(Stairs)
The school is only 2 blocks away from where I live. I met the teacher at the Accademia Riaci office, together with the assistants whom I’ve been in communication with through email, they sent me my certificate of Award and helped me with papers I needed to submit before the class starts.

(collage)
On my first day, I introduced myself and was asked to show some of my works.

We then proceeded to our first topic which was Futurismo/ Futurism. I have completely forgotten about this art movement to be honest, couldn’t identify a poster or design using this art style.

(Books)
I’m glad this was put to my attention, history has never really been my strength and I’m glad it’s value has been emphasized to me. We learned about Fortunato Depero, who was an artist, designer and writer.

My first task was to recreate an existing poster in my style, then with the approach of futurismo.

(Collection of prints)
The existing poster I chose was one of the works of Alphonse Mucha that is a cigarette poster for the brand Job.

(Cigarette poster in my style)
My second task was to recreate it in the approach of futurism.

(Cigarette poster 1st attempt)
My first attempt was not that clear and so I did another version.

(Cigarette poster 2nd attempt)

(Cigarette poster 2nd attempt)
It is closer to my goal.

We also studied other designers like, Joan Miro, Kandinsky, Andrea Mantegna, Giorgio de Chirico. We talked about our favorite artists and designers too. Giovanni showed me that one of his favorite artists is Dave Mckean, who does about almost everything from film, photography, typography digital art, sculpture, etc.

We discussed filipino artists. I showed the works of Fernando Amorsolo who is a Philippine National Artist and is known as “The Painter of Philippine Sunlight” he is one of my favorite Philippine artists. To be called a national artist is the highest honor an artist can receive in the Philippines. Some of these artists are Napoleon Abueva, Kiukok, Bencab to name a few.

I also showed him the works of some of my other favorite digital artists like Ruan Jia and Huang Guang Jian. They are some of the artists who mainly fueled my interest in learning digital painting.

The following days, we discussed a lot of other designers like Walter Crane, Jack George Washington, Gustav Klimnt, and more.

We then looked at the works of Emiliano Ponzi, this is where my next task began.

(cover)
I need to make a front cover, a spread and a back cover. My work during this time was only half way through the cover, so I’m only showing here my work in progress.

(Mind Map)
Even though, my first week was unexpectedly cut short because I was ill, I was still able to learn and practice different approaches in design, meet new people and share my interests. By next week I would have to complete my current task.