This journal page starts out with a continuation of my day in Venice, then I wrote about market day in Vicenza, which was great fun.
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| 10″ x 7″ ink & watercolor in Stillman & Birn Beta series sketchbook |
The town was bustling with crowds of people, everybody happy and excited about all the goings-on. Housewives moved from stall to stall, while old gentlemen stood in twos and threes, conversing, just to pass the time. There were bicycles everywhere and lots of people with little dogs in tow.
Vendors were set up throughout the city center, selling everything from kitchen supplies and children’s toys to fruits, vegetables, and fish.
The flower vendors were what really caught my eye. April in northern
Italy isn’t particularly warm, and we had experienced some fairly chilly days
since we arrived. Most of the landscape was still dressed in the dull
colors of winter, but walking through the market in Vicenza, it seemed
that spring had arrived with all its gorgeous colors!
sunflowers, roses, gerbera daisies, crysanthemums, larkspur, and many
more. Even orchids and other tropicals were braving the cool spring
air.
I didn’t buy any flowers, since we were heading for Tuscany the next day, but I did find some clothing that was pretty irresistible. Taupe was the preferred color – we saw it everywhere – and who am I to argue with Italian fashion designers? So I bought a pretty taupe blouse/top, a taupe polka-dot dress, and a lacy taupe skirt.
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| 10″ x 7″ ink, watercolor, and goauche in Stillman & Birn Beta series sketchbook |
This sketchbook page shows all my flea market purchases, and since we had so much fun shopping that day, I gave it a lighthearted feel by adding spatters and confetti-like spirals and squiggles.
Sponging a darker shade of purple on the text box with a natural sponge gave it a bit of texture.
The polka dots on the dress were painted with gouache…
but the lace was done purely with watercolor.
Now, every morning, I make a cappuccino for myself with the little Italian moka coffee maker that I bought that day in the Vicenza market, and I reminisce about all the cozy cafes where I gratefully sipped a hot espresso during my two weeks in Italy.
7 Comments
I love all the flower paintings. Just beautiful!
Wow.Leslie, you know that you got me hooked on your Italia sketches since your fist post. Reminds me of home. Beautiful!!
Wow! You do beautiful work! I've just discovered your blog and love hearing about your Italian visit. I've always wanted to go there…maybe someday. Thanks for reawakening the dream.
I saw your post on the Artist's Journal Facebook Page and visited your blog. Your sketches seem to leap off the page. Made me take out my own supplies! I would love to win one of your pieces!
Leslie, your art brings me back to Venice. I visited there many, many years ago and it's still very vivid in my memory. Your sketches captures the heart of the places you visited. What great memories you will have when you look back on these one day. Your art is just amazing. I love your style….wish you were closed so I could take one of your classes. Thank you for sharing.
Love this page. I'm always drawn to the flowers first because of the abundance of color. Glad you did some shopping there. I've found that in most towns where I've gone to markets it is a social part of the week for the residents. It is fun to watch their interactions.
I love how you do your flowers. They look so bright and colorful, and loose and fresh!