PleinAir in Florence, Italy

 One of the rewarding things about Florence is the variety of locations for PleinAir painting. I get out at least 3 days a week in the early mornings, to do this. Thankfully I know other artists who do this practice and from time to time we get the chance go painting together.

 

I was painting in Santa Spirito on Sunday morning at 6.30. Then at 7.30am the antique dealers arrived so I had to vacate and find a new painting location. The new location is brightly lit, with pleasant views of the Arno, Florence, Italy.

 

San Frediano in Cestello oil drawing, preparing for the finished painting.

This church was founded by an Irish missionary in the 6th century. So an Irishman was here 1500 years ago. San Frediano in Cestello sketch, oils on wood.

The finished painting in oils, of the church of San Frediano in Castello, as seen from the banks of the Arno, in the Oltrarno district of Florence.
Oils on treated board. 40cm x 30cm

This painting is available from my online shop. Follow the link here.

Teaching street sketching

Yesterday was the second day that I've taught street sketching and it was great. In the morning, the weather was extremely dramatic, so we were very lucky to have clear skies and brilliant views for the afternoon.

I taught a range of things, from perspective drawing to tonal perspective to blind drawing. They were just introductions of course but everyone got the basics and their drawing method changed. I was amazed by the leap forward that most of them made. Even more amazed that they didn't always recognise the progress themselves :)


Here's a building we drew where everyone is looking for perspective but in a very different way to the method of using vanishing points etc.


Basic explanation of perspective drawing. Horizon line and vanishing point. The simplicity of this seemed to amaze everyone and everyone got it. One person did a cats eye view of the scene. Their perspective was very different to everyone elses but just as accurate.


Perspective created by tonal values rather than line.


Perspective in a cafe. Exactly the same thing happens here as in the other drawings. The horizon line and vanishing point are just guides and there is nothing technical in the process of the drawing.


After the class, I unwound in le Baron Rouge, sketching the people there.