All About Bargue

Here it is... Finally! I'm done with my first Bargue. Took a little too long. Was suppose to complete it in two weeks but took three instead. I guess it's all the learning that goes behind it that counts.  I have selected my second Bargue and wi... What a minute!!!!!!  What is a Bargue? Read this link about Charles Bargue: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bargue

This is one of the fundamental lessons that all of us beginners have to go through at school - meticulousness and patience. The longer we take, the better, and so they say. And each of the three Bargues that I will work on will get more and more complex. I'm glad I know that even though this is really painful, it's good training for me.  

Live models

I've been working a lot with models ever since school started. At least once a day for three hours. It's really back to basics now with accuracy using comparative measurements. Here a couple of pieces from the morning sessions I have worked on.

First the construction, then articulation

Focus on negative shapes

Adding shadow shapes

Piazzale Michelangelo

High up on a hill just about a 20 minute walk from the city is Piazzale Michelangelo.  Went for my first sketchwalk with two of my schoolmates - Bruno and Brianne.  Looking forward to the next session with more people on board!! :)  Thanks for following these posts.  You get to see the full version of the ink + water sketch of the city of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo. 

I'm still not done with my first Barque.  So no updates on that just yet. :/

The famous view of the city of Florence from this observation point overlooking the city has been reproduced on countless postcards and snapshots over the years.

This is a a copy of David made out of bronze up at Piazzale Michelangelo. This park is dedicated to the great Renaissance sculptor and painter Michelangelo. It is said that it took 9 pairs of oxens to bring this up the hill in 1873.

Living life!

Week two into the Renaissance city of Florence and here are some of the sketches I done outside of class.  It's been another enlightening five days at school. Amazing work skills to learn.  I'm almost done with my first Barque. Will fill you in soon on that.

The Basilica di Santa Croce is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800m south west of the Duomo. It was my first day and first full sketch on an A4 in Florence.

This is a busy newsstand at Piazza Santo Ambrosio at Via Pietrapiana in front of St Ambrosio Church. I found a bench shared by two elder men and began sketching the scene. This is a favourite hangout spot for the nearby University students.

Here's a welcome gathering with the seniors after school last Friday here at Caffé La Cocotte on Via Gioberti. After I had my round of apertivos, I did this sketch of what was happening in the cafe. What great energy!

And so it begins...

I've been accepted into Angel Academy of Art - one of four finest schools in Florence training artists for the Renaissance in classical realism.  I arrived just one day before the Spring semester began, and it's been nearly two weeks already.  I spent a great deal of time settling in because of issues like my permit to stay in Italy and other nitty-gritty.  The bureaucracy in Italy as some of the locals have put it is quite something! Well, I'm looking forward to my sharpening of skills in this Academy so stay tuned for updates! 

The beginning of a new chapter...

And so I begin my adventure to Italy.  Here some sketches from the journey to Rome on an airbus.  It was long and I had a lot of time to sketch.  Watch out for more sketches and updates from Florence! 

Supper on the boeing to Rome. One of my favourite meals is the Indian vegetarian meal, and because it's a special meal, you get your food before the rest. 

Here's me hogging one of the toilets at 5am in the morning. I first made sure that there was no queue for the other toilets.

Here's the half galley kitchen around 6am. It's turned into a pantry where passengers can go help themselves to whatever snacks/drinks they want. Yumz!