An Art Work A Day

here are two versions of a painting I made on a very thin japanese batic paper I found in Florence. The second image is of it with light shining through it after I put it on a window. the first one is it laying on a white paper. The paper is incredibly absorbant and near totally see through - a very interesting surface to explore more. I relaly enjoyed the effects that can be created with this paper. The ink is from chinese ink stick grounded on my new proper ink stone.

Of course I took lots and lots of photos but to really do great photos inside these big buildings you need better cameras than my travel one.

Well one thing I kept reminding me was that I do need to buy those binoculars so that I can see properly the great paintings high high up on walls and on the ceilings like this part of the fresco in the ceiling of the building next to the duomo..

the lounge area where we went down to the breakfast room in the Contessina

Standing outside my hotel I had the central train station are behind me, the roads towards the markets and the old city to the right, In front of me I had a few street with a slightly more normal meaning a tiny tad less touristy area and to the left I did not know so I took off in that direction. On the map there seemed to be only a few things in that direction like a garden or something. What i found was Fortezza de Basso, an old fort which I wish I could have taken a better look inside of.

Walking around this fortress I found this lovely garden where I sat down.

I started by putting away my stuff at the Residence La Contessina Via Faenza 71n (my apartment). http://www.residenceinflorence.com/ Here you will see images of the place including my kitchen and my bed and get all the other info you could want about a place with lovely service and landlady.

With my small nylon backpack I then went out to explore. I totally love markets so since I could see one close by according to the map, I naturally headed in that direction. The first market stalls are always fun and I enjoyed myself a lot. The only thing that disappointed me after a while in Florence was that very little of things in the stalls were original crafts - 99 % was factory made so those selling rarely had had anything to do with production which I found a pity. Initially I had believed it to be one market place but after a few days I realised that most of the historical part of Florence had these stalls - lots of glass jewellery, leather and that special porcelaine was what you saw the most. Some also had handmade books kind of things. Besides from leather SHAWLS were what was sold everywhere. I must admit I ended up bringing home a few LOL - thinking LOL that I could use some as table cloths if I ended up not wearing them. had to do some shopping you know LOL and since I am not into leather and gold . . . .

There were also quite a few street artists around - most of them painted city or Tuscan landscapes in watercolour. This one spray painted. I also got a nice talk with one of the watercolour artists in this market area.

Strolling around I ended up passing the Duomo - The Saint Mary Cathedral - Duomo cattedrale di santa Maria del fiore (in Italian). http://www.duomofirenze.it/storia/storia_eng.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cathedral

These two pages will tell you all about it much better than I can. Definately a place I will study much closer on a later trip. Then I will also walk to the top of either the dome or the tower on the side, 4oosomething steps at the top but a wonderful view I was told. I did the top of the St Peter church in Rome and The Doumo in Milano. Definately worth it.

I did not go inside this day but the next day. Just taking in and walking among all those incredible buildings was more than enough for a first day, travel weary too.

The street seller ladies were very busy here and I must admit that this lady was quite good at it and I ended up with a couple of things LOL.

I kept walking towards the river and stopped for dinner at la Piazza della Signora. For more info and better close ups of the famous statues here, use the link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_della_Signoria

As you can see there is a mixtue of the old and the new.

Tuesday I left for Tuscany. I was so lucky with the weather and the flight. I had the most amazing views of the Alps as we flew over them. Fortunately I had a window seat on the plane :-).

The second photo is as we go in for landing in Pisa. I was amazed to see that there were so many challels crisscrossing the area, looking like roads from above. The landscape was very flat but with nice rolling hills around it lal the way as I took a bus to Florenze.

I had not booked a hotel in advance because I saw that there were lots and lots of them on the net and I did not know where I wanted to stay. Unfortunetely for me, the tourist office did not do reservations like I was used to in Roma and Milano so I had to start walking and asking. I also did not know that this was high season SO . . . everyone said, sorry no sinlge rooms but they had suites. In he end I ended up getting this appartment, (photo 3) for the first night. I just decided on the spur that i just wanted to settle down and go out to see the sights. It was kind of lovely to live decently the first night.

The fourth image is a watercolour on watercolour paper that I painted that night inspired by the Alps. I do intend to paint many more from those reference photos in the future. More on Florenze in my next post.