Plein Air Pastel Painting in Tuscany Part II

From San Quirico to Sant'Antimo in Search of Gold

Fall in the Vineyard Pastel John Hulsey

The next morning I walked the short distance from the hotel to the ancient village of San Quirico d’Orcia with my painting gear. I spent part of the morning getting familiar with the many interesting streets and sights, and eventually decided to paint just inside the main gate of the Horti Leonini or city garden. Designed in 1540 by Diomede Leoni, this Renaissance garden was laid out in a beautiful geometric perspective to simulate a larger space than it holds. I loved the symmetry of the clipped yew hedges and the play of light across the lawns which stood out brightly in the morning light against the dark shapes of the trees on the hillside beyond. Again I picked a colored pastel card that approximated the overall mid-tone of the scene and started to work on the composition. In this situation, I didn’t have the ability to work the block-in with a wet brush, so I punched in my darkest and lightest colors quick…