A lot of natural light and white walls………..

I arrived in Florence and found my way to Santa Reparata International School of Art, after being welcomed graciously I was given a variety of keys which led me to the studio I would occupy for the next three months.  My guides for all of this were Rebecca Olsen, the director and Carolina who was the studio assistant in printmaking.  the studio was clean and large with a separate room for soaking paper.  The press was ancient, and had an aura about it.  We decided to move the press into the larger of the two spaces for easier access.  This was and excellent idea and also gave rise to the need for a larger table somewhat higher to eliminate bending over the plates and prints.  the studio was much larger than I had imagined from my discussions with Rebecca, the director.  It also had really large windows onto a courtyard which made it delightful in the fall, although as I sooned learned later that ashes from nearby chimneys could float into my ink.

This was my first time I could look around in this quiet empty space and imagine filling the walks with ideas and images.  I purposely came with very little in terms of art supplies so I would be open to respond to my surroundings.  I wanted the work I created to be a specific interaction with Firenze.  Having been to Firenze twice before, I had memories of the sites and feel of the city and this is what I wanted to create in my own work.  It was very important to me not to bring too much with me in terms of images that would be imposed on my experience.

Over the first weekend I created several pastel drawings to put up on the white empty walls.  There was some left over paper and I had some pastels with me so doing this made me feel much less alone in the space and added some much needed color to the white space.  It is an artist’s dream to have white empty walls, a pure space, uncluttered with thoughts and distractions in which to explore new creative possibilities.

It took me three full months of activity to fill most of the space.  It was extremely useful to be able to spread out and to let the progression of my work flow logically from visual image to the next sequence.  Because of the nature of monotype printmaking I worked in a series, where each image led to the next and so on.

On the first Monday after I had my new studio in Florence, Carolina took me to the two closest art supply stores, which became my haunts. I quickly found my favorite store and establish a friendly but limited relationship with the owner.  His command of English was much superior to my Italian and when we were both at a loss his daughter would assist.  I was in heaven with the choices of printmaking paper, book arts paper and general supplies at this little store and it was only a five minute walk from my studio. Once I learned when they were closed for lunch I was never in want of anything.  I fell in love with Migani  printmaking paper.

One of my greatest joys in learning about my new city, was how comfortable I became in knowing my way around.  I remember the day that I no longer carried a map with me. I even gloated silently as I passed tourists standing on street corners with their maps in hand trying to match the intersection with the maps they held.  Another breakthrough was to actually be able to direct and help someone find a particular street or building.

It is interesting how quickly one can get comfortable and form a routine for living and working.  I did a lot of exploring, there was not a part of the city I dared miss.  I felt incredible healthy from all of the walking I did, and for me this was a transition because I am a runner.  And yet I felt it was satisfying to walk, I think I kept up a very good pace.  I split  my time between my studio and the main studio were all the classes were taught.  The main building held several fully equipped studios for printmaking, painting and photography.

As and artist in residence I interacted with students, shared my work, did a  printmaking demonstration and created an exhibition of my work.  I had a wonderful experience working in the fully equipped brand new studio and then I had the complete privacy of my separate space.  The two studios were less that a block apart, so it was easy to go from one to the other.

I felt very focused and complete with the work I created. Concentrating on the textures and colors of old walls and the surfaces that created ancient stories to me.  The shapes of the arched doorways were beautiful and bold and held mysteries.  I knew I had to select some of the things that had most meaning to me and focus on that.  I began by sketching the doorways and windows of the buildings which inspired by.  There were archways everywhere I looked.  I created a variety domes, doorways and arches, some of which I then combined with etchings of my photographs.

Old and new merge in this etching and monotype.

Florence captivates you with history and art, it also seduces you with beauty of another kind, the world of fashion.  I was constantly struck by the juxtaposition of old and new.  I loved the way the antique merged with the modern.  I took many photographs of the elegant shop windows to use for subject matter in my prints.