Plein Air sketching

plein air sketch from Pineta Sacchetti Park

I have had one of those weeks where you have a million things to do all at once and you don't know quite where to start. Fortunately an appointment brought me next to this park which happens to  look over St. Peter's Cupola and allowed me to have some painting time while I waited. Pineta Sacchetti Park is an integral part of the Regional Park of Pineto, a protected natural area of about 240 hectares, located between the districts of Aurelio in Rome, Primavalle and Triumphal Way. I packed my Cotman pocket box and some paper and managed to get some sketching in while I waited. What I find impressive is how large the cupola appears live even if it is far in the distance. I felt I might have made a  mistake in my sketch but it really is that massive.
 I had to be back in the same location again later in the week  for yet another appointment and did some drawing in my sketchbook while waiting. This time I wanted to capture the beautiful Roman pines that are so famous for their welcoming shade. The weather is warming up and it's quite enjoyable to be outside. It's not always all fun, some times you need  to work too, this is my version of fun, though!

At the entrance of the park an anonymous street artist created this sculpture in the early 2000s an ape from a trunk of pine cut: the same almost immediately was damaged by vandals.
In 2010 another hand, always anonymous, has made ​​the restoration and a new paint color. 

the Cupola appear smaller in the photo but its size is impressive.

pen and ink sketch of a Roman pine