Tuscan Steps

This is the latest addition to my "Colors of Tuscany" body of work. I saw a photograph of a some quaint little villas sometime ago. This composition is of the stair portion of one of the villas. I actually created some texture on the canvas with some heavy gesso and a bristle brush prior to applying any paint. I was hoping to be able to better depict the texture of the hand-applied stucco through this method ... a total experiment to be sure! I was pleasantly surprised, being able to make the stucco actually look like the real thing! I guess an old dog can be taught a new trick from time to time! Enjoy ...