My Italian Portfolio

Romance in the canals of Venice, elegance seen all throughout Florence and the volcanic Pompeii all share a special place in my heart. In 2014 I was enrolled in a Drawing II course where I was required to present a small body of work inspired from my experiences abroad.

This was a long flight with limited wine to a location with an unlimited supply. The trip was a few years ago so I feel as if I am cracking my art vault open as I reminisce through my paintings. As we toured around I was in complete awe because this was my first long journey away from America. I examined everything as if I was in a new world. I never overlooked any paint chipping from its service and I always noticed the reflections from the water shining on the walls near by. In my art I tried to mimic the colors and detrition I saw on my travel as well as include those who travled along with us.

I believe you can always pick up on the artists personality through their work and you can definitely see my satirical humor within my pieces. My three subjects for my Italian portfolio were inspired by a small religious group from California that we happened to travel with. I found this group an easy target for my sardonic thesis. For example, when we visited Pompeii, we were given the option of touring a brothel. Of course my friends and I jumped at the thought. The California school, however, was opposed. Since there were more of us, they were outvoted and had to follow. We had already walked through the brothel and admired the frescos painted in decoration when I had noticed the Californian group had not even entered. They were on the other side praying. It was then after a year of contemplating my faith, that I knew I was more of my own free spirit.

After a week and a half of being looked down upon for drinking and running around the cities, I had enough of their moral superiority. I began to design my drawings for class. In each piece, the subject is portrayed as a Roman statue of an exemplified human.

**For more fun photos or information regarding the trip take a look on Lycos art website where my work is also shown http://www.lycoming.edu/art/italy.html

Coming home from our two week adventures I had to fight jet lag with making art. I had just one week to complete what I planned for three solid pieces. I wanted to tell the story of the snobby girl, the twins who did nothing but take selfies and the lone boy whose life was a journey from drugs to a new found glory of God.

For the snobby girl I placed in upside down rosary in her hand as it points to the dark hues on the ground. I drew a glass of wine in her other hand and not so glamorous sunglasses to cover her face. For the twins I mirrored them on either side of the page as they take their selfies. For the twin on the left I allowed a nip slip for her proud mother. In the background I had created my own water fountain which features a snake and a baby devil at its peak. Behind the water display is a tree that I revisit in several of my works. I found the tree in Rome and was instantly inspired by its shape. For the third piece I had made the lone man a warrior. One because I felt bad that he was the only male with them but ultimately because he had gone through some troubles and he was brave to share his story. In the corner I had drawn temptation in a form of a bottle of wine I had brought back to the states and marijuana leaves for good measure.

My color palate comes directly from our gondola ride in Venice and ties together each painting/drawing. While visiting historic sites or museums, I recorded patterns in my sketch book which also keep each art work bound together. I strive for consistency with every collection I make.

I cant wait to hopefully go back to Italy in the future and add on to the pieces I have now. There is so much more that I could do and so much more inspiration to be displayed.

Stay tuned for next months writings on VIETNAM!!s

#art #Italy #painting #drawing #travel #college