On a visit to Rome six years ago, I came across a small shop, Antica Bottega dei Sapori in Campo Fiori, that sold a fantastic range of cheeses, wines, salumi, olives and bread. I took a photograph of the entrance to the shop at night, it was just before Christmas and this man was admiring some decorations he had just put up. A number of years later I decided to paint this scene, I loved the warm colours of the walls, the yellow Vespa parked out the front and the legs of ham hanging off the rail above the entrance. I returned to this shop last year and the same Vespa was parked in the same spot. I showed the man pictured above a photograph of the completed painting which he liked and he requested that next time could I please paint his face.
This painting is of the Piazza del Mercato, where nearby in the surrounding streets is the San Lorenzo Market. This was a cold winters day and I liked the old buildings with shuttered windows and the man holding his hands behind his back walking towards them. I exhibited this painting in a cafe in Berwick and the owner told me that she had a customer who came and instantly recognised the main figure as her father. She knew where the exact place was and her father would walk through there every day. She also recognised the clothing he was wearing.
I visited Lake Como in the middle of winter, when it was very quiet with few visitors and many of the hotels closed. The lakes are stunning with mountains dropping down to the shore. This painting is of a house on the opposite shore to Bellagio where I was staying. When I think of the Italian landscape, I picture olive trees and houses with terracotta roof tiles and white washed walls as above.
This painting is of an olive grove along an ancient Roman path on the outskirts of Spello, Italy. The three wheeled Piaggio ‘Ape’ is an Italian icon and often seen in the countryside transporting goods along small back roads and lanes.
This painting is of two women making their way down a steep street in Castelo De Vide, Portugal. I like the yellow and white paint schemes on the houses, the unusual letterboxes in the walls and laundry hanging above. Not shown here, many buildings have beautiful tiled exteriors and interiors.
In Barcelona I stayed in the Barri Gotic district and was taken in by the wonderful range of small shops selling handmade clothing, bags, jewellery and bars open until the early hours of the morning. This area is also one of the oldest in Barcelona and has some amazing churches and public squares. Nearby is the El Born district and the painting above is of the Passeig Del Born. The tree lined boulevards with cast iron balconies are stunning the most famous of course being La Rambla.
I loved the old stone buildings and cobbled streets in Dinan, France. This scene is of a steep street leading down to the river where a number of restaurants line its edge. The colours and textures of the stone and slate tiles, contrasting with plants caught my eye and I love the terracotta chimney pots sitting on top of the roofs.
Mornington Peninsula has a number of coastal walking tracks with amazing views of the ocean. This scene is from one of the walking tracks along the Rye back beach with storm clouds appearing in the horizon. I love to walk along the beach when the tide is out exploring the rock platforms and reefs. This area is a National Park and the vegetation and bird life is stunning.
If there is an onshore breeze, kites can be seen in the distance. This area is a haven for kite boarders. I love the colours of the sun setting and the cloud formation.
This is a commissioned work of Andrea Hicks, public artist, sculptor and educator. She has completed a range of public works in Brisbane, Newcastle and Regional Victoria and her ceramic works are held in many private collections. Andrea was full of life and loved travel, she inspired many and is sadly missed.This is from a hotel room in Salzburg from one of her many travels.
Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula is surrounded by rolling hills and stunning seascapes. This scene is of storm clouds above farmland.
Storm clouds forming over the Rosebud foreshore. There is some smoke haze from the East Gippsland and French Island fires and at 4.30 pm in the afternoon with high temperatures the beach was very quiet and still.
This is a painting of storm clouds forming over Rosebud pier. At this stage the sea was very calm, then minutes later the wind increased and rain and thunder came along.
I love the landscape around Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula and at summer when the hay is freshly baled.
Greg Sage Art - Landscape Artist 