The beginnings of a book

Here is the part of the beginning of my book that I'm working on:
(leave a comment to tell me what you think!)


The hot sun peaked through the leaves of an olive tree and hit the hand of Clara Samuels in a golden stream. She carefully put the last touches on her landscape of the Italian vineyard rolling out before her. Leaning back on her stool she inspected her work, glancing back and forth between the vista and its tiny likeness before her. With a quick look at her watch and an unsatisfied sigh she gathered her supplies and hurried down the hill.
Clara is an eighteen year old artist from Baltimore Maryland. After graduating from art school she was advised by her art instructor to go to Italy to further her studies. After much deliberation Clara’s parents finally consented and it was arranged for her to live with an older artist and his wife in Venice.