo incondizionato. Non è facile rendere su carta la sovrapposizione di case, angoli, finestre, tetti e scale immerse nei “Sassi” e non è facile scegliere un angolo da dipingere e scartarne un altro … “effetto Venezia” lo chiamo io! Tutto intorno alla città le case diventano roccia, terra e paesaggio naturale fino a trasformarsi nella Gravina, il suggestivo canyon sottostante. Un gradiente naturale che si rispecchia in tutta la regione. Craco affonda letteralmente tra le rocce, i paesi incastonati nelle splendide Dolomiti Lucane sembrano sorti insieme alle montagne e i calanchi sono i fragili pilastri che sorreggono Aliano. E all’improvviso quando i colori si fanno brillanti e i miei pennelli si sporcano di cobalto, turchese e Blu Oltremare e cercano una tonalità mista che possa riprodurre il nero vellutato degli scogli e delle spiagge non ho più dubbi: Maratea e la splendida costa sono apparse dopo chilometri di curve e tornanti tra le montagne che le proteggono.
Da tempo giro con i miei taccuini, matite e acquerelli per fermare su carta quello che vedo. È il mio strumento per osservare, ricordare, viaggiare lentamente e raccontare. La Basilicata è bellissima, lo sapevo e non mi faccio cogliere impreparato.
A wide variety of greys, ochres and neutral shades dotted with the brightest rays of light. Soft yellows and warm earth tones, with strong contrasts that change completely depending on the time of day reflecting the variable autumn sky. This is Matera. You find yourself instantly attracted to this place in an unconditional manner. It’s not easy to put it down on paper, the overlapping houses, corners, windows, roofs and stairways tucked deep into the “Sassi” and it is certainly not easy to choose the spot you want to paint because this means discarding another spot just as beautiful … I call it ‘the Venice effect’!

All around the town the houses gradually turn into rock, ground and blend into the surrounding panorama, until becoming one with the Gravina, the amazing canyon below. A recurring natural element that I found almost everywhere we went in Basilicata. The ghost town of Craco literally sinks down into the surrounding rocks, Castelmezzano e Pietrapertosa seems set among the splendid Lucanian Dolomites, others towns seem like they have grown together with the mountains around them, the calanchi seemingly fragile pillars bearing the town of Aliano.
Then suddenly, colours become bright and my paintbrushes become tainted with cobalt, turquoise, deep sea blue in until becoming the velvety black like the rocks and unique beaches of Maratea.
For a while now I have been traveling with my sketchpads, my pencils and watercolours so that I can record what I see on paper. It is my way of observing, remembering, slowly traveling and telling a unique story. The Basilicata region is really beautiful, I knew that a while ago and I came prepared…

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Aeroporto "A.Brunetta" di Orbetello


La porta di accesso alla Rocca di Orbetello dall'interno dell'ex Aeroporto intitolato alla memoria del Guardiamarina Agostino Brunetta aviatore della Prima Guerra Mondiale. Il posto ha un grande fascino ma è in una situazione di totale abbandono e degrado. Matita e acquerello su taccuino Daler-Rowney 30x21 cm.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

The Natural Eye - Society of Wildlife Artists, 50th Anniversary Exhibition


Quest'anno la Society of Wildlife Artists festeggerà il 50° anniversario durante la mostra annuale in programma alla Mall Galleries di Londra dal 30 Ottobre al 10 Novembre 2013. Ospite d'eccezione per l'inaugurazione sarà David Attenborough. Io sarò presente con 8 quadri tra cui questo acquerello di un picchio rosso maggiore 18x38 cm.

The Society of Wildlife Artists celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion Sir David Attenborough will be opening their annual exhibition The Natural Eye held at London’s prestigious Mall Galleries. The exhibition will be the London launch of the Society’s new book “The Natural Eye, Art Book One” which showcases the talents of the members of the Society and has been published to help raise funds for the Society’s exciting bursary scheme. The SWLA Bursary scheme is in its 25th year and has awarded well over 70 bursaries to young and emerging artists to help them on their creative journeys. Chosen as ‘Book of the Month’ by BBC Wildlife Magazine this limited edition publication will be available from the exhibition and via www.swla.co.uk
The exhibition has over 330 works by members and non-members on show. Four of the founding members are still regular exhibitors and past President Robert Gillmor, who was integral in setting up the Society, has his ‘Bull o’the Bog’ featuring on the cover of the catalogue. John Busby was also there from the start and has work in this 50th anniversary show that is a showcase for art inspired by the natural world. The ‘Out of the Frame’ room that shows fieldwork from selected projects by member artists will show 3 artists this year. There will be the stunning work of artist Carl Ellis documenting the fish of his local rivers, Matt Underwood who has spent time in the Alpes-Maritime in France and shows his sketches from the region and Mike Warren who will be exhibiting pieces from his long running project on his local quarry site reserve.
Private View: Wednesday 30 October
Opens to public: Thursday 31 October
10am-5pm including weekends
Closes: Sunday 10 November, 1pm