The Leaning Tower of Pisa

In the last week of my trip to Florence, Bethanie (my sister) came to visit me and we organised a day trip to Pisa.
I thought it was quite funny how there were endless amounts of people doing funny poses so I did a few quick sketches of them as well as the tower.

Feet

I had previously found it quite difficult to draw feet so I thought I'd have a go practising on myself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure Drawings

On one Tuesday a couple of friends and I went along to a figure drawing session in Florence. Here are some of the sketches I produced.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Academy

 

These are a couple of sketches I did at the Florence Academy of Art studios (where I was studying for a month) whilst I was waiting around in the break times.

 

 

 

 

 

View from the Uffizzi

Landscapes and street views are not my speciality, so I thought I'd give this quick sketch a go.

The Guy with the Dreads

Dreadlocks are really hard to draw. Especially when the guy keeps moving.

Street Artists of Florence

 

It's impossible to miss these guys who sit around the main tourist hotspots with their easels and charcoal, waiting for the vulnerable tourist to come and ask for a portrait to be done of them.

The guy on the right noticed me drawing him just after I finished, and came up to me and said 'Namaste!'. No, I am not Indian. But thanks.

People watching in museums

Below are three double page spreads I did at different museums/galleries I visited in Florence.

 

 

 

Academia

 

 

 

Museo Bargello

 

 

 

Uffizzi

 

 

 

Random Observations

A few random sketches done over various days and places. Just filling up space!

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco is a small square in the centre of Florence where most of the buses go, and so I found myself sitting there quite a lot whilst waiting for a bus home.

Waiting for the Bus

 

 

I've just got back from Florence, so excuse the overload of posts!

 

I rented a room a bit outside of the centre of Florence and so had to take a 20 minute bus journey to get into the centre. This double page is from the wait one day.

 

 



Il Giorno

Drawing of a copy of the sculpture 'Day' by Michelangelo

Il Duomo di Firenze

The beautiful Gothic style Cathedral in Florence.

L'Opera Caffe

Last week I arrived in Florence for a one month portraiture oil painting course at the Florence Academy of Art, and I've only just managed to find a scanner so I'll be uploading the few sketches that I've done so far!

People watching in L'Opera Caffe, Florence.

Self Portrait

Quick 30 min self portrait in pencil.

Looks more like Bethanie than me...

Unfinished Portrait of Carlos

Work in progress. Pencil drawing of Carlos

Teapot

I've been trying to stay away from teapots since a recent incident: I somehow managed to fall over whilst holding a teapot with freshly boiled water in it, which splashed all over my arm leaving me with a burnt wrist; however, seeing as it's my last few days of revision (I've decided to finish Further Maths A Level in my gap year) I couldn't really keep myself from having a few cups of tea.

P.S. apologies for the lack of interesting drawings at the moment, there'll be some better ones once I'm done with exams!

Pears

I got bored of the same old 'scribble' style so I thought I'd try dots instead.

I'm not used to drawing so much in pen but I think (hope) that they're getting better.

Walking

This is one of my larger paintings from A Level which my mum has decided to hang up in our house.

Watercolour

Here's another piece from my A Level work.

Life Drawings

I recently got some of my A Level work back so I thought I'd upload some of them. 

Black Cab

There's a black cab which parks itself on our road every night, so last night when my sister and I were walking home I started drawing it. It was, however, quite late and Bethanie got a bit scared and rushed me inside before I was able to properly finish the sketch. So it's just a bit rough at the moment. I might be able to finish it at another time, or just do another one.

Nightmare Heels

Yesterday was my 19th birthday, and so on Monday night I went out with some friends and had an absolutely amazing night. One thing, however, which I slightly regret, is wearing these heels. I am never ever, ever, wearing them ever again. Ever. 

Costa Coffee

I got bored waiting for Bethanie in Costa so I thought I'd draw their cool little installation in the middle of the shop.

The Tiger Lillies

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a very interesting show by The Tiger Lillies. They're a trio of very alternative guys; one on the double bass, one on the accordion, and the last on the drums. It was by far the strangest thing I've seen in a while (more so because my sister and I went with our dad), as most of their songs were either extremely morbid or extremely crude. Youtube them - they're quite funny!

It was quite dark so the sketch isn't brilliant but I tried to capture some of what was going on.

5 and 2 Minute Portraits

Pret a Manger

I met my friend James (the guy on the right) yesterday, he's also on the Art Foundation course at Brookes, and we went to see the George Bellows exhibition at the Royal Academy. His boxing paintings were probably my favourites, and I think it's quite amazing that he can capture a moment that lasted a split second from such a fast paced sport as boxing. 
We sat down in Pret after the exhibition and did some drawings.

Student on the Tube

I always get so nervous when I draw strangers; do they think it's weird that I'm drawing them? But I had to start somewhere and thought this guy might not notice me as he was quite focused on his studying.

Sleeping Beauty

Mum fell asleep on the couch so I took the opportunity to draw her.

Milo

Milo enjoyed posing for me, although she (yes, she has a guy's name - we thought she was male when she was a kitten..) wasn't the most patient model. I'd have to start a new sketch every couple of seconds because she kept moving.

Piano Keys

For my first drawing I decided to play it safe and draw the piano. I didn't want to risk completely messing up the first page of my brand new mini sketchbook...
It's far from perfect, but it's something.

Watch this space for more drawings!

From Maths to Art

After spending a couple of months in the Galapagos Islands (check out my travel blog), I changed my mind about what course I want to do at university (from Maths and Philosophy to Fine Art - and no, most of my family were not extremely thrilled to hear my decision..) and have recently been accepted to study an Art Foundation course at Oxford Brookes university. 

Yesterday was the welcome day for the new students and we got lots of new information about the course and got given two projects to do over the summer. The first was something slightly out of my comfort zone: we have to make a puppet which should be a reflection of ourselves. 99% of the work I have produced over the last four years has been drawings and paintings, and I've never attempted to make anything, let alone a puppet which needs to be able to be animated. My feeling of fear, however, was soon replaced by excitement when I heard what the second project would be: to fill an A6 sketchbook with 'people watching' drawings. Definitely my kind of thing. 

My sketchbook is coming tomorrow and I can't wait to get started with the drawings!