Painting in the mountains

Around 9pm last night the dark clouds began to illuminate from behind and there were gentle rumbles of thunder. It was quite spectacular to watch above the mountains. The guy who runs this hostel, who is from East London, joined me at the window and said this usually means serious overnight rain which was so needed.  I took photos for a while from my balcony…. not easy as you can imagine, but I did get this one which I am quite pleased with.  It rained heavily in the night, although I didn’t hear it.  I was woken  by loud claps of thunder as the room lit up! In the morning the sun shone as brightly and hot as ever through the open balcony door.

I was sharing my dorm this time with a guy from Saskatchewen and a girl from French Speaking Quebec…. Marjorie – makes a change from Aussies (much as I love em). I chatted for quite a while to Marjorie about travels, etc before we finally wished each other good night. The World Cup was keeping all the blokes downstairs in the bar so we didn’t see the Saskatchewen guy until we were woken by his mobile alarm at 4.30. It didn’t wake him despite it being repetitive and right beside his ear. Marjorie finally managed to turn it off. I see this morning he is sprawled across his bed fully clothed… must have been a good night…. and there was no way he was going anywhere at 4.30 anyway!  I just couldn’t resist a quick sketch opportunity of Saskatchewen guy sprawled across bed this morning.

Good breakfast included then, while the mist was lifting from the mountains, I did this little painting of the view from my balcony.   At around 11, the mist was gone and you could see the gondola going up and down again.  I actually forgot to take my water container with me but no worries. The cows were all posing nicely near the little church so was able to do a few little pencil studies plus a more general drawing.  This looser watercolour I did by pouring some water from my drinking bottle directly on to the colours and mixing as best I could squeezing water from brush with fingers… not ideal but results ok I think.

I just wanted to savour this little peace of heaven. There is so much land to be seen up here undulating way into the distance, that there’s hardly room for the sky. Yet there is also so much sky sometimes blending into the mountain range with cloud shadows dancing across the hillside, I hear blackbirds near, skylarks high and cow bells every where and yet so peaceful…. a butterfly even alighted on my paint pallet.

I just watched a para glider prepare his kit and then jump effortlessly into the thermals above the mountainside. I briefly thought I’d like to do it but peacefully surveying this awesome panoramic scenery won me over.

This has been a truly welcome break from the city but I must now take the gondola back down and prepare for Venice. A complete rearrangement and possible further disposal of items to be packed is required!

Posting photos up (unless from my mobile) may be difficult for the next three days as I don’t plan to take my netbook into Venice.  I’m sure I won’t be able to resist posting pics even if they are just from my mobile 🙂

Goodbye Austria…. so beautiful….. and hello again Italy!