Day 89

--Today was a mellow last day in Prague before I ship out to Florence a domain. Lindsay, Deanne, Rachel, and I had a delicious lunch at “the black awning place” as Linds calls it. And I was able to eat a real salad! A real live salad! Sidenote: in case you didn’t know, the salads in Italy are pretty much just lettuce or lettuce and tomato. We also revisiting the Lennon Wall so I could write a small contribution to the busy, graffiti-ed wall.

myself signing the Lennon wall

photograph by Lindsay

myself and the lovely Linds at the wall
photograph by Deanne

We went grocery shopping at Tesco, which is Super Target plus Macy’s on super steroids. We got the ingredients to make some of Mom’s dearly missed Irish soda bread. I have been craving that soda bread since St. Patty’s day, and since Linds has an oven, I decided that it was a must that I bake!

Minus the fact that the bread is back in the oven as it was too doughy (the temperature on the oven reads 1-12, which I cannot translate into Celsius or Fahrenheit), it was a hit! Even with Deanne, the baker’s daughter. =)

Irish soda bread!

Day 88

-- After the perfect breakfast on a bench outside, Lindsay and I made it to yet another Alphonse Mucha museum! It was even more incredible than the one we had gone to yesterday, having more original lithograph prints, some mess ups showing the process, his photography of models, some oil paintings, drawings, and even a film about the artist. I cannot explain to you how obsessed I am with him and his work right now.

sketch of Mucha's Salon des Cent

We had dinner at The Globe, which is a neat caffe/bar/restaurant and bookstore that is one of Lindsays favorites. And in the late evening, we decided to go to the Black Light Theatre to see a production of Alice in Wonderland that was called “the Aspect of Alice.” Lindsay, Deanne, and I ventured off to this performance that miss Linds had heard was good from another friend. And as a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland, open to viewing a Prague theatre performance, I excitedly said yes! Well, let me tell you about this performance of “the Aspects of Alice”…

The theatre performance contained the following scenes:
- Alice eating a red apple that he father tempted her with
- Alice conducting dancing, glove hands

- Father figure either getting stabbed or crucified

- Alice playing with a menorah

- Alice dancing with two racist and overly-stereotypical Jewish men

- Alice being cheered up by two clowns, an old man and a young woman, who were swinging on a bendy pole
- Alice dancing next to two pairs or “sexy” legs up in the air, and slapping one of the women’s thighs (their legs were like lily pads?)
- Alice and another women nude (100% topless with nude panties) facing each other and caressing each other’s arms sexually
- Alice and the man who I thought was her father got married, had a baby, and then it seemed as though she committed suicide out the window
- a weird film mixture of cartoons (some inappropriate things) and human beings with an Alice-like character giving another woman flowers

There were no words, repetitive and bizarre chime-y music throughout the entire show, and a tiny crowd

Needless to say, though I was at first pissed because it seemed like a tourist scam and waste of money, I caught myself in a fleet of glee in the middle-end of the first act. I laughed so hard that I cried. Literally, I cried at least three times from laughing (at least). If some one can tell me how this Black Light Theatre performance resembles, in any way, a story of Alice in Wonderland, please, please enlighten me, as I sit in the dark, black-lighten theatre of pure insanity.

Sidenote: I advise you all to never go see this performance if you make your way to Prague!

Day 80

--Drawings from the day of travel from Paris to Florence.

hopeful collaborative sketch with Elise #1

hopeful collaborative sketch with Elise #2

Day 79

--Going around the marvelous Montmartre.

Today, we explored around Montmartre, which included visiting the café where Amelie worked in the French film Amelie, seeing the Moulin Rouge during the day, seeing the exhibit of Salvador Dali, sketching Jen and Michelle on my placemat at a café, having hot wine and nutella crepes, and painting with the wonderful miss Elise in the evening. Here are some of my productions from my last day in Paris.

Espace de Dali notes & sketch

spoons

 charcoal drawing

Au Petit Creux

charcoal sketch

Ahh, nonsense

painting done in the company of Elise

Day 78

--Versaille was the day trip today. This adventure included the fabulous ladies: Michelle, Jen, Nikki, and Jayne. If you do not know, which you most likely do, Versailles is where all the kings and queens of France lived. The property includes the giant "gardens" (I would classify this as way more immense than gardens, but do not know the word for that) and a few side properties such as Marie Antoinette’s estate. In the palace, there was a great deal of art, and seeing some of the original furniture and the chandeliers in the Hallway of Mirrors was really neat.

 Jen, Michelle, and I at Versailles

The gardens. The gardens were absolutely stunning.
After visiting the palace and after visiting the estate (that had its own gardens), we took a nap in the sunshine in the main gardens. What a great afternoon!


 Gardens at Versailles

photograph by Michelle

Michelley and I

We  made our way up the hill in Montmartre to Sacre Coeur, which is a beautiful church that has the perfect that overlooks Paris. It was beautiful
to see the view during dusk.


 Nikki and I at Sacre Coeur

On the walk over to Sacre Coeur, I used my very awful, broken French phrase, “Can I have a photo of you?” on two cool-looking, French guys sitting outside a café.
After I had built up the courage to finally ask, they had me repeat it (that's how awful my French is..). When they realized what I was asking, they laughed because they were so confused as to why I would want a photo. In response to their “why,”
I should have told them because they looked very cool and very French, and would make a cool photograph. However, in my nervousness that I get when asking people if I can have a photograph of them, I said because I'm an artist and to remember France..? What? Haha
anyway, they let me take as photograph as the two continued talking as they were. I shook their hands saying "merci", and ran away!
(the "ran" away is almost literal)

. Stay tuned for the black and white photograph!

After Sacre Coeur, we got some take out Chinese and hung out at the apartment for the night.  

 random sketch

bloom

painted red wine and pen

Day 77

--Another busy day! With the Eiffel Tower as the first thing on our list, we walked up the stairs to the second “floor”, and took a lift to the top. Walking up the stairs was really cool, getting to slowly see the structure from within as you slowly make your way up. I would definitely recommend it. And, of course, there was the beautiful view from the top. 


Then, we went to Notre Dame, and inside the church as well. We also went to the infamous cemetery Pere Lachaise, which holds the graves of Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, and Jim Morrison. It was a beautiful cemetery, and it was interesting to see and learn that cemeteries in Paris are not a place to mourn a loss, but rather a public place to stroll around and appreciate the lives of those within the cemetery. A lighter and new perspective. In the evening, Nikki and Jayne came over and Michelle made the five of us a wonderful dinner (even though she only had pepper and salt as spices!)

Jen, myself, and Michelle

Notre Dame

photograph by Michelle

Day 87

--I am currently in Prague (Praha) visiting the lovely Linds! Today was a great day of sight seeing and exploring. First off, let me say that the architecture in Prague is stunning. There are countless buildings that are old, and therefore have an old style of architecture, and you know me and my love of old things. I am really going to miss the beauty of European architecture when I get back home.

We ventured over the Charles Bridge, saw the Lenon wall, and made it to the top of the hill of the Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. St. Vitus Cathedral’s exterior was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. We also had a fabulous view overlooking Prague. After, we went to an art museum that held two exhibitions, both my current favorite artists. We saw the exhibit of the nonsensical and fascinating Salvador Dali as well as the beautiful, Art Nouveau of Alphonse Mucha. Mucha is actually the artist that is being used for my final fresco piece, and is a native of the Czech Republic. What an incredible and surprising combination of an exhibit! I still cannot get over how perfectly that worked out for me. 

Sketch based off a poster created by Salvador Dali

sketch from caffe sitting today

inspired by Dali's nonsense

For dinner, I was able to indulge in some very-missed Vietnamese Pho. And we spend some time in an underground bar that is pretty much different rooms in a cave. Sounds crazy and awesome, right? Such a neat idea. I love little secrets like that. 

Day 76

--Well, I thought yesterday was the day of museums, but in fact, it was actually today. Would you believe that Jen and I went to four museums in one day? Ya, me neither. First, we went to the museum of Auguste Rodin, who was the sculpture of The Thinker. We were able to go through his garden and see some of his favorite sculpture works. He had such a marvelous style. His work “The Gates of Hell” were absolutely amazing and fascinating. They are probably my favorite sculpture I have ever seen, being so complicated and so enticing, with forms and different stories to each form emerging from the door. The doors were so complete yet incomplete, as Rodin never truly finished them.

Second, we visited the Musee Les Arts Decoratifs, in which the exhibit I wanted to see was closed, so Jen and I took a leap into the past through the Babar, the elephant, exhibit. 

Third, we split apart so I could revisit the Louvre and Jen could explore a history museum. 

my drawing of Edgar Degas’ La Sertie du Bain

nonsense doodling in the Louvre

The fourth and final museum of the day was the Pompidou for the Musee National D’art Moderne. Some of the art was fantastic, such as some of the black and white photography, however, some of the modern art was too modern for me. After this long day, we picked Michelley up from the train station.

Day 75

--Jour de musee! (“giorno de musei!” or “day of museums!”) Today, Jen and I visited Musee D’Orsay and Musee L’Orangerie. In the D’Orsay, there is a lot of beautiful impressionist art by the masters Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, and Degas. 

my sketch of Edgar Degas’ Danseuses Bleues

another sketch of the statue “Petite Dansuse de Quatarze ans dit Aussi” by Edgar Degas

The second museum, L’Orangerie, there were two oval rooms with the series of Water Lillies by Monet. The canvases were huge, filling the full wall, and he worked on some of these pieces as he was going blind. Incredible to view them up close and then from across the room. There were other artists in the gallery such as Picasso’s old art (Picasso before Picasso) and others such as Vallotton.

In the evening, we went under the Arc de Triumph. My good friend who is studying in Paris, Elise, and her roommate came out to dinner with Jen and I on the French’s not-so-green St. Patty’s day. Today, I would have reallyy enjoyed some of Mom’s Irish soda bread! I’ll have to make some in the middle of summer instead haha. We went to a venue for a unique performance of music. And the people watching, oh the people watching! 

Day 74

--Departure for Paris, France! Or as the Italians call it: Parigi. Through planes, trains, and not quite automobiles, Michelle, Jen, and I got to France! Michelle went on her own path to Grenoble to visit a friend while Jen and I went straight for the heart of it all. We are staying in an adorable little apartment in Montmarte, an artsy little area outside of paris.

Jen and I went to the Louvre in the evening. It is hugely immense, and I still am totally lost as to any phonetics and pronunciations of the French language. We only made it through a small portion in comparison to the full size of the museum, but there was definitely a lot of great art! I am already fascinated with the beautiful and poised people, their clothing, the streets, the art, and the buildings.

Day 82

--I just had one of the best stumble upon experiences of my life, both in general and as a Florentine. Jen and I had just eaten a simple dinner, and as we walked down the street, we heard an organ. Normally, if I were by myself, I would have looked into that church and assumed that a mass was going on (or something similar). I would not have considered stopping or walking in, thinking I was interrupting something important. But Jen stopped, looked it, and we realized it was not a mass, but rather an organ concert that happens every night. Mind you, this is happening at 9:30 pm.

We went into the 16^th century church, which was lit by some candles and a few, low spotlights. It was still pretty dark in there, with a random crowd of scattered strangers across the pews. The only cost for this wonderful concert: an optional donation. The setting for this concerto was incredible: a quiet, dimly lit church with a booming, and sometimes soft, organ blaring through its many pipes and resounding through the high ceilings of the church. Eerily beautiful. 

Day 81

--As today is Michelle's last day in Florence, we had to fill her desire to shop. After some shopping, the three of us sat in my favorite caffe with some cappuccini, and we were all drawing together! I was drawing in my sketchbook and.. Michelle and Jen were drawing on their iPhones. Sketchbook vs drawsomething, good enough!

cappuccino at Volume
photograph by Michelle

After that, we filled ourselves to the brim with some delicious Gusta Pizza!

Michelle & Jen with their pizze

we are wax living amongst fire

(cannot decide which way i like it rotated best yet)

 shoot everything you see

ps - posts on Paris soon to come!

Day 73

--After the stresses of the last class before spring break (which included a finance exam unfortunately), I was able to run back to my pensione to meet Michelley! So happy and excited to have her here. And not too long after, my cousin, Jen arrived! I am far too lucky to have all these wonderful visitors. I keep saying how lucky i am, and that there is no possible way for me to get homesick --except for that stinkin' craving for a bean and cheese burrito..


The three of us had a lovely day filled with a lot of walking (oops), some sight seeing, complimentary wine, and good food! I'm so glad the girls are here.


Best news yet: we will be on our way to Paris tomorrow afternoon! I will get my fill of the beautiful french people, crepes, impressionist art, the Lourve, pastries, the fabulous miss Elise, and maybe some midnights. I cannot wait! Paris has been on my list to see, and it is still hard be believe I will be there tomorrow.
Sidenote: We will be gone until Thursday afternoon, so I won't be posting for a while between traveling, visitors, homework, and more visitors! =)

sketch from yesterday

Day 69

--In Palazzo Strozzi, there is an impressionist art exhibit entitled Americani i Firenze (Americans in Florence). The gist of the exhibit was the impressionist American painters who came to Florence as well as other parts of Europe to study and create art. Just like myself! (However, I am not putting myself at the high level of Sargent, Hassam, and Elihu Vedder! Just the idea, but I wish.) I lazily wandered and enjoyed every piece in this exhibit on a Sunday afternoon.

The art was beautiful, and the strokes that imperfectly make up the perfect face amazing me. I love that there are such incredible works that aren't realistic, which is sometimes hard for me to emulate and just let the brush glide without trying to grab every detail. Also, this exhibit was a nice break from all the Renaissance art, and the (literal) hundreds of "Madonna e bambini" paintings I have seen here. But, jesus, there are other things to paint in the world!

(Nikki, I hope you laugh at my silly joke).

sketches of the painting 

Portrait of William Merritt Chase by Frank Duveneck (1876)

notes and a sketch of a figure from Edmund Charles Tarbell's

The Breakfast Room (1902-3)

Day 68

--What a swell, stupendous Saturday! Nikki and I went to Volume, which is a wonderful caffe that used to be an artist's wood shop. I am in love, as you could imagine. And I had a great cappuccino, too! This place knows the way to my heart =)   We worked on homework and things, and then Jayne joined us.

The three of us grabbed panini from a hole-in-the-wall shop, and sat in the sun by the Duomo for lunch. After some gelato, we went to Florence's library (the one with a close view of the Duomo top), and sat on the third floor to so some more work.

Later, we reconvened, and went to an incredible vegetarian restaurant for dinner. I don't think I have ever been to a vegetarian restaurant before, but let me tell you, it was great! The three of us pushed our plates together and shared the delicious variety of flavors, rice, cous cous, and veggies. And we shared a piece of carrot cake for dessert! Such great food, such lovely girls. 

We met up with Karlie and Amanda to hear some live music at our favorite pub. Last time, it was two men and their acoustic guitars. This time, however, it was about ten musicians, playing Irish music! (Mom, you shoulda been there!) They were preparing their songs for St. Patrick's Day. In the Irish musician circle, there was an acoustic guitar, a botzucci (mandolin-ish, played by Mico), 4 fiddles/violins, a harp, and some sort of a drum. It was very neat and inspirational to see all the instruments. We talked a bit to our friends from Livorno from the last live music performance we saw at the pub. And our kind friends are pictured below!

 Mico, Nikki, Karlie, myself, Amanda, Jayne, & Alessandro

inspired by the instruments and each one's sound, 

i began a sketch of the musician circle while in the pub

Day 67

--Nikki, Cassie, and I took a day trip to Cinque Terre, which are "five towns/lands" (the Italian translation) on the coast of Italy. We first went to Riomaggiore, and i was in love. It was a beautiful place that resembles Greece, with it's beautiful water, staggered buildings on the hill sides, and the narrow steps. The water was stunning.

The girls and I walked from the Riomaggiore to Manarola, the second town. The walk between these two towns is along Via dell'Amore, which translated to "path" or "by the way of" amore, love. With the sea to my left and cliffs on our right, we were surrounded by hundreds, probably thousands of locks  of lovers. The idea of the lover's locks is that two lovers will go to Via dell'Amore (or other locations such as the Ponte Vecchio). The couple usually goes as a newly wed celebration and tradition. They either write or engrave their names on the lock, and sometimes the date. The lock is locked on a gate, or even another lock, and the key is thrown into the ocean.

I have never seen so many lovers locks in my entire life. So wonderful.

We went to the fifth town, Monterosso, which had a wonderful beach. We picked rocks like flowers and wandered up for a beautiful view near a monastery. And lastly, we went to the fourth town, Venazza, which has the worst damage from the flood back in October. It was really sad to see, as the town was still quite abandoned and damanged, but construction is still going on and you can tell that it was and is a beauty. Overall, we made it to three of the four terre, and it was such a grand day trip.

Riomaggiore (terra uno)

photograph by Nikki

myself, Cassie, & Nikki

in front of Manarola (terra due)

photograph by Nikki

beach of Monterosso (terra cinque)

photograph by Nikki

Cassie & I

photograph by Nikki

 drawings from the train ride

Day 66

As a 21 year old artist who has always had a washing machine and dryer inside their house (with the exception of college), I have romanticized the place of the laundromat. It may seem bizarre, but that is what I believe. Now, I'm sure if I had to constantly do my laundry at a laundromat for years and years and years, I am fairly certain that I would loathe the idea of such a place, but in my case, it's quite a unique place.

Laundromat (as defined by me): noun; a place where strangers come together or cross paths to wash and dry their clothing. These people may not know each other, but they are involved in the same act, and their lives directly correlate for just an hour or two, sometimes even minutes, while they wait for clothes to wash, spin, tumble, and dry.

I love the idea of each of these strangers acting in the same way, and observing what they do with their spare time. Do they leave their clothes? (where do they go?) Do they sit and wait? Do they read? Do they talk on the phone? It's so fascinating to know what a person will do with these hours of waiting for clothing in twirling machines.

Well, I was able to sit with Nikki at the laundromat, chat with an awkward stranger (who claimed that east and west coast accents are the same..?), and of course, sketch. Any place is a drawing place!

Here are my drawings from the wonderful, but not so pretty laundry place around the corner.

what is through

"and i felt love, 

again"

Day 64

--Drawing club today was quite tiny (being only Jake and I), but still a very enjoyable session! The products of my sketching hand are peculiar today, so bear (punny!) with me!

Dancing Bear

€48.52

€1.80 / ore

26.92 liters of pollen

literal finger mustache

oh the oddity

ps - he won't rotate on this page. sorry!

Day 64

Here is a drawing I made on cardboard tonight. Not your typical drawing surface, not a very typical drawing, not by your typical gal.

"little bread butterflies kiss the tulips,"
as light rays shone through the flower's face
solemn and quiet
waiting for the rain's music to 
hum & patter off
to sleep.
our minds branch out
or we live in a daze.
grease from my fingertips
may be the only remains


mark it up.

Day 62 again

--Tragedy of the day / lack of photographs explanation

I had dropped off a roll of film over two weeks ago when it takes one week to develop. After a few times of going to pick up my film and it not being ready, I grew skeptical.

Today, I went with Mom to pick of my roll of film, which had photographs from the snow to cool broken bikes to old documents on the street to Greg’s visit in Florence.

Today, I finally received an envelope with

- a letter of a short apology in Italian from the lab the photo place sends black and white film to

- my roll I had shot of now blank film (that they accidentally exposed --all 36)

- and a new roll of black and white film to make up for it.

The man who gave this to me didn’t quite understand why I was so upset and confused, and didn’t think that the ruined film was a big deal. I don’t think my questioning and upset qualities translated well to him. So, I won’t be developing more film in Italy, but I will save my rolls until I get back home. Aka, sorry for the missing black and whites, but they will be posted in May!

It’s an odd thing being a drawer and a painter, and having 36 little pieces of art burnt out by the light.

Don’t worry, I’ll keep on shooting as much as ever! 

You will just have to check for the b&w's in May!

Day 63

--After class, I was supposed to take Mom to the Uffizi, but I goofed up big time as it is closed on Monday (and it is her last day here). We sat on a fountain in the sun in Piazza Santo Spirito before having some gelato! I had to make sure Mom got her fill of Italian sweets. For dinner, we went out to a restaurant with some of my friends on Mom’s last night. 

Karlie, Amanda, Nikki, & I

photograph by Mom

A lot was packed in during her short visit, but I am so glad she made it and that we got to share new and familiar parts of Italy together =)

Me & Mom