Feb. 04, 2020 | Posted in Reports, Painting and Drawing , Student Reporter | Tags:Kristin Fiorvanti, Painting and DrawingReporter: Kristin Fiorvanti | Course: Painting and Drawing

Painting and Drawing vol.19 (One-Year Course – Kristin)

Trying Things & Letting Them Go
Despite the anticipation of a flight back home in just a few days, this week felt just like the rest: a wrapping up of what was started, a full-circle. We have learned new techniques, utilized new mediums, experimented, failed, and worked hard at doing it all over again. If I learned one (major) thing from this course, it’s that life sort of happens that way. As long as you rest and build the courage to try again, you will continue to learn and grow in all of life’s beautiful mess.

The day after my trip to Rome, although pretty exhausted, I went to class to work on my moka paint still life. Unfortunately, the previous painting that I’d started last week was missing. We searched the classroom for it and asked around if anyone had seen it, but alas, I had to buckle down and start another. (I like the new one better anyways. The other was a bit overworked.)

Revisiting the composition entirely gave me a lot of room for experimentation. I absolutely loved letting go of my brushes.

I used my grandma’s old Bob Ross painting spatulas to create the textured, multicolored background. It was a happy little experiment.

As for the subjects themselves, I used a brush (typically a 0.5” flatbrush to minimize detail). I’m happy with the way the smooth brush strokes make the objects pop from the textured background. This is a great method to texture without having to texture an entire painting/canvas (with gesso, for example).

This is the work of Toku, my bubbly classmate from Japan. She has done amazing things, like this recreation of a Caravaggio painting, using the grid method. Her technique is very meticulous and precise; I have to give immense honor to her patience!

On another note, my Summer Course classmates were utilizing the Davinci hatching technique for replication; there was a bit of everything taking place in the classroom as we came to an end.

Placing in Accademia Riaci’s competition in 2018 is one of my most cherished achievements. My experience in Florence has been truly unforgettable (and sometimes totally indescribable). With the little indiscretions aside, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.