This week I didn’t have time to finish an oil painting, so I went out to explore, bringing watercolours and checking out some new places. By doing so, I can see how the light performs its magic in a certain place and, in the meantime, assure that I can set up an easel and work there longer. What’s more, I can travel by bike, which gives an extra pleasure.
The new Tiburtino station isn’t far from where I live so I went there. It was nice to cycle around the imposing edgy-looking structure that intertwines with the nearby causeway. However, I wasn’t able to find an interesting place to paint from. I sped along to the square of the Provinces where I saw a couple of beautiful places. Finally, I got off the bike and I found the right place on foot. It was practically in the middle of the street. In fact, I set up between two parked cars on the side of the street. I stood behind the bike painting on its seat in front of me.
After about twenty minutes, a man driving one of those large scooters approached. He wanted to park between the two cars, but he hadn’t completely realized that I was standing in that space. He maneuvered the scooter with its piping hot muffler so close to my legs that I could feel the heat. He pretended like nothing happened and only mentioned that the street was for passing vehicles. Despite the trouble, I finished the painting and went away.
I think that drivers who drive cars, motorbikes and scooters, often forget that, accompanying every vehicle on the street, there is a person. For me, Rome has been ruined by all the cars, but even more so, the city has become ever more inhuman by the behaviour of its drivers.
