The Etruscan Coast

When I’m travelling, and of course have no access to a scanner, I love to take photos of my sketches right on location so that I can include a bit of what I was looking at.

I haven’t had much time to post from Italy because I was teaching in Volterra, but before that I spent a few vacation days exploring the Etruscan Coast. I wasn’t expecting to be on the beach so it was a delightful surprise to sketch some seaside scenes.

The beach at Marina de Bibonna at the end of the day. The wind picked up while I was sketching so I ended up with a very sandy palette, but it was worth it.
At Baratti Beach the sand is silver black from the remnants of Etruscan iron processing, so they say. I found a chair at a restaurant with a great view of the beach. The family returned from their lunch as I was sketching.
In between the beach and the road are miles of umbrella pines, and at the end of the day, the colours on the trunks are luminous. I took lots of reference photos of these trees which I hope to turn into a bigger painting when I get back to my studio.
We stayed with Simona and her amazing little dog Gilda. This sketch was a gift for allowing us to share her beautiful garden with a view of the Tuscan hills.

16 Comments on “The Etruscan Coast”

  1. Uma Maheswar Nakka says:

    Good Evening dear friend Shari,

    Very beautiful sketches and well drawn as usual.
    Regards
    Uma

  2. Looks like a fabulous trip so far. So many new vistas to stimulate your creative vision. When I saw the pines sketch I could imagine it as a larger work. I look forward to seeing what you do.

  3. Peggy Herrick says:

    Green striped umbrella and umbrella pines . . I love them!

  4. Flowerpoet says:

    Wonderful artistry! 😍🥰😘

  5. Jeff Gold says:

    All are beautiful and 100% Blaukopf. Excited to hear all about your Italian adventures.

  6. gaelle1947 says:

    Always enjoy seeing pics of sketches juxtaposed to the actual scenes! Have a wonderful teaching and travelling adventure in that beautiful country!

  7. Bernadette says:

    Always great to see your travel sketches. We all appreciate seeing a photo taken to show us all the view your sketch was taken from. I am curious about your signature in your last painting shown. Can you tell me what size brush you used? I also wonder about the size of the last painting as it seems not to be a part of your journal pages.

  8. Nice work, I speak a bit of Etruscan, but even the Etruscans can’t understand what I am saying since it was never translated. I really like your trees painting, and the cacti.

  9. Beautiful! I specially love the umbrella pines and the warm glow of sunset on your sketchbook 🙂

    -Soma

  10. joantav says:

    These are lovely, and I enjoy seeing a bit of what you were seeing with your sketch. Glad you had a little time to relax.

  11. Lynn Holbein says:

    I like this approach to showing the scene above the sketchbook!

  12. Flowerpoet says:

    Beautiful artistry as ever 😍🥰😘🌹


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