Viaggiatori d'Italia

Acrylic on 9x12 canvas sheet

Available through DPW gallery/auction

Last weeks DPW challenge was an exercise in composition & balance. A photo was presented, and the artists were to crop, edit, add, delete elements until they arrived at a composition they were happy with.

What captivated my eye in this section of the photograph, was the almost zig-zag of the items on the vertical climb of the stairs. Both of which led you to the top door. The zig-zag I am referring to starts in the bottom right corner with the green shrub, then moves left to the person in the blue shirt. Then back again to the right to the girl sitting (with dark pants), left again to the backpack, right again to the 2nd girl, left to the plant with the red pot, then right to the plant with the yellow pot. All to lead the eye to the top door, which is painted in a rich purple to contrast a bit with the red drapes that surrounded the door in the photograph. The eye then comes back down on the right, first by the 2 breakouts in the stone wall, then the vertical Italian flag banner (which mimics the shape of the door), then down the dark door to the green bush in the corner. I tried to give the eye a variety of items to see & focus on, which hopefully holds the attention of the viewer.

Wonderful stone staircase - a perfect setting for 3 Travelers of Italy who are taking a break from their excursion!