Spring is in the Air

Lovely spring sunshine at the studio today.

Over two days last week, the cherry trees went from bare twigs to an extravaganza of dancing blossom.

The lambs are well established in the field across the yard.

Spent some time playing with the painting I started last month, now dry enough to work on.

Some interesting colours developing
along with some moody atmospherics!

Then silver birch greening up nicely....

....and tender silver green buds about to burst into summer glory on my walk home through Swallowship wood.

A Short Break in the Southern Sun

 

I've been recharging the batteries in sunny Italy! In Rome, Spring had definitely sprung! What a contrast with the grey, cold weather left behind in Northumberland!

Then off to the Amalfitana coast east of Naples and a boat trip to the Isle of Capri. Not my usual choice of destination - but there was still snow to be seen on the mountains as we drove south.

Everywhere was sunshine, intense light, the blue of the sky reflected in the glittering Mediterranean, marble and tiled surfaces radiating heat, giant lemons ripe for the picking in the lemon groves and wisteria, perfuming the air from morning to night with glow worms dancing in the dark.

From our wisteria-hung terrace, a view of the tower which inspired Dutch artist M C Escher to pick up his pen in 1931 and make a lithograph from his drawing.

Inspiration also came from the wonderful ancient frescoes in the churches and villas of Amalfi and Ravello...

....not to mention those at Herculaneum which, along with the buildings containing them, survived the eruption of Vesuvius in AD79. Miraculous!

Fascinating fragments, subtle colours, exciting textures reminiscent of mountain landscapes - maybe these visual feasts will find their way into my work back in the studio.