Mediterranean Beginnings

I am using the same sketchbook for the Mediterranean region
of Eve's Imprint as I used for the environmental banner I
painted during my month-long residency in Assisi, Italy in 2014.
The back of the sketchbook (left) is covered with copies of the cover of
Catherine McKinley's book Indigo, about a color typical of this region.
The pink sticker marks where my current work begins.

Following up on a dream in mid-January, I made a quick sketch for
the Mediterranean region, barely discernible in my sketchbook below.
 I made three Mediterranean goddess tiles around 2000; reflecting
how the Eve concept is an evolving life's work. They may end up in a
vertical column along the side of the four boards rather than in the middle.

Our ancestor Ursula, center bottom highlighted in orange, migrated
into the region of contemporary Greece 45,000 years ago. The description
of her life by archeologist Bryan Sykes will be a helpful guide in choosing
how to depict the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
From Sykes's book, The Seven Daughters of Eve. 

I usually start with maps of the selected region because I like
to use geographic features in the overall composition.

Next I blow up the maps to fit the boards I have chosen. In this
case it turns out that I blew up a different map for the west and east coasts
of the Mediterranean Sea than I had for the north and south coasts.

Bottom left, scarabs remind me of Greek, Syro-Phoenician, and
Egyptian influences throughout the region. The bottom right map shows
Minoan and Mycenaean trade routes throughout the Mediterranean Sea.
Tunisian ceramics reflect the colors and painting style of the region. 

The images in this spread show Tuscan influences from around 600 AD.
Though quite a bit later than the first migrations into the region 45,000 years ago,
designs or color may find their way into this work.. 

Here I have traced geographic features for the
northern and southern coasts onto their chosen boards.

This spread, especially ancient rock engravings on the right, helps me visualize
influences from and to North Africa (southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea).

From the northeastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea,
Greek architectural influence was felt throughout the region.
Note iconic Greek pillars in the North Africa photo above.

The tracing for the board on the right (eastern coast) has not been
done because I have not yet applied gesso to it.

Although this small vase was made in Thailand, the color
and pattern on the bottom are a source of inspiration for
the Mediterranean section of Eve's Imprint.
It will be interesting to see the impact of these varied images
as the Mediterranean region begins to take shape.