The Wall at Lucca

This is the drawing of The Wall which is above the mediaval fortress or city wall. The Wall, erected in the 16th - 17th centuries, never served as protection against enemy attack - rather, it is instrucmental in preventing the Serchio River from flooding and conserved medieval Lucca virtually intact for three hundred years. A pleasant way to tour the city is to walk along the approximately four-km long tree shaded avenue which runs around the city.

I often use this drawing to explain to my friends and students how do I make a simple view interesting by applying different tones into three layers of foreground, mid-ground and background. With the three layers of tones and shapes of darker tones for the shadows, you are already working towards capturing the mood of the place.