LIGHT REFLECTING ON ITSELF

Still Life with Oranges ( study)

James Aponovich

pencil on paper, 4 3/4" x 4"

I've always heard people talking about the 'quality of the light,'

of one place or another. I never quite understood just what they

were talking about. We used to live on the coast of Maine where

I constantly heard about the wonderful light....where?

Now we live smack dab in the middle of Italy, with the

Adriatic Sea on one side and the Tyrrenian Sea on the other.

So, I should get it , right?

Still Life with Bowl of Fruit, Panicale

James Aponovich

oil on panel, 10" x 8"

O.K., one way to paint 'light' is to paint objects in their environment

( i.e. the landscape and sky). Looking up, I must say that the deep 

blue of the Italian sky is amazing. By incorporating Renaissance 'Sfumato'

and aerial perspective ( Hello, Leonardo) and you wind up with the

classic depth of field and light stuff.

That's one way.

UP AGAINST THE WALL

or

'LIGHT BOUNCING BACK AT YOU'

Still Life with Oranges (in progress)

James Aponovich

oil on canvas, 12" x 10"

A number of years ago, Elizabeth and I were in Rome to see an

exhibit of 19th Century Italian painting at the Cloister of Bramante

just off the Piazza Navona. In the exhibit there was a still life of

oranges against a wall, but man, was it bright! I had to put on

sunglasses to look at it! When I got back to the studio I did a sketch,

in my style (first image) and this is the in progress painting.

Not so much as seeing through light, but having light

bounce back at you.

Copyright 2019 James Aponovich

all rights reserved

POSTCARD FROM UMBRIA {Panicale}

Panicale is in bloom! 

Wisteria draped along walls and not to outdone the lilacs add their perfume to the air.

Fruit trees flowering as we await the fruits from their branches in the weeks and months to come.

And yes, tulips are a colorful addition to walkways and gardens.

Lady Banksie roses are just beginning to share their yellow flowers with us and they

climb walls and pergolas.

This is a gorgeous time to be in Umbria!

Ciao from Panicale !

A POSTCARD FROM UMBRIA {Missiano)

After months of relentless snow and below average temperatures in New England  it is a feast for the eyes to see the green of spring in the Umbria countryside. Farmers are at work tilling their fields for warm weather crops. The small hamlet of Missioni, where I took this photo, is part of the larger Commune di Panicale, that is  charming and picturesque.

Here, in the town of Panicale, the green grocer has baskets of fresh local artichokes, which we are enjoying to their fullest. Artichoke lasagna is on our menu this week using fresh pasta, and pecorino cheese, all local of course! 

Umbrians are tenacious foragers. This time of year the treasure they seek is asparagi di bosco, a wild asparagus. This very thin and flavorful asparagus is most often served with eggs (or pasta) and is a typical Umbrian dish that is completely divine.

Early spring is filled with clear greens on rolling hills, almond trees in bloom, wild tulips in the fields and trees on the verge of leafing out.

We have been warmly greeted with hugs and kisses to welcome us 'home'.

What can I say......"  Panicale un piccolo paese,

in bella Umbria!*

CIAO!


* Panicale a small town in beautiful Umbria!

A Postcard from Umbria ...Panicale Wisteria

It is raining at the moment, but the weather has been splendid. The wisteria and roses are in bloom. There are red poppies appearing along the roadside and the broom is about to become yellow with flowers.

Panicale is alive with wisteria, along ancient walls, on trellis' and over arches.

So graceful and fragrant.

Of course, now I want a wisteria covered pergola in our garden.

James, well he is not so sure.

Ciao!

POSTCARD FROM UMBRIA .....Panicale

A beautiful sunset over the Umbrian landscape. We were on our way to Il Pelicano, a pizzeria, to meet friends, when we came around one of the many hairpin turns to find this.

James was driving so I took a quick shot of this grand sunset and the cloud above.

Looking back at Panicale I noticed it was awash  in a golden color from these last bits of sunlight.

Ciao,

Elizabeth & James