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| First stage of a 13x18cm oil painting of the harbour at Marsaxlokk (private colleciton, Naples) |
I didn't want to
miss the Virtual Paintout in Malta so I spent the last weekend of the
month travelling through the country in Google Street View. I had
barely started the above seascape when I discovered an unusual beach
with rectangular bassins further up the coast. (Street View Link)
A sign read :
This was intriguing so I
checked a few Internet sites and found out that salt production was an
ancient industry in Malta, probably dating back to Roman times.
The process involves leaving sea water to evaporate in "pans" (the flat areas) until the salt residue can be collected and moved to storage
areas on higher ground.
" Do not
pass or stroll through Salt Pans.
Do not litter in Salt Pans.
Do not
wash clothes or anything in Salt Pans.”
In my sketch below, tourists are visiting
the Kwejni Salt Pans:
"The Salt Pans"
Coloured pencil in 20.7x29.6cm sketchbook
