San Giovanni (old st. peters)

After leaving the Vatican Library my class and I walked across the street to on of the very famous Roman Basilicas, San Giovanni. We entered onto the left side of the main alter and I was very shocked to see such a grand space hidden away from the very motorized road way. This is one of my favorite basilica in Roma this far. The floors were incredible. I could have spent a whole day of just that.

Vatican Library

Sketchbooks and Project Three

Sketch from Aya Sofia 

2 hours

Istanbul, Turkey

Sketching in Istanbul was unlike any experience I had so far on studying abroad. Yes, it was freezing but culturally everything is centered around the Mosque. Sketching Mosques becomes an architectural ritual, where you enter the people's holy world. Listen to the prayer call, pierce past the courtyard's columns,  take off your shoes,  step onto the mat and pass through the leather-hide door into a sacred space that is beautiful and geometric, quite and bold portraying it's purpose. The mosaics and patterns that are everywhere inside.  Sorting through these to get back to the basic lines of the design took concentration and focus. meditation. 

Sketch from Valletta, Malta 

St. John's Co-Cathedral 

2 hours

Malta was an interesting mix of English speaking people and maltese, which reminded me of Arabic  and Italian. St. Johns Co-Cathedral was built by the Knights of Malta and was decorated lavishly as the years went on. From the outside the church formed different piazzas on each side, because of its size. However, I really noticed the decoration on the inside. Each side chapel was dedicated to a different country that was involved with the knights. The story unfolds and ends with Caravaggio's largest canvas the beheading of St. John the baptist. Malta was beautiful and St. John's Co-Cathedral was well worth the visit and the sketch.

The Last project for studio (project #3) is a facade study. This is my watercolor of Palazzo Caprini or more well known as the house of Raphael. This palazzo was demolished in 1937. So, I worked with this facade perfecting the proportions on photoshop, because the only documentation left of this palazzo was a stone engraving (that was in perspective). Once I finished the correct spacing of each facade element I transferred the new drawing to watercolor paper.

Spring Break in Malta

Woke up in Istanbul, drove into Asia and flew to Italy. Now, I'm Home in Rome.

 I still have so many thoughts about what I thought of Istanbul. I've started to shuffle through my memories; here are a few words that come to my mind.
 Evet (yes), Merhaba (hello),  Mosques (so many mosques), Minaret calls at 4 am. Spice market, apple tea, the freezing cold, head-scarfs, drawing without shoes on. stray cats and dogs, the unbelievable details, tiles, rugs, Turkish coffee fortune telling, rice, lamb, french fries and pickles. Hans, shopping, The Grand Bazaar, "very thank you my friend". Roof top views, dark scary hallways, more stray cats in mosques, ferry rides, Asia and Europe. 17 course meal. 4 star hotel. Palace. Mose's Staff. 84 carrot diamond. diamond laced armor. Mohammed. Turkish delights. Waterpipe with Turkish rockstars. Aqueducts, Roosters, 16th century trees, Courtyards...

Old City Silhouette.  

Just trying to take everything in...

Picture highlights