Leaves From My Sketchbooks. 28. Street Signs, Barga, Tuscany

Italians seem obsessed with private property. There are signs like this everywhere and on some street pavements there are tiles inscribed with Proprieta Privata telling you not to put a foot on them! This simple sign marks an ill-defined entrance to a garden near Barga on the Apennine slopes. I sketched it from outside but feared crossing the chain lest I be thrown into the local prison!

On another day I sat in the Café Alpini in the Piazza Roma of Barga and drew this reckless little signpost. These throw-away scratchings are grace notes in the sketchbook, done when there's a moment to fill and something with which to fill it.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz    www.don-donovan.blogspot.co.nz
.