The Duomo Done

"The Flirt"

Watercolor,  9" x 23"

©Carmella Tuliszewski 2013

It's so nice to have this finished.  It was intense.  If I have a signature way of working it's having my subjects drenched in sunlight.  I really feel that here and that makes me happy.

In the end I deceided to keep the yellow sunlight on the right of the cathedral because I like the warm and cool contrasts.  The figures in the background were very enjoyable to paint, each minding their own business, strolling and sightseeing.  

But what I like most, and what is the key to this series is the people connection.  There is definite contact between the lady officer and the young man.  They cross each others path and smile, why we'll never know.  I hope they're happy whereever they are now.

I painted this mostly in a straight forward manner by mixing and testing colors on my pallette before working the surface.  My new Kolinsky brush really was wonderful here as it comes to the sharpest point I've ever worked with.

I have a working tile of "The Flirt", but is this flirtation that of the young couple or the effect the beauty of the Cathedral of Florence, The Duomo, has on all who she her?

Duomo - Part Three

Now that the details on the facade are in, the yellow on the side doesn't bother me quite as much.

The size of this piece is 9" by 23" and in person it is really fun to look at all the goings on here.

The details aren't perfect but I like that about it.

Now on to the figures below and the right side of the cathedral.  

The building jutting up on the right side is Giotto's Bell Tower named after the artist who design it.

I like how it forces you to look through to the back and gives the space some added depth.

The Duomo - Part Two

©Carmella Tuliszewski 2013

Feeling like I still have it under control but see some wonkiness in the structure here and there that I will adjust before I continue.   For instance, I can now see that the spire on the left of the door is tilting slightly to the left and the copula on the dome needs some straightening.
I wanted to show sunset on the building but not quite sure if it's working.  I'll wait to the end and may tone down that yellow some.

The Duomo - Part One

©Carmella Tuliszewski 2013

There are few buildings on the planet as impressive as the 
Duomo in Florence.
Besides all the obvious sculptural ornamentation, the building is inlaid in green and pink marble panels.  
The dome is covered in thousands of brick tiles.  My drawing here is completed in two-point perspective with the details sketched in place.

This piazza is a very crowded, busy, and to me, a magical place.  At risk of you finding out what a nerd I am, I was constantly imagining Michelangelo, da Vinci  and so many other historic figures having walked where I was that day.  While going through my photos I came across this scene of the tourist and the lady officer.  They look at each other and smile and maybe feel some of the same magic I was feeling.  I love this connection, not to mention the activies of the other tourists surrounding them.

I am very excited to start painting and a little afraid that I will mess it up!
The first thing I need to do is take a kneaded eraser to it and pick up all the darker graphite lines to the point that I can barely see them and you won't notice them in the final painting.
Well, here I go, wish me luck!