Updating February

A small compliation of certain things from February I had yet to post...

Grotesque from Loggia di Rafael, ink and watercolor.  25 febbraio, 2009

Tree at Botanical Gardens, pen and ink. 12, febbraio 2009

Twins, pencil. 11 febbraio, 2009

Fountain at Piazza Navona, pen and ink. 11 febbraio, 2009

Figure Studies, ink.  11 febbraio, 2009

Clementine, pen and watercolor.  10 febbraio, 2009

Skype Portrait of Julie, 9th febbraio, 2009

Winged Victory

Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II, Winged Victory, 24.2.09

¡Hola Barcelona!

Sagrada Familia, turret studies, 20.2.09

Barcelona from Sagrada Familia, pen and ink, 20.2.09

Jihane Sleeping, pen and ink, 20.2.09

Barcelona hilltop, pencil and watercolor sketch, 21.2.09

Parc Guell, watercolor study of Gaudi columns, 21.2.09

Girona Airport, watercolor study #1, 22.2.09

Girona Airport, watercolor study#2, 22.2.09

Girona Airport, watercolor study #3, 22.2.09

19th - 22nd febbraio, 2009

This weekend was my first excursion into that big part of Europe that isn't actually Italy.  On Thursday evening I set off for Barcelona.  (How do you type a lisp? The Spanish call it "Barsthelona", which is much more fun to say) There, I met up with my good friend Jihane, and her friend Andrea.  We spent Friday visiting a cathedral, Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, the Arc di Triomf, the Gothic District and the Picasso Museum.  On Saturday, I made a trip up to Parc Guell, Gaudi's park, as well as his home. On Saturday evening, I stopped into another cathedral, and went out for Jihane's birthday, as well as Carnivale. Sunday morning I headed back; home sweet Rome.  Due to a series of less-than-fortunate events, I missed my flight.  (If RyanAir is in charge on Judgement Day, you are all going to hell, they are merciless) It ended up being a productive time in the airport, doing watercolor sketches and some writing. Here is a collection of some of the stuff I got down on paper this weekend...

La Fontana di Trevi

17 febbraio, 2009

Having had a couple of relatively unproductive days, I took advantage of some warmish weather and sat at the Trevi Fountain for a couple of hours.  I made two watercolor sketches, and returned after dark to do a third.  Painting at night is interesting, because there is such a color distortion...I

 had no idea what my sketch looked like until I got home. The fountain is gorgeous at night; it's lit from below, as well as from under the water.

These sketchbook spreads are in chronological order, and focus on different aspects of the Trevi.

Trip to Arezzo and Florence

Graphite studies of Michaelangelo's David, Academy, Florence

Hall of Slaves, unfinished marble statues of Michaelangelo, Academy, Florence

Watercolor study of one of the frescoes of Piero Della Francesca, Arezzo

Two interior sketches of Chiesa della Francesa, Arezzo

Dan is uncomfortable on the train

Last weekend, a couple friends and I made a pilgrimage to a little town named Arezzo.  There is a church there that is the home of some beautiful Piero della Francesco frescoes, and we had the fortune of being able to sit with them all day long and paint them.  Here are some drawings from inside the church itself, as well as a watercolor study of a battle scene from one of the frescoes.  As the day came to a close, we decided to continue on to Florence, where we found an awesome little hole-in-the-wall hostel for the night. (David's Inn...if you're ever there).  Saturday night was spent with statues, beer, Mexican food, and general wandering. Sunday was spent at the Academy with Michaelangelo's  David and some great early Christian art. It was a great weekend.  It really got me fired up for traveling and art-on-the-go.  I think it was an important artistic and state-of-mind turning point in my trip.  I'll definitely be doing more train hopping in the near future. Here are some drawings from the train, Arezzo, Florence, and said frescoes. 

Monsters!

These are some incredibly naive (and fun) drawings I did last month on a tour of Parco dei Mostri.  In real life, they are beautiful, moss-covered sculptures in a pretty little wood.  I decided to have some fun, filling in the drawings with watercolor, and a little bit of collage.  These are a work-in-progress and will evolve, I'm sure.  I was inspired by some great early Christian art I saw at the Academy in Florence last weekend.  Enjoy!

Open life drawing

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

Umbrellas and a rainy day near the Spanish steps.  February 6th, 2008