A boat tour around Ponza Island and neighboring Palmarola gave me a completely different travel sketching experience. Instead of drawing quiet streets or buildings, I focused on rugged cliffs, mysterious grottoes and the changing colors of the sea. Because the boat continued moving, I had to observe each scene quickly, simplify its shapes and trust my first impressions. These five sketches became a small visual diary of one of the most beautiful parts of the Pontine Islands.
If you missed my recent post about sketching in Venice, here it is.
Plan your boat tour around Ponza island here.
Island
I began with a broad view of the island as a warm-up before attempting the more complicated cliffs and grottoes. First, I created a simple pen sketch, concentrating on the coastline and the large shape of the land rising above the water. I then added watercolor, using warm earthy shades for the island and several layers of blue for the sea and sky. Starting with this simple composition helped me become comfortable with sketching from the moving boat.
Cliffs
The next subject was a group of dramatic cliffs rising almost vertically from the bright turquoise water. I began with pen lines again, using them to define the irregular edges, deep cracks and sharp peaks of the rocks. Watercolor helped me separate the illuminated surfaces from the darker areas hidden in shadow and create a stronger sense of depth. I liked the final result, especially how the small boat emphasizes the impressive scale of the cliffs.
The Cathedral of Palmarola
The Cathedral is a famous rock formation on Palmarola whose tall natural spires resemble the architecture of a Gothic cathedral. This was one of the most challenging scenes because I needed to capture its depth, openings and complicated rock formations within a limited time. I used expressive pen marks and strong contrasts between light and shadow to communicate the structure rather than drawing every detail. Cliffs and rocks are not part of my usual sketching routine, but I think I captured the main character of this remarkable place.
Blue Cave
I was immediately attracted to the Blue Cave because of the beautiful range of blue shades surrounding its natural opening. The dark rock created a dramatic frame around the bright turquoise water visible on the other side of the cave. I layered blue, gray and green watercolor while using loose pen lines to suggest the rough texture of the stone. My goal was not to reproduce every detail but to capture the peaceful mood, reflected light and refreshing atmosphere of the scene.
Grottoes of Pilate
The Grottoes of Pilate are part of a Roman era fish farming complex, where interconnected pools and tunnels were probably used to raise moray eels. I liked the spacious forms of the grottoes and the contrast between the dark entrances, pale rock and vegetation growing above them. My compact watercolor kit was especially useful here because it allowed me to sketch and add color quickly while remaining on the boat. The deep shadows inside the arches helped me create depth, while the vivid blue water brought energy to the lower part of the sketch.
Sketching during a boat tour around Ponza and Palmarola encouraged me to work faster and approach unfamiliar natural subjects with more confidence. The constantly changing views taught me to focus on the most important shapes, colors and contrasts rather than getting lost in small details. A pen, a compact watercolor kit and a small sketchbook were enough to record cliffs, caves and lagoons that photographs alone could not fully describe. On a Ponza Island boat tour, keep your sketching supplies nearby because another inspiring scene may appear around every rocky corner.
