Very First Sketchbook (#6)

On board F?B Lemnos, 28.9.85 
(Fine point marker in A5 sketchbook) 

This may have been done on the ferry to Paros from Naxos (in which case I did no more sketching on that trip) or on the ferry back to Piraeus and ultimately home.

At home I attempted to make a painting from this sketch, but again it didn't work out and was destroyed.

Very First Sketchbook (#5)

Naxos Alley, 27.9.85 (Fine point marker in A5 sketchbook)

Done the same day as the previous sketch, this was also in the winding passageways of the kastro (old town) of Naxos. The island was once under the control of the Venetians and the kastro has all the hallmarks of the alleys and passageways of Venice in miniature.

Very First Sketchbook (#4)

Naxos Doorway, 27.9.85 (Fine point marker in A5 sketchbook)

I was beginning to take more time over these sketches and you'll see here that I'd added a few colour notes. When I got home I made an attempt to make a painting from this sketch, but in 1985 I simply didn't have the experience or technical ability to pull it off.

Very First Sketchbook (#3)

Kiosk, Naxos Harbour (Fine point marker in A5 sketchbook)

The second of my sketches on Naxos.. It eventually led to a small painting, although in titling it, it seems I moved it to Paros.

Kiosk on Paros (Oil on board, 6 x 4 ins)

Very First Sketchbook (#2)

Monastery above Naxos
(Fine marker and grey Magic marker in A5 sketchbook)

Let's return to this occasional series. Moving on from Athens by way of a ferry from Piraeus, I found somewhere to stay in the kastro at Naxos. Walking out above the town, I made this quick sketch of a monastery. It's rather crude but effective I think.

Naxos

Naxos (Oil on canvas; 20 x 20 ins.)

I was a bit pushed for time today and couldn't find my source material for a new painting to start at the Art Club. This is becoming something of a regular occurrence and must be Attended To.

Anyway, I decided to finish off another picture which has been lying around for almost a year. This is how it looked when I started today.


Naxos (interim stage)

You can see it didn't need much more to get it to stand up and talk for itself and I think I'm just about done with it.

I like the island of Naxos a lot. I must have been there something like half a dozen times and always find the gloomy passageways of the old town, the Kastro, fascinating. The buildings are mostly Venetian, of course, and probably sowed the seeds of my passion for Venice itself.