SIENA SUNLIGHT
16X12
OIL PASTEL ON BOARD
$600

There really is something about the light that bounces off the stone walls and random shutters and doorways of Italian hill towns. Here the light also glances off the Vespa’s and tiny mini-cars and people that share the narrow walkways. Everything seems to move at a walking pace. And the distance between patches of shade is perfect for enjoying a sunny day. The play of light and shadows is entrancing.

I have done similar pieces in other mediums, and found that working with oil pastels created a different challenge altogether. Here the brights are brighter and the shadows more elusive. Colors easily became dominant and flat. As a result, I had to restrain their use in order for a balance to be achieved. At the same time, the vibrancy of the colors more truly reflects the feeling of joy that permeates my memory of this day.