Rome iPad Paintings

The biggest problem for an artist in Italy is that, wherever you turn, there's something incredibly beautiful to paint. These are two color studies I did on my iPad in an attempt to capture some of the breathtaking color palettes of Rome.

While walking through the Trastevere---the more student-populated end of Rome---I happened upon a tucked away sidestreet that seemed to encapsulate everything I had imagined Italy to be before arriving. So I plopped myself down and painted away. You can watch the process unfold below.

My friends and I journeyed into the Colosseum to see what all the fuss was about. While we didn't get to see any gladiators duking it out in the arena---I did find some nice archway ruin formations. The relationship among sun, stone, and sky drew my eye to this particular vantage point, which made for a very pleasant painting experience in a structure that would have been anything but pleasant centuries ago. Again, I've included the video of the process below.

Roming Around

We spent our first weekend abroad in the bustling streets of Rome. Amidst a busy schedule of tours and sightseeing, I managed to find a few free moments to sketch some of the breathtaking scenery that the Eternal City and its surrounding area have to offer. These particular drawings were sketched on-location in pen, then colored on my iPad on the train ride to Florence.

The above sketch is of the imperial ruins which overlook the Circus Maximus; the sketch captures only a small portion of what must have been one of the most impressive monuments of its age.

While on a tour of the Colosseum, it seemed that some of the more striking views were to be found just outside the immediate, tourist-congested plaza.

We took a bus tour that traveled along the historic Via Appia---a pathway I've been hearing about since my days in high school Latin. When we stopped for a moment to appreciate some of the road's original stonework (which still exists only in certain portions), I hastily sketched this villa directly off of the Via Appia. I thought the "No Entry" sign added a nice bit of modern flair to the historic scene.

In Rome, even the train stations pay respect to the Eternal City's love for elegant archways. I sketched this scene while sitting outside a corner eatery on Via Marsala, less than a block from our hotel.

Travel Sketches

Just some sketches from my (seemingly) never-ending travel day from St. Louis, through New Jersey, to the Bronx and back, then on towards Rome. Sketched on the iPad in Paper by 53.

Europe or Bust

In a world where cross-continental flights are about as normal as walking to the corner grocery, the process of traveling long distances is hardly as exciting as it once was (Oregon Trail, anyone?). Nevertheless, being the experienced traveler that I am, I inadvertently found a way to make my trip to Europe as unforgettable as the rest of my travels are sure to be---so exciting, in fact, that I had to create a storyboard of the event just to begin processing it.

This is the tale of how I declared "Europe or Bust," and almost ended up with the latter. (Read each page left-to-right, like a comic book.)

Rest assured, I've had many other (far more enjoyable) adventures since arriving in  Europe, and I'll be posting about them soon! Look for a Rome re-cap---ripe with sketches and iPad paintings from the Eternal City---in the coming day or so. Ciao!

Bon Voyage

In a mere few hours, I'll be on my way to what's sure to become one of the most memorable and enriching summers of my life---10 weeks divided among Europe's greatest artistic capitals, traveling with a group of fellow art-persons determined to take in everything Europe has to offer.

I arrive in Rome tomorrow to meet up with the rest of the CIS "Grand Tour: Art in Europe" squadron, and from there, it promises to be nothing but non-stop artsy action. Two days in Rome will be followed by three weeks in Florence, drawing in the sun by the Duomo. Then it's off to Paris for a month of painting in the open air. From there, we'll hit London for a few nights (during the Olympics, no less), and then spend a final week-and-a-half museum-hopping between Liverpool and Glasgow.

It goes without saying that I couldn't be more excited for the adventures that lay ahead. So instead of saying it, I figured I'd just draw a picture to express my anticipation. Be sure to check back often for lots of updates from abroad!