Remembering Italy

It was an itch I had to scratch.  Going through my photos and journals rekindled my interest in all things Italian (not that it ever diminished very much.) and this has resulted in a new series of watercolors devoted to my memories of those precious days in the "old country".

Here are the first two in the series:

From the Terrace

One more Arch

Now it's time to think about tonight's pasta.

BOLOGNA ITALY IN CLAY

The first Bologna inspired art I created was a series of 13 clay mono types, focusing on the most prevalent architectural element in the city...the arch.

Bologna Series #2  13x21

Bologna Series #3  21x13

Bologna Series #4  14x12

The daily dose of art...ITALY - ONE MORE TIME

One more day, and then I'll move on to something else.  I promise.

Bologna - the Balcony

Siena - The wash

Bologna - Via Clavature

The daily dose of art DRAWING ITALY #3

I'm having a hard time leaving this portfolio of drawings.  Maybe tomorrow.

Bologna

Lunch in Parma

Street market in Bologna

The daily dose of architecture ITALIA

From my stay in Bologna, two of the several buildings that surround the Piazza Maggiore:  watercolors, each 20x30".

These paintings are available in my gallery and on my website.  Prints are also available at this link.

THE DAILY URBAN LANDSCAPE #41 Bologna Italy

We will be in Italy at least one more day, looking at the streets of Bologna.  The first painting shows Cafe Napoli, one of two restaurants located a few blocks from my apartment, where I enjoyed several meals.  The second drawing was inspired by a block of buildings I passed frequently on my daily walks, and captures the look of the cities streets.

Cafe Napoli

THE DAILY URBAN LANDSCAPE #37 the Urban food market

After hanging around the alleys and backsides of the urban scene it is refreshing to walk around to the front, and what can be more refreshing than fresh produce. Below are two of the many food markets lining the tiny streets in the old section of Bologna, Italy.  The first is a watercolor, the second a mixed media drawing on a clay mono type.

ITALY REVISITED...THE BOOKS

It has been one year since I returned from my month in Italy and for most of that year my efforts in the studio have been directed to mining the resources from that trip for my art and writing. My first priority was creating the paintings and drawings for last fall’s show…From Italy with Love…as well as fulfilling my commitments to those of you who responded to my offer to buy “art futures”. Using the resources of Apple’s iPhoto I created two books, one depicting all of the artwork in the Gallery 5 exhibit, and the other containing the drawings from my sketchbook.

After that I turned my attention to the task of creating an illustrated journal of my experiences in Italy. It is a day to day accounting of the trip using excerpts from the daily journal I kept and posts from my blog, williamfrenzullimd.blogspot.com, as well as additional narrative. The book is lavishly illustrated with photos and artwork and is now available in hardcover with wrap around dust jacket. It has 96 pages and measures 11x13 inches.



BOLOGNA….price $110.00 incl. S&H



FROM ITALY WITH LOVE…hardcover w jacket…9x11……42 pages….price $80.00 plus $5.00 S&H

FROM ITALY WITH LOVE… spiral bound …6x8…$35.00 plus $5.00 S&H.



SKETCHES FROM ITALY… spiral bound ….9X11…42 pages/61 drawings…$60.00 plus $5.00 S&H

These books may be ordered from my website, from me at Gallery 5, or by emailing me at wfrenzulli@mac.com. Allow 3=4 weeks for delivery.

BACK WHERE IT ALL STARTED...

well, not exactly, but pretty damn close. When I fist began a serious pursuit of a second career some 35 years ago I was drawing/painting small urban street scenes with pen, ink, and markers, and shortly thereafter, watercolors. The drawings were loosely done in a vignette style. As my skills increased I gradually moved on to a more painterly style. And here I am, 35 years later, going back to my "roots'. whoda thought!

Here are 3 "oldtimers"





And here are the 2 latest clay drawings.


Via Spartico...aprox 12x14"


no name yet...aprox. 4x12"

BILLY'S BEEN A BUSY BOY

Via Clavature...watercolor on 300lb cold press paper...aprox. 12x6"

There is more to life than clay drawings...there is watercolor! The photo above is one I recently completed of an old but busy street in Bologna.

Below is the 9th installment of the Castello Estense. The next time I post will be the 10th and final stage of the painting.

MORE CLAY DRAWINGS

Imagine...clay drawing....5x7"

It's like eating potato chips...once started I can't stop. Sooner or later I will, but until then I am thoroughly enjoying myself with doing these drawings. Here are a few recent creations:


Bologna Street #4...12x24"

Graffiti...clay drawing...6x14"

Roofs...clay drawing...7x11"

CASTELLO & CLAY...

Sounds more like a boxing match...and in this corner...Castello Estense, part 7 versus a team of clay drawings. I know...it's kinda weak. But cut me some slack, it's too damn hot and my ac doesn't do a great job in the studio when the temps climb into the 90s.
However, I am a tiger and in spite of the heat I continue to plod along in the studio, painting, drawing, reading, and occasionally, napping. And this is what I have to show for my labors.


The castle is beginning to take shape with the added details.

They may not be a team, but here are a few of the new clay drawings, all depicting Bologna streetscapes as I remember and imagine them.

O.M.G.

Ever since Bologna I have become a narrow-minded artist! I never imagined this would happen to me, but I have the following proof to offer:


pencil & marker

pen & ink & pastel

pen & ink & pastel


pen & ink & pastel







pen & ink & marker

MORE SKETCHES

Almost all of my sketches were done while sitting in an outside caffe or restaurant. I found that much more civilized (and comfortable) than balancing myself on a 3 legged stool. I did that once and nearly fell getting up because one of my legs had "fallen asleep".

WHAT I WILL REMEMBER

This is my last full day in Bologna. Tomorrow morning, if all goes well, I leave the G. Marconi airport at 7:10 and fly to Rome, and from there to O”hare. (couldn’t resist that!)

In this, and subsequent posts, I will share what have become my most memorable images and impressions of this beautiful city. I have tried putting some order to this, but with little success, but that’s OK because There is not a great deal of order in the city.

The most striking immediate observations of this city are the harmony of color and architecture, unmatched by any of the other cities I've visited, and the amazing and seemingly endless porticoes.

These photos were taken from the small terrace on my 5th floor apartment.










The harmony of color is beyond description, at least to me.


Taken from the tower Asinelli



I'll end this post paying homage to the porticoes.